The fair is operated by the Montgomery County Agricultural Center Inc., which was formed as a privately operated 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization in 1949.
The fairgrounds are located at 501 Perry Parkway in Gaithersburg. General admission is $15 onsite and $12 online. Children 11-and-under are free. Parking on the fairgrounds site is $10. Free parking with shuttle bus service to the fairgrounds is available from nearby Lakeforest Mall at Lost Knife Road and Odenhal Ave.
Special admission days will be Senior Day on Tuesday, Aug. 16, with free admission for attendees 62-and-over from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Military Day on Thursday, Aug. 18, with free admission all day for active military in uniform or with a valid military ID from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Founded in 1949, the Montgomery County Agricultural Center has been home to the Montgomery County Fair since its creation. Sitting on 62 acres, the fair has more than 50 buildings that are filled with more than 5,000 animals every year. The fair features entertainment, food, commercial, home arts, arts and crafts exhibit.
Free special events at the grandstand will include lawn mower racing on Saturday, Aug. 13; Touch-a-Truck on Sunday, Aug. 14; and Truck Drag Racing on Monday, Aug. 15.
Special events that will require additional admission charges will include the Johnny Rocketts Cycle Circus on Friday, Aug. 12; the Renegade Monster Truck Tour on Wednesday, Aug. 17, and Thursday, Aug. 18; and the Demolition Derby “Night of Destruction” on Friday, Aug. 19, and Saturday, Aug. 20.
The fair was born out of the desire of 4-H leaders to provide a show for the 4-H members in Montgomery County. The show would allow the 4-H members to exhibit their prize livestock, garden and home economics projects to the community. The Montgomery County Fair is now one of the largest county fairs in Maryland.
On June 4, 1949, hundreds of volunteers participated in an old-fashioned barn raising and 12 outbuildings were constructed in one day, creating the Montgomery County Agricultural Center. Volunteers donated time, materials and talent to construct and continue operation of the fairgrounds.
More than 2,000 volunteers continue to help the successful operation of the fairgrounds. The nine-day fair requires support from more than 800 volunteers who assume the responsibility for organizing and producing the single largest annual event in Montgomery County.
