LA PLATA, Md. — It’s Fair Week in Charles County. The 101st Charles County Fair returns to La Plata from Thursday, Sept. 11, through Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, bringing a full weekend of livestock shows, exhibits, contests, rides and traditions for families to enjoy.
Hosted at the Charles County Fairgrounds, 8440 Fairgrounds Road, the fair continues its century-long legacy of celebrating agriculture, youth achievement and local entertainment.
Beyond the barns and exhibit halls, families will find plenty of excitement on the midway and throughout the fairgrounds. From carnival rides and live music to the ever-popular pig races and chainsaw carving demonstrations, the fair mixes classic attractions with unique contests like pie-eating and watermelon seed spitting. Whether you come for the food, the shows or the competitions, the Charles County Fair blends old-fashioned charm with fresh experiences each day.
Charles County Fair Admission and Hours
General admission is $10 for ages 11 and up and free for children 10 and under. A four-day pass is available for $25. Tickets are sold at the gate, with payment options including cash, card and Apple Pay. Carnival and midway rides and attractions are not included in the admission fee.
- Thursday, Sept. 11 – Half-price admission, plus a Ride-All-Night wristband for $20, good for unlimited carnival rides.
- Friday, Sept. 12 – School Children’s Day with free admission for school-aged kids from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (no classes for Charles County Public Schools).
- Sunday, Sept. 14 – Wristband special for $35 (students from Charles County schools receive a $5 discount, making it $30).
All guests 17 and under must be accompanied by a chaperone 21 or older after 5 p.m. Fairground hours vary daily, with gates open until 8:30 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Carnival rides remain open later each evening.
Charles County Fair Parking and Transportation
Parking is free both on-site and at satellite lots, including the Charles County Courthouse and Government Building in La Plata, where shuttle buses will run throughout the weekend.
Charles County Fair Highlights and Special Events
While fair staples such as pig races, pony rides and hands-on demonstrations bring families back year after year, it’s the one-time events that make planning your visit worthwhile. From shows to contests, timing is everything if you want to catch them all.
Thursday, Sept. 11:
The fair kicks off with a Glass Blowing Demonstration (4:30–9:30 p.m.) and the Opening Ceremony & Coronation Pageant (7 p.m.), where Queen Nicotina LXXXIX will be crowned.
Friday, Sept. 12:
School Children’s Day offers free entry for students alongside games, woodworking clinics and robotics demonstrations. Evening entertainment includes Ray Owen’s Great American Good Time Show and the lively Felix and Fingers Dueling Pianos (5:30 p.m.).
Saturday, Sept. 13:
Families can enjoy the Baby Show with Bunky and Blondie (9 a.m.), quirky contests like the Watermelon Seed Spitting and Kids Pie Eating Contest, and the Mason-Dixon Lawn Mower Races (7 p.m.). Live music comes from the Honkytonk Casanovas and Stone Pleasure Band.
Sunday, Sept. 14:
The final day begins with a Thanksgiving Prayer Service (9:30 a.m.) and features the Mini Horse Teams Pull (12 p.m.), the Presentation of Queen Nicotina & Court (1 p.m.) and a Line Dancing Workshop (3:15 p.m.). Two auctions close the fair: Glass Blown Items (3:30 p.m.) and Chain Saw Carvings (4:30 p.m.).
For the complete entertainment lineup, visit charlescountyfair.com/2025-entertainment-schedule
Family-Friendly Code of Conduct
The fair maintains a zero-tolerance policy for disruptive behavior, vulgarity, and disorderly conduct. Pets are not permitted, with the exception of certified service animals and registered show participants.
In line with updated safety measures, all guests 17 and under must be accompanied by a chaperone age 21 or older after 5 p.m. The BayNet previously reported on this policy; read all the details here.
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