See Racing Pigs at the Maryland State Fair

The annual Maryland State Fair is not all about cows, hogs and sheep.  The fair is a 21-day family fun event that offers big name concerts, bull riding, jousting tournaments, thoroughbred horseracing and all kinds of learning opportunities for children.

Learn to milk a cow, watch as livestock are born or chickens hatched, or take an agricultural fair tour including tours of the numerous livestock buildings and barns including the Cow Palace, the Milking Parlor, the Swine Barn, the Sheep & Goat Barn, the Horse Show Ring and the Rabbits and Poultry building.

This year, the big concerts (tickets required) include:

• Country singer Gretchen Wilson – Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.($24.00)
• Poison front man and reality TV star Bret Michaels – Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. ($29.00)
• Teen heart-throb Justin Bieber, the Canadian pop and R&B singer that has girls swooning and fainting much like when The Beatles invaded the US – Sunday, September 5th, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. ($47.50)

Additionally, the US Navy Band performs most nights at 6:00 and 8:00 p.m.

A few of the highlights of the Maryland State Fair include:

• More than 2 dozen professional bull riders form the IBR will compete in a “Battle of the Beast” by climbing atop some of the toughest bulls in rodeo – Monday, August 30th
• With jousting the official sport of Maryland, a jousting tournament typical to a Renaissance Festival competition – Saturday, September 4th
• Laugh out loud as you watch the Swifty Swine Racing as pigs race around a track plus a performance by Swifty the Swimming Pig – Friday, August 27th – Monday, September 6th (5 times daily)
• Live Thoroughbred Horseracing – Friday, August 27th – Sunday, August 29th and Friday, September 3rd through Monday, September 6th
• Masters Of The Chainsaw – professional chainsaw sculptures (times vary)

Maryland State Fair –2200 York Road, Timonium, Maryland  (map)

Dates and Times – Tuesday, August 17 through Monday, September 6, 2010.

• Livestock and Horse Shows – 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 pm
• Demonstration and Exhibit Halls – Monday – Thursday – noon to 10:00, Friday – Sunday & Monday, September 6th – 10:00 to 10:00
• Midway – 10:00 – 10:00 on weekends & Monday, September 6th, noon – 10:00 on weekdays

Tickets – Adult – $8:00, Seniors – $6.00,  children 6-11 – $3.00, under 6 free. Rides not included. Ride prices range from $1.00-$6.00.  Discounted ride tickets available 50 tickets for $45.   Concert ticket prices vary.

Parking – Limited parking is available for $3.00 per car.  Free parking is available at the Park & Ride on Deereco Road west of the Fairgrounds.

Public Transportation: Use the MTA bus or the light rail which stops at Timonium.

Images – Flickr – rides, pig racing and horse racing – courtesy of MSF