Planning Underway for 2011 Perry Hall/White Marsh Town Fair

If you're looking to sponsor, set up shop or promote your organization at the Perry Hall/White Marsh Town Fair Saturday, July 9, the time to register is now.

Applications are available on the fair website and space is limited, said Perry Hall White Marsh Business Association President Lynn Richardson.

For its second year, the fair will be at Honeygo Village Center on Honeygo Boulevard. The 2010 fair was the first community fair held on private property since it started in 1996. Past fairs were held at , and, most recently, .

While some community members had hoped the fair would return to Perry Hall High School, make that impossible,  Richardson said.

"We spent a lot of time fighting that battle in 2009; we worked on it from a lot of different angles, but the battle is lost as long as the existing school board is there," Richardson said.

The committee is satisfied with its new location, she added: "We like it better. There aren't as many governmental hoops."

As the fair celebrates its 15th year, organizers hope to make it bigger and better than ever.

The event will feature 98Rock disc jockey Stash, six bands, a beer garden, roughly 175 vendors, sponsors, organizations and several performers and entertainers. Between 12,000 and 14,000 people are expected to attend, said Richardson.

But increased attractions could mean an increased need for event parking. County Councilman David Marks, a member of the fair's 14-person planning committee, is responsible for organizing parking and traffic control.

Marks has already secured parking at nearby Gough Park and Perry Hall Park. Additional parking areas are in the works, he said.

While limited parking will also be available at the shopping center, visitors are strongly encouraged to park in a nearby designated area and travel to the fairgrounds using a free shuttle service.

"After 15 years, it's become a permanent tradition for the community," said Marks, who got involved with the fair while serving as president of the Perry Hall Improvement Association.

More than 60 percent of the sponsors and vendors live or work in the Perry Hall or White Marsh area, said Richardson, adding that proceeds from the event are donated to local volunteer groups, charitable organizations and a scholarship fund.

"We do this for the community. It's about the families and giving back and creating a centerpiece event for the community to celebrate who they are," she said.