Great Frederick Farmers' Market

Senior Citizen Days shape part of the weekly rhythm here, with free gate admission for ages 65 and up from Monday, September 21 through Wednesday, September 23, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.. The Great Frederick Farmers' Market runs as part of The Great Frederick Fair at 797 E. Patrick St., folding market shopping into a nine-day fair schedule from September 18 to September 26, 2026. Gate admission includes access to more than 100 experiences, so a market stop here sits inside a much broader fairgrounds visit that can also include livestock shows, grandstand events, and family attractions. For shoppers planning around timing, the fair opens Friday evening and then runs daytime through late evening on Saturday.

Why it matters locally

The Great Frederick Fairgrounds give this market a distinctly county-scale setting, with the fair itself drawing an average of 230,000 visitors across the nine-day event each year. That scale matters because the market is not isolated from the rest of Frederick agriculture; it sits inside a program that includes the 2025 Agricultural Awards Ceremony, where farm families, agri-businesses, ag-advocates, young farmers, top ag professionals, and landscapers are recognized. Youth agriculture is also built into the schedule through the Frederick County FFA Greenhand & Character Counts Ceremony and the GFF Youth Livestock Sale. Taken together, the fairgrounds schedule ties shopping to livestock, agricultural education, and county recognition in one place.

What you'll find there

This market is embedded in a fairgrounds lineup rather than a stand-alone row of produce stalls, so the draw is the mix of agricultural showcases, food-and-drink features, and family programming spread across named buildings and arenas. Expect the visit to move between exhibits, demonstrations, and ticketed or scheduled attractions across the Frederick Fairgrounds.

• -Catch the Homegrown Wineries, Breweries and Distilleries Showcase at Bldg. 13.
• -Head to the Beer Garden under the MICHELOB ULTRA sign next to Farm & Garden.
• -Find Taste of “Home Grown Frederick” at City Streets Country Roads Kitchen.
• -Watch the Homemade Hit & Miss Engine Ice Cream Demo at City Streets Country Roads, Bldg. 44.
• -See the Parade of Goat Breeds at Bldg. 32, the South Mt. Creamery Large Arena.
• -Look for Kid Zone activities, including the FCPS Stem Showcase.

Scheduled highlights also range from horse events and harness racing to carnival rides and grandstand concerts, so the market visit can be paired with agriculture programming or evening entertainment on the same grounds.

Know before you go

Parking rules are the detail most likely to shape your arrival: Gate 3/Infield parking inside the fairgrounds costs $15 per vehicle and takes cash or credit, while Lots A, B, C, and D cost $10 per vehicle and are cash only; those lots open at 9 a.m. each day of the fair. If you are getting dropped off, Gate 4A on Highland Avenue is the designated pull-off area for taxi, rideshare, or other drop-offs. Apple Pay is not accepted for admission purchases, a useful detail if you usually rely on phone payment at events. Dogs are not allowed. For accessibility planning, the grounds note special-needs accommodations, a Family Care Station near the Security office across from Bldg. 3 Administration, and diaper changing stations in all restrooms.