Howard County Fair is a cute little fair - honestly I come here to see the animals more than anything. At only $5/person admission, it's a pretty cheap way to spend a hot August afternoon. (If you want to shell out for the rides, games, or shows, though, that's on you.)
You've got your standard fair rides, the fried food, some ice cream and snowballs because it *IS* a sweltering August day after all, the exhibits, and all the cute animals! Cows, horses, sheep (one particular sheep was extremely unhappy being penned up and made it known very loudly lol), the curious goats trying to unlatch their lock on the pen, soft little chicks and ducklings, and bunnies. The cows are pretty lethargic, but occasionally you'll see some people trying to get a stubborn cow to move so they can be presented. It's quite a hilarious sight to watch four people try to move a cow, especially when the cow does. not. want. to. move.
Anyway, the food is pretty standard - deep fried cookies, funnel cake, corndogs, some corn on the cob, burgers, nothing that really stands out here in this part of Maryland. Well, there is some crab cake, but don't expect it to be anything by Maryland standards.
I've been here twice and I liked it, although I apparently have a knack of choosing to visit when it's well over 90F... The only thing I wish there was more of are more produce/fruit stands to buy fruits at and eat immediately. The prices for the produce at the fair are rather expensive compared to what you buy at farmers markets/stands around the county. read more