The fair season

Siblings Mark, 14, Emily, 15, and Katie Hopkins, 10, of Bel Air take a whirl on the Sizzler during the annual Harford County Farm Fair.

Fairgoers mill about on a hot, sticky evening in late July at the fairgrounds in Bel Air.

A somewhat tentative Rowan Harris, 2 of Bel Air gets a close-up look at Ron, a Katahdin ram owned by Darlington Lamb, during the Harford County Farm Fair.

Elizabeth Balint, 9, a first-time 4-H participant, tears up at the prospect of parting with a lamb she raised before the animal is auctioned.

Nine-year-old twin sisters Addyson, left, and Maya Phoebus of Delta, Pa., race down the slide at the Harford fair.

Along the midway, lights twinkle, children scream and cooks deep-fry a variety of food for fairgoers at an annual event that harks back to the past.

Nine-year-old Elizabeth Balint, a first-time 4-H participant, wept openly beside her mother as the moment arrived for her to part ways with her ewe Nora. Leaving her mother's side, she led Nora through a series of gates to stand in a fenced ring before the packed crowd while the auctioneer chirped out bids from buyers.

Summer is the heart of fair season throughout Maryland, as organizers assemble tents, rides and contests on vacant lots such as the Harford County Farm Fair grounds outside Bel Air. The fair highlights youths who breed poultry and livestock or grow fruits and vegetables, with awards given for the best in each category.

All 23 counties throughout Maryland host fairs or carnivals. The largest event is the Maryland State Fair (Aug. 25-Sept. 5), and the final one — the Calvert County Fair — runs Sept 24-28.