PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Becky Brashear, CFE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2003

Exhibits Opening Early in 2003
141^st Great Frederick Fair Opens Friday, Sept. 12

FREDERICK, MD-- The fairgrounds in Frederick will be bustling when The Great Frederick Fair opens its gates to the public for the 141^st year on Friday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m. Building exhibits will all open to the public at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13. The fair will continue through Saturday, Sept. 20.

"As always, we have a variety of exciting activities scheduled for the fair this year," said fair board President J.R. Ramsburg, Jr. " The fair will open on Friday evening with the midway and the selection of the 4-H Royalty and Frederick County Farm Family of the Year. We are excited to announce that all of the building exhibits will open a day earlier this year. The Household, Farm and Garden and 4-H buildings will be open to the public on Saturday at 3 p.m. to allow a greater number of fair visitors the chance to see the exhibits."

Friday, Sept. 12, fair visitors will enjoy free admission. Admission will be charged beginning 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at the $5 admission rate and $5 parking fee. Youngsters under 18 are admitted free Monday through Friday until 5 p.m.

Activities begin at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12, with the opening of Reithoffer's carnival and midway. The first of the grandstand attractions get under way at 7 p.m. Friday with the crowning of the 2003-04 Frederick County 4-H King and Queen and the naming of Frederick County's Farm Family of the Year. There will also be special recognition of students in the Frederick County Public Schools’ Character Counts Program.

Exhibits will be accepted in the Farm and Garden Building (Building 14A) from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, and from 4-9 p.m.. Friday, Sept. 12. Judging in that building will be held Saturday, Sept. 13, with the building opening to the public at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Beer and wine entries will be accepted on Sunday, Sept. 7, from 1-5 p.m.

Exhibitors planning to enter items in the Household Department at Building 9 can do so by the following schedule: entries (all but baked goods) will be accepted from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10 and 2-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11. Baked goods entries will be accepted from 2-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12. Baked goods will be judged at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13. The building opens to the public at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13. Be sure to read the rules and regulations in detail as there are some entering requirements for the Household Department.

Friday Kids’ Day is back in 2003 on Friday, Sept. 19. All rides will be reduced by one ticket from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Regular prices will be charged after 5 p.m. Nearly 30 rides from the Reithoffer Shows will give fair goers their much-awaited thrills during the nine-day event.

Ride promotions scheduled for the week are: Friday, Sept 12, 5 p.m. - closing, Pay-One-Price (POP) $13 without Coke can, $11 with Coke can or on-line purchase (regular price afer 5 p.m.); Saturday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., POP $13 without Coke can, $11 with Coke can or on-line purchase (regular price after 5 p.m.); Sunday, Sept. 14, regular ticket prices; Monday, Sept. 15, 2 p.m. - closing, regular ticket prices; Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2 p.m. - closing, POP $13 without Coke can, $11 with Coke can or on-line purchase; Wednesday. Sept. 17, 2 p.m. - closing, regular ticket price; Thursday, Sept 18, 2 pm. - closing, POP $13 without Coke can, $11 with Coke can or on-line purchase; Friday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., all rides reduced by one ticket (regular price after 5 p.m.); Saturday, Sept. 20, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., POP $13 without Coke can, $11 with Coke can or on-line purchase (regular price after 5 p.m.). Wristbands will not be sold after 3 p.m. on the days POP ends at 5 p.m. Wristbands will be honored until 5 p.m. on these days.

Fair goers on Saturday, Sept. 13, can get an early start by watching the Western 4-H Horse and Pony show in the infield at 8 a.m. Also at 8 a.m. is the open class dairy goat show at Building 32. The 4-H alpaca show will be held at Building 18. Show time on Saturday is 3 p.m. The Household Building and the Farm and Garden Building will open for public viewing at 3 p.m. Saturday. Saturday's grandstand performance featuring Diamond Rio gets under way at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for track seats; $23 for reserved grandstand seats; and $18 for reserved general admission.

Sunday morning features the popular Draft Horse and Mule Show featuring the halter classes and cart and hitch classes, beginning at 9 a.m. in the infield. Trick Pony takes the stage at 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $25 for track seats; $23 for reserved grandstand; and $18 for general admission . Concert ticket prices do not include fair admission or parking. Judging in the 4-H rabbit and poultry exhibits will take place Sunday. The 4-H Cake Auction at 6 p.m. will round out Sunday’s events.

For a complete fair schedule, call the fair's administration office at 301-663-5895. For ticket information and sales, call 301-695-3928, or visit the fair’s website at www.thegreatfrederickfair.com.