FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2004
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: BECKY BRASHEAR, 301-663-5895

First weekend activities plentiful!
142nd GREAT FREDERICK FAIR OPENS FRIDAY, SEPT. 17

FREDERICK, MD-- The fairgrounds in Frederick will be bustling when The Great Frederick Fair opens its gates to the public for the 142nd year on Friday, Sept. 17 at 5 p.m. Building exhibits will all open to the public at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18. The fair runs through Saturday, Sept. 25.

"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 the 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. And, the Household, Farm and Garden and 4-H buildings will open to the public on at 3 p.m. on Saturday for fairgoers to see the exhibits."

On Friday, Sept. 17, fair visitors will enjoy free admission. Admission will be charged beginning 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, at the $5 admission rate and $5 parking fee. Youngsters under 18 are admitted for free Monday through Friday until 5 p.m.

Activities begin at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, 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 2004-05 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.

All entries in the Farm and Garden Building (Building 14A), except beer and wine, will be accepted from 4-9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, and Friday, Sept. 17. Judging in that building will be done on Saturday, Sept. 18, with the building opening to the public at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Beer and wine entries will be accepted on Sunday, Sept. 12, from noon-5 p.m.

New entry dates and times have been set for exhibitors in the Household Building. Exhibitors planning to enter items can do so by the following schedule: all photography, fine arts and multi media entries will be accepted from 10 a.m-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11. They will be judged Sunday, Sept. 12. All other entries in the Household Building (all but baked goods, photography, fine arts and multi media) will be accepted from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15 and from 2-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16. Baked goods entries will be accepted from 2-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17. Baked goods will be judged at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18. The building opens to the public at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18. Be sure to read the rules and regulations in detail as there are some entering requirements for the Household Department.

Friday, Kids’ Day, is set for Friday, Sept. 24. 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. 17: 5 p.m.-closing, Pay On Price (POP) $15 w/o Coke product can; $13 with Coke product can, or on-line purchase; Saturday, Sept. 18: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., POP $15 w/o Coke product can; $13 with Coke product can or on-line purchase (regular price after 5 p.m.); Sunday, Sept. 19: noon-closing, regular price; Monday, Sept.20: 2 p.m.-closing, regular price; Tuesday, Sept. 21: 2 p.m.-closing, POP $15 w/o Coke product can; $13 with Coke product can or on-line purchase; Wednesday, Sept. 22: 2 p.m.-closing, regular price and $40 Carload Special (includes fair admission, parking and carnival rides, must park in Lot D off Monocacy Boulevard); Thursday, Sept. 23: 2 p.m.-closing, POP $15 w/o Coke product can; $13 with Coke product can or on-line purchase; Friday, Sept. 24: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., all rides reduced by 1 ticket (regular prices after 5 p.m.); Saturday, Sept. 25: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., POP $15 w/o Coke product can; $13 with Coke product can or on-line purchase (regular price after 5 p.m.) Wrist bands for POP will NOT be sold after 3 p.m.; wristbands will honored until 5 p.m. on specified days.

Fair goers on Saturday, Sept. 18, can get an early start by watching the English 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. At 1 p.m. Saturday is the 4-H alpaca show at Building 18. The Household and Farm and Garden Buildings open for public viewing at 3 p.m. Saturday. Saturday's grandstand performance featuring JoDee Messina 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. at the Equine Show Arena. 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. rounds 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.