09/16/2026
2026 PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY FAIR — THANK YOU!
The 2026 Prince George’s County Fair has come to a close, and we want to sincerely thank everyone who attended, participated, volunteered, exhibited, vended, sponsored, and helped make this year’s Fair possible.
This year was a tremendous success, with a record-breaking number of attendees! We are incredibly grateful for the support from the community.
At the same time, we know that a successful event can come with challenges, and we want to acknowledge some of the concerns that were experienced this year.
A Fair Built by Volunteers
The Prince George’s County Fair is organized and operated by approximately 25 dedicated volunteers who give countless hours of their personal time to put on this event for the community.
The Fair receives no financial backing or funding from Prince George’s County. Every decision regarding the Fair must therefore be made within the resources available to us.
Our goal has always been to provide a fun and affordable Fair for everyone. Ticket prices have remained unchanged for several years because we want the Fair to remain accessible to families throughout our community.
Challenges Before the Fair Even Began
This year, the Fair Board had to overcome several significant roadblocks involving our current date and location. The venue had been double-booked, and we were willing to share the location with the other event in order to make the Fair happen as scheduled. Fortunately, the other event was eventually able to secure an alternate location, allowing us to move forward.
Attendance & Entrance Lines
The record-breaking attendance was wonderful to see, but it also created challenges — particularly at the front gate, where the increased number of people resulted in backups and longer wait times.
We understand how frustrating it can be to wait in line, and we appreciate everyone's patience.
We also implemented a weapons detection system this year as an additional safety measure. While security procedures can sometimes add time to the entry process, the safety of our attendees, volunteers, vendors, exhibitors, and performers remains an important consideration.
Our New Under-18 Policy
Following issues that occurred at last year's Fair that ultimately resulted in the Fair being shut down, the Board instituted a new policy requiring all attendees under 18 to enter with a chaperone and remain with that chaperone while at the Fair.
We understand that this policy created some challenges for families and young people.
This year, we observed instances where underage individuals were waiting or walking around the parking lot trying to find adults willing to accompany them into the Fair. In some cases, once inside, the young person separated from the adult who had agreed to accompany them.
Unfortunately, this makes the policy extremely difficult for a volunteer staff to enforce. We need the cooperation of parents, guardians, chaperones, and adult attendees to make these safety policies work.
The purpose of this policy is not to prevent young people from enjoying the Fair. It was put in place because of circumstances that occurred previously, and our priority is to provide a safe environment for everyone.
Looking Toward 2027
We also recognize that technology and equipment continue to change. State-of-the-art equipment that could improve certain aspects of the Fair is expensive and was outside our budget this year.
That does not mean we aren't listening.
Everything will be reassessed for next year's Fair — including our procedures, equipment, entrance process, policies, and other aspects of the event.
Most importantly, we want to hear from you.
If you attended the 2026 Prince George’s County Fair and experienced an issue, had a concern, or have a suggestion for how we can improve, please share it with us. We ask that you provide constructive feedback so that we can understand what worked, what didn't, and what may be possible within the resources available to us. Send email to [email protected]
We may not be able to implement every suggestion, but we will listen and consider your feedback as we plan for 2027.
The Fair exists because of the community, and we want to continue making it an event that Prince George’s County can enjoy and be proud of.
Thank you for your patience, your support, and for being part of the 2026 Prince George’s County Fair.
We look forward to seeing you again in 2027!
🎡🐄🎟️
Prince George’s County Fair Board
