Arts & Entertainment

MARYLAND STATE FAIR: The New, the Old and the Bieber

More than 400,000 are expected to attend 129th Maryland State Fair and its "11 Best Days of Summer."

The 129th Maryland State Fair kicks off tomorrow in Timonium for an 11-day run that will feature such novel attractions as live jousting, a big rollercoaster, a Navy flight simulator, a live animal birthing center and a … oh, who are we kidding:

Justin Bieber is coming!

Bieber Fever is scheduled to sweep the fairgrounds (ironically, the site of massive swine flu inoculations last year) when the teen sensation appears Sept. 5 to a sold-out crowd that will stream in from throughout the region.

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Between 400,000 and 500,000 people are expected to visit the fair during its Aug. 27 to Sept. 6 stretch, said Andy Cashman, assistant general manager for the Maryland State Fair. More are possible, considering that Bieber's show has been sold out for weeks, an appearance that has given the fair a much higher profile than usual.

"I've been here for awhile, and I've never heard of the state fair discussed on TV in June," Cashman said. "We really stepped up our entertainment a notch. It was kind of a lucky thing more than anything else.

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 "As far as Justin Bieber, I've heard people compare him to The Beatles, to him being that kind of heartthrob," he added.

Also scheduled to perform are country music performer Gretchen Wilson on Aug. 27 and former Poison front man Bret Michaels on Sept. 1. Tickets may still be available for both shows.

This week, workers were still preparing for the onslaught of visitors who will clog the roads around Timonium just as surely as they will clog their arteries with the fair's famous deep fried fare.

The site is still like a giant metal jigsaw being pieced together by hundreds of day laborers before opening. Semi-trucks are wheeling in colorful mounds of metal for the massive assembly. On the racetrack infield, the clang of metal poles echo as a team of specialists erect an impressive stage.

But high-profile musical entertainment acts are not the only new attractions this year.

The fair will also play host to the U.S. Navy, coinciding with Navy Week in Baltimore. The Naval section will feature a "Blue Angel" flight simulator for most of the week as well as a variety of informational booths and Navy bands.

Other new additions include a lively farmers market featuring strictly Baltimore County farmers for the entire run of the fair.

Making a resurgence at the fair after a long absence is Maryland's state sport of jousting. Members of the Amateur Jousting Club of Maryland will dazzle spectators with the size and speed of their horses and deadly accuracy of their lances in competition.

The amusement rides will also have their own version of Justin Bieber in the form of a new large-scale roller coaster.

Tonight is "Ridemania." After 5 p.m. visitors can ride all night for $15.

Admission to the fair costs $8 for adults, $6 for seniors over 62 and $3 for children between 6 and 11. Under 6 are free. Tickets for rides cost $1 each. Each ride requires between one and six tickets.

"It's never a dull moment. I love my job. I think I have the easiest job in the world. I enjoy this," Cashman said. "I just love being at the fair. I grew up with it. With my family, it was a tradition. I was the youngest of five kids, and I've never missed one since I was born."

With that in mind, there is a reason the state fair averages 400,000 in attendance annually. Unique mainstays like horse, and yes, pig racing are a huge draws for crowds.

Returning this year is chainsaw sculptor Marty Long, who in the past has been able to carve Baltimore Ravens and Maryland Terrapins logos, making it look easy.

'The charm, if we have charm, is that it's a combination of what's new and different and what's old and traditional. People expect both, and we try to give it to them," said Maryland State Fair president and general manager Howard "Max" Mosner.

"The thing that I enjoy most about it is watching people have a good time," Mosner added. "Whether that's a young child on a kiddie ride, or someone watching a baby calf being born in the birthing center … or somebody rooting for a horse down by the race track."

The animals rank highest in popularity followed by food and rides, according to surveys from previous years.

The agricultural aspect of the show is a key priority of Cashman and Mosner who believe that it preserves a piece of state history that is slipping away. It's also the main thrust of the Maryland State Fair's mission.

"I like the fact that we try to educate people. People are so removed from the farm. The animals keep us separate from places like Hershey Park and farmers carnivals. The agricultural part of us is really important to keep involved and learning," Cashman said.

Other fair mainstays, although they are certainly the most despised, are persistent traffic and parking problems. With that in mind, Cashman offered three tips as to how to best enjoy your day at the Fair:

Step 1: Come Early. Doors open at 9 a.m. Try to beat the crowds that will surely back up on York Road.

Step 2: Carpooling is OK. But the light rail is better. There is a light rail stop dedicated to fair traffic. Carpooling works but keep in mind that police are blocking off traffic from making a left turn into the fairgrounds from York Road. From Interstate-83 drivers should take the Padonia Road exit and loop back around.

Step 3: Cash is king. ATMs are available on-site. Cash moves lines much faster than plastic.

Last year the fair was ranked in the top 50 nationally, based on attendance.

The fun part ends on Sept. 7. After that, the clean-up.

"It's like a bomb went off," said Cashman, speaking of the event's cleanup. "You're talking about going to a peak and dropping straight down."

But it's worth the effort.

"It's a really neat thing to be involved with this," he said. "It's our time."


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