Heritage Fair: Biggest Year Ever?

Tom Toporovich, the Dundalk Heritage Fair promotions manager, noted in an interview Thursday that the annual three-day fair is funded by sponsors and private contributions, but mostly from the $5 ticket sales at the gate from the previous year’s festival.

If that’s the case, last year’s fair was a big hit at the box office.

Two of the biggest names ever to appear at the fair, The Guess Who and Eddie Money, are scheduled for the main stage Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m., respectively.

Mahoney Borthers, a Beatles tribute band and a Dundalk favorite take the stage Friday at 7:30 p.m. The entire schedule of events for the weekend can be found here at the revamped Dundalk Heritage Fair website.

“We had great people last year and great people over the years,” Toporovich said, highlighting acts like Blood, Sweat and Tears, Chubby Checker and Paul Revere and the Raiders, among others. “This year, with the entertainment, it’s probably going to be the biggest year ever.”

Toporovich, putting the final pre-fair touches on the organizing effort with Dundalk Heritage Fair president Joe Falbo and entertainment coordinator Bob Fogle Thursday afternoon, said close to 50,000 people attended the fair last year. It costs about $200,000 to pull off the fair, he said. Meanwhile. admission for children 12 and under remains free.

This year, with live music all weekend on two stages, with more than 100 vendors, plus rides, a petting zoo, pig races, great food, arts and crafts, and Karaoke in beer garden – what Toropovich called,” the largest three-day Independence Day celebration in the country” – could easily top last year’s number.

Toporovich, Falbo and Fogle said they’ve been receiving e-mails and phone calls from people across Maryland, and outside the state this year, planning to attend the event because of the musical lineup. Some are even booking hotel rooms nearby.

In the afternoon before the fair officially opened, Mary DiMaggio walked around fenced in Heritage Park with her two boys, James, 4, and Esra, 3, taking a peek as everything was being set-up.

“We’re looking forward to kids’ rides and the animals,” DiMaggio said.

And, her oldest son added, “cotton candy.”

“We’re Catonsville-transplants and we’ve not been to the fair, yet,” Mary added. “But we’re looking forward to it. This is our home now.”

Artist Brenda Kolar was at the first fair in 1976 – the Bicentennial Celebration that started it all. For the last 16 years, she’s been offering face painting at the fair. That’s long enough that some of the kids faces she has painted, now bring their own kids to her.

“I love it,” Kolar said of the Heritage Fair. “The entertainment, the arts and crafts, the food. It’s just a tradition in Dundalk,you’ve got to come to fair.

“And, at night, when not as many stop by with their children, I can sneak over to listen to the music. I can’t wait. I worship Eddie Money.”