164th Great Frederick Fair opens with new attractions, big crowds and old traditions
The nine-day fair opens Sept. 18 with agriculture, grandstand entertainment, new family attractions and a first-ever mullet contest with more than 60 contestants preregistered.
HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW
The Great Frederick Fair runs Sept. 18-26, 2026. It is the 164th fair. Organizers expect 215,000 to 230,000 visitors. More than 4,500 exhibitors entered nearly 16,500 exhibits. More than 400 youth exhibitors are participating. New attractions include Build-A-Bear and Amazon’s Think Big Discovery Zone. The new mullet contest starts at 11 a.m. Saturday. More than 60 contestants had preregistered. The theme is “One Nation. One Fair. Together We’re Better.”
One of Frederick County’s biggest annual traditions is back.
The 164th Great Frederick Fair opens Friday, Sept. 18, and runs through Sept. 26, bringing nine days of agriculture, rides, food, entertainment and competitions to the Frederick Fairgrounds. The fair’s official site confirms the 2026 dates and its theme: “One Nation. One Fair. Together We’re Better.”
Organizers expect between 215,000 and 230,000 visitors, depending largely on the weather.
More than 4,500 exhibitors have entered nearly 16,500 exhibits, including more than 400 youth exhibitors, according to the source material.
Agriculture remains at the center of the event, but this year also brings several new attractions.
Those additions include a Build-A-Bear location, Amazon’s Think Big Discovery Zone, new food vendors and a brand-new mullet contest.
The mullet contest begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, and the fair’s official schedule confirms the competition at the Grandstand.
More than 60 contestants had preregistered according to the source material, making the new event one of the fair’s more unusual additions.
The fair’s entertainment lineup also includes major grandstand acts and traditional motorsports events, while the midway and livestock areas continue to anchor the experience.
The official fair website lists the 2026 event as the 164th fair and confirms the Sept. 18-26 schedule.
For many Frederick families, though, the biggest draw remains the same combination that has defined the fair for generations: animals, agriculture, competitions, rides and community.
WHAT IT MEANS
The Great Frederick Fair continues to blend new attractions with the agricultural traditions that remain at the center of the event.
This year’s attendance could again put hundreds of thousands of people through the gates, while additions such as the mullet contest and new family attractions give returning visitors something different to experience.
Original reporting referenced by Everything Frederick:
The Great Frederick Fair; source material provided in Today’s News →Want more Frederick updates like this?
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