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Community Corner

The Howard Co. Fair: 10 Things Not To Miss

If it's fried Oreos or pie eating contests you're after, you're in luck. We've got 10 reasons why you shouldn't miss this year's annual Howard County Fair.

Nothing says summer like a county fair.

But while many fairs offer the usual activities such as Ferris wheel rides and carnival games, the Howard County Fair offers its guests much more.

Started in the 1940s originally as a Farm Bureau picnic, the event eventually blossomed into a full-fledged fair full of contests, livestock events and local musical acts.  

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Now in its 66th year, the Howard County Fair will start Saturday and run until Saturday Aug. 13.

With help from Fair Secretary Bettina Catalano, we’ve compiled a 2011 “Best Of” list. Read on to find out what you can’t miss.

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LISTEN TO BALTIMORE’S MARCHING RAVENS: Get into football season early by checking out a performance at the fair’s Midway Boulevard by Baltimore’s favorite football band in all its glory. Hear the group perform iconic raucous tunes Sunday, Aug. 7 at 12:30 p.m., and follow them after when they perform during the fair’s Grand Opening Parade.

GET A PIE IN THE FACE: Who doesn’t love watching dozens of voracious competitors stuff their faces without the use of their hands while getting all sorts of gooey frostings on their faces? One of the fair’s most popular events, the pie-eating contest, will take place on Sunday Aug. 7 at 12:30 p.m. in the fair’s show pavilion. And if watching it all go down isn’t your fancy, take up a plate and enter. There’s always a first for everything. For more competition, check out the Pretty Animal Contest or the Miss Howard County Farm Bureau Contest—both of which will be held Sunday afternoon following the pie festivities.

ADMIRE THE QUEEN’S HORSES: But if it’s majestic animals you’re after, then you won’t want to miss seeing the Cleveland Bay horses during this horse show on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at 8:30 a.m. The Cleveland Bay horse breed will be on display in the fair’s horse rings; not only are the Cleveland Bay horses a rare and powerful breed of animal, but such horses are what draw the very carriage of her majesty Queen Elizabeth.

WATCH MULES JUMP: If you enjoy watching mules compete at pulling blocks of concrete during the traditional fair mule pull, then you won’t want to miss this year’s newest annual event called the “Coon Mule Jump.” Immediately following the mule pulling contest on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at 5 p.m. in the fair’s contest area, a handful of Coon mules will compete at jumping over a fence that’s raised each time a mule clears it. Whatever mule jumps the highest is the winner. Such competitions might even prove to you that donkeys and horses have nothing on the all-powerful mule.

TAKE IN SOME TALENT: American Idol this is not. But Thursday night, Aug. 11, on the main exhibition stage at 7 p.m. sharp, watch as 50 area acts compete to win prizes during this amateur talent show. Said to attract a big crowd, the show will feature all sorts of acts from singers to Irish dancers to teenage bands. And unlike on those TV talent shows, this is one show where you won’t need to text in your vote. 

WATCH DOGS DO TRICKS: Watch as Fido and friends get their game on Friday, Aug. 12th at 8:30 a.m. during the fair’s dog competition. Located in the fair’s contest area, the contest comprises a dog rally during which 4-H members will put their furry pets through a number of obstacles like walking the plank, going through tubes, and jumping over jumps. It promises to be a grr-eat event to watch.

TAKE IN A LIVESTOCK AUCTION: You can hardly take in a county fair without taking in its livestock auction. On Friday, Aug. 12 at 5:45 p.m. in the fair’s show pavilion, watch as members of the fair’s 4-H clubs present themselves one-by-one in order to offer up their animals for sale to different breeders, including poultry, rabbits, swine, steer, goats and lambs. The more prized the animal, the higher the price.

TASTE FRIED OREOS: So you’ve heard of fried chicken, fried dough, and maybe even fried Twinkies. But you’ve never really lived if you’ve never tasted a fried Oreo cookie.  Prepared by those at Marriots Ridge High School, the fried Oreo stand is a fairly new addition to the festival. But that doesn’t mean it’s not delicious. “It’s a different taste, but it’s good,” said fair secretary Bettina Catalano of the treat.

SEE IRON CHEF GET A LOCAL TREATMENT: Iron Chef America may be one of the most popular shows on the Food Network, but it’s nothing compared to this local version. Instead of celebrity Chefs like Bobby Flay or Cat Cora manning the grilles, local officials will go head-to-head in this cooking challenge Thursday, Aug. 11 at 6 p.m. at the fair’s 4-H activities hall. This is one food throw-down you won’t want to miss.

ENJOY A PARADE: Get in on the action as the fair winds down with the fair’s 4-H clubs and other groups as they compete Saturday, Aug. 13th at 5 p.m. during the fair’s Parade of Floats. Watch as dozens of creative designs set to different themes are rolled down Midway Boulevard. Don’t forget to cheer on your favorites.

Howard County Fair, 2210 Fairground Road, West Friendship, MD, Aug. 6-13, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Free-$5. 410-442-1022. howardcountyfair.org.

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