A favorite son of Calvert County greeted fairgoers Wednesday, Sept. 25 as the 2013 Calvert County Fair opened at the grounds on Route 231 in Barstow.
The gates opened at 4 p.m. for the first of five days of fall fun. Former Maryland secretary of Veterans’ Affairs and state delegate George W. Owings III served as master of ceremonies for the fair’s official start.
Owings’ family has been involved with the Calvert County Fair since its inception in 1886. According to a synopsis of the fair’s history printed and distributed by Calvert County Fair Board Inc., Harrie P. Owings, George III’s uncle, donated a framed “bug” sign to the first fair board.
After the American flag was raised and the Star Spangled Banner was sung, the Rev. Robert Hahn offered a prayer for the event’s success. Hahn has been the leader of the countywide effort to aid needy families whose food budgets have been challenged by the sour economy.
Wednesday was “Feed the Needy Night” and fairgoers could gain admission to the grounds with the donation of a can of food 14 ounces or larger.
The feed the needy theme continues Friday, which is the 25th annual Youth Day at the Calvert Fair. Youth preschool to 18 will be admitted free that day and are being challenged to bring a can of food to be left at the entry gate between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Fair officials are hoping to provide “a mountain of food to feed the hungry.”
Presiding over this year’s fair are Gretchen Eichelberger, who was crowned Miss Tranquility Sunday, Sept. 23; and Josiah Manning, who was selected Lord Calvert by a panel of out-of-county judges. The first runners-up are Sarah Manning and Houston Johnson. The second runners-up are Hannah Aris and Gabriel Smith. The other members of Miss Tranquility’s and Lord Calvert’s Court are London Collinson, Courtney Hamm, Nygia Mackall, Halley Patterson, Elijah Sanchez, Carla Shapira, Hanna Shatack, Emily Stampfly, Rachel Warner and Kaitlin Wilding.
Thursday, Sept. 26—the fair’s first full day—will admit Calvert County seniors and special needs citizens free from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. At 9:30 a.m. the Calvert High School Chorus will perform. At 10 a.m. the Red Hat Parade and a performance by ‘Rockin’ Elvis’ will be held in the fairgrounds’ main hall. The fair court and The King of Rock ‘N’ Roll won’t be the only royalty at the fair. At 11 a.m. Thursday the fair’s Senior King and Senior Queen will be crowned.
