The Montgomery County Agricultural Fair returns on Friday, August 9th and will run through Saturday, August 17th. This will be the 75th annual fair and its fourth year back after having to cancel for the first time in its 70+ year history in 2020 due to Covid restrictions.
Tickets for admission and parking, as well as special events like the Demolition Derby, Red Eye Rodeo, Truck & Tractor Pull, and Monster Truck Madness, can be purchased here.
Below you’ll see a list of the free entertainment available within the fair:
August 9 – 4pm & 6:30pm
August 10 – 1pm
August 11 – 1pm
August 12 thru August 16 – 3:30pm & 6:30pm
August 17 – 1pm & 6:30pm
Location: PEPCO an Exelon Company Community Stage
Brad is an educational agricultural specialist. He entertains and educates Fairgoers on Maryland Agriculture. Find out how you can eat healthier with Maryland Agriculture. Brad is always in need of volunteers to help with the Magic and Comedy as he shows you how you can eat better through Maryland Agriculture, so make sure to get to the show early!
CARRIE MCQUEEN – THE ULTIMATE STILT WALKER
Various Times, Daily Roaming The Grounds! Keep an eye out for the ultimate stilt walker! Carrie juggles, dances, and creates an atmosphere of fun and excitement! She will be strolling the Fair at various times. Be sure to look out for her amazing acts! You never know what character you will see!
JOE STEBBING – CHAINSAW CARVER
August 9 – 4pm & 5:30pm & 7pm
August 10 thru August 17 – 2pm & 5pm & 7pm
Location: In Farmer’s Triangle!
Joe Stebbing the Chainsaw Carver can quickly transform a three-foot tall log into a true work of art. Nearly every show will result with a carving being produced from start to finish, with as many as four carvings per day and shows lasting up to an hour. The best part – you can purchase a carving! Be sure to check the Fair Schedule for show times!
BRAD MATCHETT – COMEDY HYPNOTIST
Friday, August 9th thru Saturday, August 17th – 9pm
Location: PEPCO an Exelon Company Community Stage
Brad Matchett provides a family-friendly Vegas style Hypnosis Show with volunteers that want to experience a great time. People who can relax and let go will find out just how much fun they can have. Hypnosis can often be described as a deep state of relaxation. One hour of hypnosis is like 6 to 8 hours of sleep. We all go in and out of hypnosis every day – driving, reading a book, watching TV, or even playing a video game. Be sure to check out this hilarious show that is guaranteed to make you laugh!
JOSH & LEA KNOTTS – EXTREME ILLUSIONS AND ESCAPES
August 9 – 5:30 & 8 pm
August 10 – 8pm
August 11 – 12:00pm, 2:30pm & 8pm
August 12 thru August 17 – 2:30pm, 4:30pm & 8pm
Location: PEPCO an Exelon Company Community Stage
Josh & Lea Knotts have become a crowd favorite at every event where they have performed. The duo have designed a show mixed with amazing stage illusions, skillful escapes, audience participation and exciting music. Certainly not your everyday “magic” act…forget all you know and prepare to be amazed by Extreme Illusions & Escapes.
FAST ACTION MOTORSPORTS
August 09 – 5pm, 6:30pm & 8:00pm
August 10 – 2:00pm, 3:30pm, 5:00pm, 6:30pm & 8:00pm
August 11 & 12 3:30pm, 5:00pm, 6:30pm & 8:00pm
August 13 thru August 16 – 5:00pm, 6:30pm & 8:00pm
August 17 – 2:00pm, 3:30 pm, 5:00pm, 6:30pm & 8:00pm
Location: On the Upper Grounds – near building 6!
Race against other Fairgoers in tournaments for trophies and a chance to win the Montgomery County Fair Grand Championship! Open to all ages!
HARMONY EXPRESS
Various Times Daily
Harmony Express is a barbershop style mixed a cappella chorus, operating as the Germantown, MD chapter of Barbershop Harmony Society whose motto is “Everyone in Harmony.” Their mission is the preservation and encouragement of barbershop singing which focuses on the use of four-part chords and the signature “barbershop seventh.”
Look for Harmony Express strolling and singing through the upper Fairgrounds weeknights 6-10 pm and weekends 2-7 pm. Their repertoire will include barbershop classics, patriotic songs, and newer favorites.
COWBOY CIRCUS
Danny Grant’s Cowboy Circus is “The World’s Smallest Rodeo” This interactive Cowboy Experience, is an exciting, fun and unique show for the whole family!
