FAQ
How much does the Festival cost? Parking?
Admission Fee
18 and older:
- $12.50 per person per day when purchased online
- $15.00 per person per day at the gate
Under 18 free
Ticket Sales
- Online-https://mswf2024.eventbrite.com/. A $2.61 processing fee applies. These are eTickets, which will be scanned at the gate. There will be separate lanes to have eTickets scanned, which we anticipate will move faster than the lanes for people paying at the gate. Coming one day? Buy one ticket, tickets are undated and can be used either day. Know that you are coming both days? Buy two tickets.
- At the gate-cash or check only. Exact change appreciated. There will be a dedicated exact change lane.
- Bus trip organizers: email for information on purchasing tickets for your group.
Parking
Parking is free.
In order to minimize traffic backups on feeder roads during peak hours, the Howard County Police Department may divert vehicles into the overflow parking area across the street from the fairgrounds, even if spaces are still available in the fairgrounds parking lot. Shuttle service will be provided. Advance purchase of a ticket does not guarantee parking in the fairgrounds lot.
Can I bring my dog?
Service animals only. Please leave your pets at home.
Where are you located?
The Festival is held at the Howard County Fairgrounds, located 25 miles west of the city of Baltimore in Howard County, Maryland. The address is 2210 Fairgrounds Road, West Friendship, MD 21794.
Is there public transportation?
Sorry, the Howard County Fairgrounds is located in the rural suburbs of Baltimore. No public transportation is available.
Can I use Uber or Lyft to come to the Festival?
While Uber and Lyft may be viable options, we do not have a designated area for dropping off or picking up passengers. The parking staff will guide your driver to the most appropriate area given traffic conditions at the time. Please be aware that the Howard County Police Department advises that at peak times, such as Saturday morning, you should be prepared to wait in traffic for up to an hour. Also, in order to minimize traffic backups on feeder roads during these peak hours, the Police Department may divert vehicles into an overflow parking area across the street from the fairgrounds. Shuttle service from the overflow lot will be available.
Do you offer handicap parking?
Yes, use the East entrance, please stay in the far right lane, and parking staff will guide you to the right place.
Is wheelchair and scooter rental available?
Sorry, we are not able to offer onsite rentals of mobility devices, but you can order a scooter or wheelchair from Scootaround and have it delivered to your hotel or residence. The Festival takes no responsibility for any contracts or negotiations between you and this vendor.
If we bring a bus, where should we park?
All buses will now enter the fairgrounds through the East entrance and should stay in the far right lane. They will be directed to the second parking lot access road, where they will stop and unload at the end of the path to the ticket booth. They will then proceed to the bus parking area. Passengers may access the buses throughout the day once they are in the parking area.
Is there a rain date for the Festival?
The festival will be held regardless of the weather. Hot or cold, rain or shine, mud or dust, the festival will go on!
Is there food at the Festival?
Yes, the Howard County Fairgrounds itself provides a wide variety of fair-style food concession booths throughout the grounds, and the Festival arranges for additional booths dedicated to serving lamb, although all the food lines can get lengthy at mid-day on Saturday. We also host a catered Saturday Night Dinner and Sunday Breakfast Buffet. You can find more information about those here.
Can I bring a picnic?
Absolutely! Some people even hold tailgate parties! Other than alcohol, there are no restrictions on what you can bring for a picnic. We even have a pavilion stocked with picnic tables for your use; they are in the “Rabbit Barn” near the main gate (no rabbits there during the festival, only during the county fair in August).
Can I bring a pop-up canopy?
No. Due to Howard County Fire Marshal regulations, and the need to provide the county with a map in advance of the festival that includes the location of all tents, including pop-up canopies, the general public cannot bring pop-up canopies or other types of tents.
How do I get a t-shirt? Can I get one in advance?
Sales of Festival Merchandise are handled year-round through Sheepman.com, check out the online store. Once at the Fairgrounds, all Festival Gear is available for sale in the Bingo Hall.
Do you need volunteers? Who do I contact?
Yes, we can always use extra hands, please check out our Volunteer Page for more information. If you are interested in helping year-round, there are many opportunities on our various festival committees.
Can we camp overnight at the Fairgrounds?
We’re sorry, but camping is not allowed for the general public. There are local campgrounds available, however. Patapsco Valley State Park has a variety of camping options. There are also campgrounds in nearby Carroll and Frederick Counties. See the Lodging information under Visiting the Festival for more details.
Where can I find my lost items?
Found items will be kept at the Information Tent throughout the Festival. After that, please email to inquire and arrange for pick up.
How do I sign up for next year’s catalog?
Check out our Catalog page for details.
Can I still advertise this year?
Absolutely, web ads on our site run for the remaining calendar year and can be added at any time. The website is a resource for many visitors throughout the year. See more details.
How do I apply to become a vendor next year?
Vendor spaces are very limited, but we are always looking for fresh ideas. Check out our Vendor information page for more details.
Can I teach next year?
Check out our Workshop Information page for details and a link to the online proposal form.
How soon can we start planning for Next Year’s Festival?
Right away – the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival is always held at the Howard County Fairgrounds the first full weekend in May. Come back in 2025 for our 52nd annual Festival – May 3 & 4, 2025!
