One of the largest county fairs in Maryland, the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair has been a major draw for locals and visitors since 1949, with activities, over 5,000 farm animals, food, and carnival rides for all to enjoy. Sitting on 62 acres, this year’s fair will be held from August 8 – 16, 2025, at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.
To help you make the most of your visit this year, below is a breakdown of everything you need to know before you load up on cotton candy and funnel cake at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair.
Getting to the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair
The Montgomery County Fairgrounds is located in Gaithersburg, Maryland, at 501 Perry Parkway, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. It is easily accessible for families living throughout the county and those traveling from Washington, DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Richmond. The fairgrounds are located right off I-270. Take Exit 11 for Montgomery Village and Quince Orchard Road. If you are taking I-270 North, keep going through the first light. Otherwise, if you are coming from I-270 South, make a left onto Montgomery Village Ave. Then, at the second light, make a right onto Route 355 South. A right at the following light will take you right onto Perry Parkway, where the Fairgrounds’ entrance will be on the left.
There is ample onsite parking for $20 cash or credit card. But, there is also free parking and shuttle bus service available from Montgomery College Rockville and Germantown Campuses. Shuttle buses will run from both places 30 minutes before Fair opening each day and run consistently until closing time each night.
Fun and Entertainment at the Fair
The Montgomery County Agricultural Fair has rides and attractions for all ages. There are kid-friendly trains, slides, a merry-go-round, tea cups, and the famed Ferris Wheel. For adventurous adults, there are the gondola wheel, a haunted mansion, a magic maze glass house, Tilt-A-Whirl, and many others.
Every day, the fair also features great free entertainment. At the Sheehy Ford Grandstand, enjoy the Redeye Rodeo, Renegade Monster Trucks, and a one-night-only Stoney Roberys Demolition Derby. Watch Swine Racing, a Comedy Hypnotist, the Ultimate Stilt Walker, Chainsaw Carver, Harmony Express, and more at the PEPCO, an Exelon Company Community Stage. Some of these events require an extra ticket purchase.
There will also be fun contests with great prizes for everyone to get in on, including photo contests, coloring page contests, and cheese carving. Of course, don’t forget to share your images with the Visit Montgomery Instagram page by tagging @visitmoco, and we might feature your creation!
Eating at the Fair
Whether you are looking for something sweet or savory, the fair offers an extensive array of food vendors. Cheese lovers should stop by the Big Cheese, which sold 10,000 gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches during last year’s festivities. Fans of the deep-fried variety can get deep-fried Twinkies, Snickers, Milkways, S’mores, and cheesecake at the fair. And don’t forget about the Dickerson Market’s famous fried chicken, a fair favorite.
It’s also the chance to grab some fresh produce to take home with you, like the pop-up farm market stand from Butler’s Orchard or homemade candy from Lancaster County Dutch Market. For something sweet, grab a warm strudel from Little Austria or a New Orleans Style Snow Ball with your flavor of choosing.
If you’re in the mood to sip on libations during your time at the fair, head to the Grapes and Grains Garden Tent, where adults 21+ can enjoy beer, wine, and spirits from locally made vendors including Doc Waters Cidery, Lone Oak Brewing, and Twin Valley Distilleries. Stick around for the live music daily during the fair from 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Tickets and Hours of Operation
The fair runs from Friday, August 8, to Saturday, August 16, and offers an exciting fair schedule throughout the week. On opening day on Friday, the fair is open from 3:00 pm to midnight. Sunday through Thursday, the fair gates open from 10:00 am – 11:00 pm and the carnival opens from noon – midnight. Friday, August 15, and Saturday, August 16, the fair will be open from 10:00 am to midnight.
Children ages 11 and under can get into the fair for free. Adults will cost $18 each at the gate and $13.88 if you purchase online. You can also purchase a season pass for $96.70, which includes unlimited admissions and parking fees.
Once you get inside the fair, it can get overwhelming with so much to see and do. Print out the fair map beforehand to make sure you hit up your favorite concession stand or ride.
