The 2017 edition of the Maryland State Fair begins this Thursday, August 24, at the Timonium Fairgrounds in Baltimore County. With great events such as concerts by Halestorm and Sabrina Carpenter, barrel racing, bull riding, Goat Mountain and more. Livestock exhibits, the U-Learn Farm, horse racing and even pig racing bring excitement to this time-honored event. Exhibitors offer traditional fair foods and Maryland eats, from cotton candy to crab cakes, and this year’s rides promise to be bigger than ever. For all the information on Maryland’s amazing State Fair and all the awesome county fairs in full-swing across the state, visit the Fairs and Festivals page on our website.

It’s that time of year again to nominate the stars of the industry for MTC’s 2017 Maryland Tourism Awards. Categories include Best Product or Event, Best Destination Guide, MTC Volunteer of the Year, the Visionary Impact Award, and the Tourism Person of the Year. Deadline for submissions is September 29. Recipients will be announced during the Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit Awards Banquet, held this year on Nov. 10 at The Hotel at University of Maryland, College Park. To make your nominations, and to register for the summit, follow this link to the MTC website.

The bi-annual Lodging Report covers the period from January to June 2017. Lodging room demand statewide increased 1.3 percent, compared to the same six-month period in 2016. Total room revenue for the state increased 3.3 percent. Occupancy rates for Maryland, which reflect changes in supply and demand for rooms, remained relatively flat at 65.3 percent. To read the full monitor, visit our website.

The all-new official Destination Maryland guide presents our tourism partners with a unique, powerful platform. There is no comparable opportunity available that is 100 percent focused on visitation to Maryland—and there is no better time to speak to its large audience than when they are actively planning their visit to the state. Destination Maryland is sent by request to highly qualified travelers who are actively planning a Maryland vacation—most often a long one. In addition to 250,000 printed copies distributed, the guide will also be available as an interactive E-book with click-through to advertiser landing pages.

Contact Carly Stedman for rates and details: carly.stedman@milespartnership.com / 202-681-8169.

Each week, the Maryland Minute provides highlights and insights on this weekend’s events around the state. Maryland Minute is featured on CBS radio stations in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. and on Baltimore’s WBAL-AM 1090.