The 25th Annual Harford County Farm Fair at the Harford County Equestrian Center located at 608 Tollgate Road in Bel Air, Maryland 21014, promises many new and traditional fun activities for the whole family! The Fair will be held beginning Thursday, July 26 through Sunday July 29. The hours of the Fair are from 10 am to 10 pm on Thursday through Saturday and 10 am to 6 pm on Sunday. Pre-Fair fundraising activities will be held beginning on Tuesday, July 17 through Sunday, July 22.
The Farm Fair is dedicated to promoting Agriculture, 4-H and the Future Farmers of America (FFA) in Harford County - providing an opportunity to showcase the history, active local economy and future of farming for folks throughout the region to enjoy.
To celebrate the 25th annual fair there are many new activities planned, as well as the return of the traditional events which bring Fairgoers back to the Fair from one generation to the next.
The 2012 Fair will be preceded by the Harford County Farm Fair Carnival and Beer Barn - a full Midway of rides and games with refreshments for all and a Beer Garden for the adults. The Carnival will be held on the Equestrian Center Fair Grounds and runs from Tuesday, July 17 through Saturday, July 21. The hours are from 5 pm to 10 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday; 5 pm to 11 pm on Friday and 12 noon to 11 pm on Saturday. Family discounts for rides will be available every day of the Carnival. The Beer Barn will be open throughout the hours of the Carnival on Friday and Saturday, only, in the Main Pavilion at the Equestrian Center Fairgrounds and will include Beer and Wine by the glass, refreshments, music, raffle & other activities. There is no cover charge for the Beer Barn. The Farm Fair Carnival is held as a fundraising activity to offset the costs of the traditional (no-Midway) Fair. Parking for the Carnival is on the Fairgrounds. There will be no satellite parking with buses during the Carnival.
Another pre-Fair fundraising activity is the 2nd Annual Harford County Farm Fair 5K Run which will be held on Sunday, July 22 at 8:00 am. Registration for the 5K run is on the Farm Fair website at www.farmfair.org. The Farm Fair 5K course is family-friendly and winds its way across the Heavenly Waters park surrounding the Farm Fair Equestrian Center.
During the Farm Fair from Thursday July 26 through Sunday, July 29 are new and familiar activities:
The Fair Board is pleased to announce that Fireworks!!! are returning to the Fair and will be held on Thursday evening around 9:15 pm, following the Antique Tractor Pull.
The East Coast National Truck and Tractor Pull will be held on Friday and Saturday, beginning at 7:00 pm. This is a nationally sanctioned event and provides lively entertainment for all.
The Antique Tractor Pull will be held at 5:30PM on Thursday, July 26th.
The Tractor Pulls will be held at 7PM on Friday, July 27th and Saturday, July 28th.
Another new offering at the 25th Annual Farm Fair is the Farm Fair Talent Competition which will be held on Friday and Saturday, beginning at 7:30 pm, in the Main Pavilion. Contestants will compete in categories to include vocal, instrumental, dance, poetry reading, acting and other talent presentations (unicyclists? baton twirlers? comedians? magicians?) . Guest judges will be announced. Prizes will be awarded in each category of competition and video of all winners will be shown on the Farm Fair website throughout the year following the Fair! All contestants must audition prior to the Fair. The Friday evening competition will determine the top contestants in each category and the Saturday evening competition will determine the prize winners. Check the Farm Fair website for audition dates and entry information.
The Second Annual Harford County Farm Fair Food & Wine Fiesta with Craft & Farmer's Market has been moved to Sunday afternoon during the Farm Fair - July 29. The Fiesta & Market is to be held in the Main Pavilion beginning at 1:00 pm and will remain open through the close of the Fair at 6:00 pm. The Fiesta & Market is open to Harford County producers of retail consumables - a celebration of our local Field to Table economy. Patrons will find a delectable array of cheeses, ice cream, frozen meats, vegetables and fruits as well as Wine Tasting of local wine producers and the opportunity to purchase local wines by the bottle (or case!). Area restaurants are invited to participate to sell hot and cold food items focused on the use of local, seasonal foods. Artisans will display their hand-crafted decorative items for sale. Click here for the 2012 Farm Fair Food & Wine Fiesta Registration Form.
NEW for the 25th annual Fair is the Seasonal Sensations Culinary Competition which will be held during the Fiesta. Prizes will be awarded for the best culinary treat in the categories of hot or cold appetizer, entree, dessert or beverage. Celebrity judges will be announced. Winners of the Culinary Competition and the annual Peach Pie Contest will be announced at 3:30 pm in the Main Pavilion. Click here for the Seasonal Sensations Culinary Registration Form.
Featured each day will be the Flying Hounds Dog Show, with presentations throughout the day. This high-energy show will delight fairgoers of all ages.
Another New Attraction is the Puppenmeister Marionette Show with 27” marionettes to delight children of all ages!
The Prayer Breakfast will start the Fair at 7:30 am on Thursday. Fairgoers will enjoy the traditional, non-mechanized Kidway with Face Painting, Button Making, inflatable activities, straw maze and the ever popular Pig Racing. Candy 'n' Cupcake will return to the 25th annual Fair, as well as the Horse Pulling Competition Demonstration, the Liberty Wagon, Barn Yard, Farm Baby Costume Contest, Pie Eating and Watermelon Eating Contests and the Annual 4-H Livestock Auction on Saturday evening, beginning at 5:00 pm.
Test your spelling at the annual Harford County Public Library Spelling Bee which is held on Sunday beginning at 1:00 pm. The 2012 Bee will be held on the stage of the showmobile!
4-H Annual shows and exhibits are open throughout the Fair, and all are invited to strut their stuff in the dozens of categories in the Open Classes from flowers to needlepoint to photography to vegetables and more!
Area businesses find the Farm Fair to be a welcome opportunity to advertise their services and retail sales with dozens of vendors of interesting and useful items on display and for sale throughout the 4-days of the Fair. Learn about Agriculture at the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation trailer and displays from the Harford County Extension Agency and Ag Economic Development office. Don't forget the classic Fair Food Court and t-shirts, too!
The Farm Fair Board is pleased to announce that, for the second year, 1 free ticket to the Fair will be distributed to every 5th grader in Harford County, including all public and private schools students.
Live Performances:
Nate Allan & The Pilots
7:00 - 8:00 Friday
7:00 - 8:30 Saturday
Admission to the Fair is $ 8.00 for adults; $ 5.00 for children 5 to 12 years and under 5 years, free. Seniors are admitted for $ 5.00 on Thursday, only. Adults with military ID are admitted for $ 6.00 every day of the Fair. There is no additional charge for activities within the Fair and fairgoers may bring their own food and beverages. No alcoholic beverages or smoking are permitted on the fairgrounds. The wine tasting is restricted to the Main Pavilion, during the Fiesta on Sunday, only. No pets are allowed on the fairgrounds except for registered show animals. Free Parking will be available on Tollgate Road, Vale Road, Red Pump Elementary School and Patterson Mill High School, with Shuttle Bus Service from the satellite parking lots.
Volunteers are an essential part of the Farm Fair and are needed for the ticket booths, parking and Kidway activities. We are seeking local talent to perform on the Showmobile Stage throughout the Fair, as well as demonstrations of artisan and AG related activities. Go to the website to sign-up to volunteer, to participate in the Contests and to obtain registration forms for performing on the showmobile or providing demonstrations in the show rings at the Fair.
There is something for everyone to enjoy and learn at the Harford County Farm Fair!
See you at the Fair!
410-838-8663