August 10-17, 2024
Shows start daily at 11:30am, 1:00pm & 5:00pm
Location: KidZone
Wheels of Agriculture is an interactive, trivia based game show! The questions are agricultural based and include topics such as: Local Agriculture, Animals, Plants, Food Groups, Farm and barnyard, music and other sounds. Fun for the whole family!
CIRCUS INCREDIBLE SHOW
August 9 – 3:30pm, 4:30pm & 6:00pm
August 10 & August 11 – 12:30pm, 4pm & 7:00pm
August 12 – 3:00pm & 7:00pm
August 13, 14, & 15 – 3:00pm & 6:00pm
August 16 & August 17 – 12:30pm, 3:00 pm & 6:00 pm
Location: Upper Grounds – Near KidZone
Circus Incredible is made up of 2nd, 7th and the 8th generation circus performers.
Lyric Wallenda of the “World Famous Wallenda” family displays her aerial artistry of grace, beauty and strength. Simon Arestov who is originally from Moscow, Russia. Simon will amaze audiences of all ages with his jaw dropping acrobatics and balancing! Simons acts are Featured for NBA and NCAA Halftimes!!!
Also Featuring Little Alexander Wallenda Arestov the NEXT Generation of Circus! Alex made his debut in The worlds most famous arena Madison Square Garden performing for the New York Knicks Halftime show on the Rolla Bolla with his father. America’s Youngest Halftime Performer!!
RAPTORS UP CLOSE
Location: PEPCO An Exelon Company Community Stage and the Upper Grounds
Be sure to stop by the Raptors tent to see Birds of Prey up close! There will also be a show every morning to learn more about these amazing birds. Check out the Fair Schedule for show times!
SHOW-ME SWINE RACERS BROUGHT TO YOU BY GRANT COUNTY MULCH
August 9 – 5pm & 7:30pm
August 10 – 12pm, 2:00pm, & 7:30pm
August 11 – 11:30pm, 1:30 pm, 4:30pm & 7:30pm
August 12 thru 17 – 12pm, 1:30pm, 5:30 & 7:30pm
Location: near the PEPCO an Exelon Company Community Stage!
Get ready to be entertained by the comedy of this world racing little piggies team as they race to the finish line for a treat!
LIVE HONEY BEE DEMONSTRATIONS
August 9 – 17 – various times
Location: across from Old MacDonald’s Barn
Would you like fresh honey? Stop by the Honey & Beeswax display in Building 2!
JESS KELLIE ADAMS CONCERT
Saturday, August 10 – 4:30pm
Location: Pepco and Exelon Company Community Stage!
Jess Kellie Adams is an emerging Nashville country artist and songwriter with a powerful voice! She brings classic country music with a touch of rock and roll.
AG Center History: “The Montgomery County Agricultural Fair was born out of the desire of 4-H leaders to provide a county show for the 4-H members in Montgomery County. This would allow the 4-H members to exhibit their prize livestock, garden and home economics projects to the community. Their initial meeting occurred on a cold, March night in Rockville in 1945 with the intent to start a Fair. The Montgomery County Fair is now today, one of the largest county Fairs in the State of Maryland.
During the first years of this new program from 1945 to 1948, anyone in the community with an interest in agriculture donated their time and efforts to provide 4-H and FFA youth the opportunity to compete for top awards with their projects. Parents of these youth served refreshments for the participants, sold catalog advertisements, built pens and ties for the livestock, and organized the entries. Prize money was provided by the Maryland State Fair Board with the shows being held on borrowed ground.
The Montgomery County Agricultural Center Inc. (MCAC) was formed as a privately operated 501(c) (3) non-profit organization on January 7, 1949, when a group of local farmers were elected as the first Board of Directors by the volunteer membership of the organization. The MCAC had recently purchased 64 acres of land adjacent to the railroad tracks from Herman Rabbitt, a successful farmer and landowner in Gaithersburg. On June 4th, 1949, hundreds of volunteers participated in after an old-fashioned barn raising and 12 outbuildings were constructed in one day. The site of the new Montgomery County Agricultural Center was created. Dedicated volunteers donated time, materials and talent to construct and continue operation of the Montgomery County Agricultural Fairgrounds. The Fairgrounds would not be what it is today if it were not for those visionary pioneers who were committed to agricultural education and family entertainment.
As is true today for the agricultural center, the volunteers were, and still are, necessary to the successful operation of the Fairgrounds, through continued contributions of materials and free labor for the construction of the new facilities, as well as upgrading the old. A network of more than 2,000 volunteers continue providing their time, making the agricultural center a vital part of the business community in Montgomery County. The nine day Montgomery County Agricultural Fair that is held in mid-August requires support from over 800 volunteers who assume the responsibility for organizing and producing the single largest annual event in Montgomery County.”