The Allegany County Fairgrounds is located just west of Cumberland, Maryland

Cumberland, Maryland

Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...

 along McMullen Highway. Throughout the year the fairground holds musical concerts, car races, and private events. Once a year the Allegany County

Allegany County, Maryland

Allegany County is a county located in the northwestern part of the US state of Maryland. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 75,087. Its county seat is Cumberland...

 fair is held on the grounds, called the Allegany County Fair and AgExpo. As of 2006, the annual fair is an 8-day event customarily in the middle of July. Another major event is DelFest, a 4-day bluegrass

Bluegrass music

Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...

 festival originated by Del McCoury

Del McCoury

Delano Floyd McCoury is an American bluegrass musician. As leader of the Del McCoury Band, he plays guitar and sings lead vocals along with his two sons, Ronnie McCoury and Rob McCoury, who play mandolin and banjo respectively...

, and held annually since 2008 over the Memorial Day

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...

weekend.

Criticism

There has been criticism of the cost of the Allegany county Government ownership of the fairgrounds. Complaints result from lack of air conditioning below the grandstand during the summer. Other complaints result from lack of parking section signs.

Ownership

Since 1985 the fairgrounds have been under Allegany County Government ownership. Prior to 1985 the fairgrounds was owned by numerous private individuals and a horse racing company once owned the fairgrounds. Also in 2011 after the big 2010 Elections some individuals that gave the county commissioners budget suggestions including on the fairgrounds. Under the fairgrounds there has been suggestion of partially privatisation to full private ownership of the fairgrounds prior to 1985 to save Allegany County Government nearly $500,000 in the full long run that would not begin a search until after the 2011 Allegany county Fair. There has also been stories of a potential horse racing returning to the fairgrounds with full fledged indoor gambling that would result in the fairgrounds ceasing as a fairgrounds altogether due to possible better revenue in gambling and horse racing all year long.

External links

• Official Site