Carnival season is here!
May 26—Maryland is known for its four seasons — winter, spring, summer and fall. But Frederick County actually has a fifth season. Carnival season. And after a hiatus for COVID-19 in 2021, carnival season is full on for 2022.
Carnivals in Frederick and neighboring Washington and Carroll counties are a summer tradition. Most have rides, some have parades, and all have great food and music entertainment featuring local bands playing country and bluegrass to rock and, well, classic rock.
And carnivals give everyone a chance to help support their community and the region's fire and rescue companies, as well as service clubs. Most of the carnivals are hosted by fire companies and are a major fundraiser for them.
The season kicks off May 27 in Washington County with the Boonsboro Ambulance and Rescue Services and in Carroll County with the Gamber Volunteer Fire Department carnivals.
Thurmont Community Ambulance starts the season in Frederick County with its carnival opening May 31.
In lieu of a carnival, Libertytown Volunteer Fire Department will host a one-day craft beverage festival Aug. 13 featuring local breweries, distilleries and wineries, and two evenings of a "community festival" with family-friendly activities Aug. 12 and 13.
Area county fairs begin in July with the Washington County Ag Expo and the Carroll County 4-H & FFA Fair. In August, it's the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair and Maryland State Fair, and the season ends in September with The Great Frederick Fair.
For information on each carnival's hours, nightly entertainment and other details, visit the sponsoring organization's website or Facebook page, or go to fredericknewspost.com/calendar.
2022 CarnivalsMay 27 to June 4: Boonsboro Ambulance and Rescue Services Inc., boonsbororescue.com or town.boonsboro.md.us/carnival
May 27 to June 4: Gamber Fireman's Carnival, gambervfd.org, carnival closed on June 1
May 31 to June 4: Thurmont Community Ambulance, thurmonteventcomplex.com
June 2-4: Union Bridge Fire Co., ubfc8.org
June 6-11: Mount Airy 4 County Lions Community Carnival, 4countylions.org/mt-airy-carnival
June 9-11: New Windsor Fire and Hose Co. No. 1, nwfd10.org
June 11-18: Sykesville-Freedom Fire Co., sykesvillefire.org
June 13-18: Taneytown Volunteer Fire Co., tvfc5.org
June 20-25: Guardian Hose Co., guardianhose.org
June 22-25: Harney Volunteer Fire Co., harneyfire11.org
June 27 to July 2: Smithsburg Community Volunteer Fire Co., smithsburgvfc.org or Facebook
July 4-9: Walkersville Volunteeer Fire Co., walkersvillefire.com
July 4-9: Manchester Volunteer Fire Co., manchestervfd.org
July 11-16: Winfield Community Volunteer Fire Department, winfieldvfd.org
July 18-23: Reese Volunteer Fire Co., reesevfc.org
July 18-23: Urbana Volunteer Fire and Rescue, urbanavfd.org
July 25-30: Jefferson Ruritan Club, jeffersonruritan.org
Aug. 1-6: Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Co., mavfc.org
Aug. 15-20: Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Co., rockyridgevfc.com
FESTIVALSAug. 13: Libertytown Volunteer Fire Department, lvfd17.org. Frederick County Craft Beverage Festival, noon to 6 p.m., featuring around 20 beer, wine and distilled spirits craft beverage producers in Frederick County. Also, free "community festival" nights Aug. 12 and 13 (after the craft beverage festival) with food, fun and games for the entire family.
FAIRSJuly 16-23: Washington County Ag Expo, agexpoandfair.org
July 30 to Aug. 5: Carroll County 4-H & FFA Fair, carrollcountyfair.com
Aug. 12-20: Montgomery County Agricultural Fair, mcagfair.com
Aug. 25-28, Sept. 1-5 and Sept. 8-11: Maryland State Fair, marylandstatefair.com
Sept. 16-24: The Great Frederick Fair, thegreatfrederickfair.com
