Home / Schedule
18 — 26 September 2026
The Nine-Day Programme
Gate hours, midway times, daily themes and the grandstand bill. Pick a day below — it opens on today's date once the fair is running.
Times are compiled from the fair's published schedule and change without notice · Check the official schedule
Friday 18 September
Opening Day- Gates open. The only day the fair starts in the afternoon. Parking lots open earlier.
- Carnival opens. Reithoffer's midway lights up for the first night of its 32nd season here.
- Grandstand opener takes the stage.
- Daughtry headlines. Advance tickets $51–71; VIP $200 and include gate admission.
- Agricultural Awards Ceremony — the formal opening of the fair.
- Gates close.
If you only go once this week
Opening night is short and busy. For a first visit, a weekday morning gives you far more fair for the same ticket.
Saturday 19 September
Grange Day- Gates open. Standard hours from here to closing Saturday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Carnival opens and runs to close.
- Pop 2000 Tour — Chris Kirkpatrick, LFO, O-Town and Ryan Cabrera. $20–47; VIP $200.
- Boer Goat Shows and the Youth Horse Show in the livestock rings.
- The Mullet Contest. Exactly what it sounds like, and a genuine local institution.
Sunday 20 September
Family Day- Gates open.
- Faith at the Fair — the fairground service.
- Sensory-friendly midway. Lights and music turned down for a low-stimulation window. Sundays only.
- Youth Rabbit Show and the Dairy Cattle Shows.
- Mark Wills opens the grandstand.
- Neal McCoy headlines. $25–47; VIP $200.
The best day for young children
Family Day plus the low-sensory midway window makes Sunday the gentlest day of the nine — and considerably calmer than either Saturday.
Monday 21 September
Canned Food Drive · Lunch Bunch- Gates open. Bring a canned donation and admission drops to $5 all day.
- Senior Day. Free admission for ages 65 and over, Monday through Wednesday.
- Lunch Bunch. Free gate admission — buy your lunch on the grounds. Runs Monday to Thursday.
- Youth livestock shows across the barns.
- Truck & Tractor Pull at the grandstand. $21–26 — the cheapest grandstand ticket of the week.
The cheapest day at the fair
A can of soup and five dollars, or nothing at all between 11 and 2. If you are over 65, Monday costs you a parking space and no more.
Tuesday 22 September
Carload Day- Gates open.
- Senior Day continues — 65 and over free.
- Lunch Bunch free admission window.
- Carload Special — $60. Parking, admission and ride wristbands for up to eight people in one vehicle. Tuesday only.
- Youth Poultry Judging and a jousting exhibition — Maryland's state sport, and yes, on horseback.
- Demolition Derby — Cars. $21–26.
Wednesday 23 September
Military Day- Gates open.
- Military Day. Free admission with military ID.
- Senior Day — final day, 65 and over free.
- Lunch Bunch free admission window.
- Harness racing on the track, plus the Celebrity Harness Races — local figures in the sulky, which goes about as well as you'd expect.
- Demolition Derby — Trucks & Vans. $21–26.
Thursday 24 September
Old Fashion Day- Gates open.
- Lunch Bunch — last day of the free-admission lunch window.
- Parade of Antique Cars and the day's youth livestock shows.
- Grandstand opener.
- Danny Gokey headlines. $25–45; VIP $175.
Friday 25 September
Kids' Day- Gates open.
- Kids' Day. Free admission for everyone 18 and under.
- Reduced ride prices on the midway.
- Harness racing on the track.
- Let's Sing Taylor! — a live-band Taylor Swift celebration. $20–37; VIP $125.
Free kids plus discount rides plus a Swift show
If you have children of a certain age, this is the day the fair was built for. Expect the midway to be at its busiest between 3 and 6 p.m.
Saturday 26 September
Youth Livestock Sale · Closing Night- Gates open for the last full day.
- GFF Youth Livestock Sale. The year's work by 4-H and FFA members comes to auction — the emotional centre of the whole week and open to spectators.
- Grandstand opener.
- Warren Zeiders closes the fair. $50–85; VIP $250.
- Gates close on the 164th Great Frederick Fair.
Sunday 27 September
Not a public fair day. Animals and exhibits are released and the grounds come down.
Under the lights
Every night has a grandstand act
Five concerts, two demolition derbies and a truck pull. Each day panel above names that evening's event — the full bill, with prices, start times and what to expect in the stands, has a page of its own.
Worth knowing before you plan a day: an advance grandstand ticket includes gate admission for the day of the performance, which on the cheaper nights makes it the least expensive way through the gate.
Cheapest night
$21Mon 21 · Truck & Tractor Pull
Eleven dollars more than plain online admission, for a full evening event and your day at the fair.
Closing night
$50Sat 26 · Warren Zeiders
The busiest night of the week. Book early if it matters to you.
Now work out what it costs
Gate prices, ride wristbands, parking and the four free-admission days — all on one page.