Flag of the Colony of Maryland
 Friends of Fort Frederick State Park

Take a journey to the past!

The annual Fort Frederick 18th Century Market Fair features the best period artisans, craftspeople, and sutlers together with an 18th Century encampment. Explore Maryland's French and Indian War era stone fort built in 1756. It's all here!
 

The 2026 Sutler list will be posted once applications are processed.  Until then you can still shop online with our 2025 sutlers.

Sutler List for 2025

It has come to our attention that sutlers are receiving emails offering, for a price, a list of attendees for Market Fair. The list of Sutlers is publicly posted on the Friends Web site. There is no public listing of Campers available to anyone. Please do not respond to these email offerings. They are NOT from The Friends of Fort Frederick, The Park Service or anyone associated with the event.

The Annual Fort Frederick
18th Century Market Fair

April 23 – 26, 2026

Friends of Fort Frederick State Park and the staff of Fort Frederick State Park are pleased to host the 30th annual 18th Century Market Fair.

Sutlers (period vendors) selling 18th century wares including pottery, tin and copper ware, blacksmith wares, clothing, material and patterns, books, fireplace and cooking hardware, flintlock rifles & muskets, shooting pouches and accoutrements, horn wares, paintings and prints, lanterns, fresh baked items and much more are joined by colorful entertainers as you time travel back to an authentic 18th century market fair.

Campfire smoke fills the spring air as hundreds of fair-goers of all ages dressed in colonial clothing portray artisans, soldiers, ladies & gentlemen, Native Americans, traders, and servants inhabit the fair. Blanket trading is conducted in the camper area.

The Fair is open to sutlers, traders, street vendors and entertainers as well as individuals, groups, military units and American Indians portraying the appropriate time period and geographic area, representing eastern North America from 1730 through 1790.

The Fair is a Juried Event for camper and sutlers, but open daily to all visitors.

PUBLIC - DAY VISITORS

Public are welcome Thursday, April 23 through Sunday, April 26, 2026.

Public hours are:
  • Thursday through Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
  • Sunday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Admission:
  • $10 for Adults
  • $5 for Children 6 to 12 years old
Free for:
- 5 years old and under
- Maryland State Park Golden Age Pass
- Maryland State Park Passport
- Maryland State Park Universal Disability Pass
- Every Kid in a Park Pass
- Active-Duty Military with ID
- Maryland National Guard with ID
- Military Veterans with ID

4 Day Pass - Available Thursday Only, at the gate
- $30 for Adults
- $15 for 6 to 12 year olds
 

MARKET FAIR PARTICIPANTS

All participants are encouraged to arrive on site and set up Wednesday, April 22rd, 2026.

[Individuals who volunteer to help with event setup and/or tear down may set up their camp as early as Monday, April 20th, but no earlier. No early arrivals permitted unless you are volunteering and have received confirmation that you are a registered volunteer.]
(See Volunteer Signup link below)

Registration gate hours are:
  • Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Thursday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
  • Please note that there are no gate hours on Saturday evening.
  • Sunday from 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.  No registration at this time.
If you are not a pre-registered camper, please fill out a Camper Application and bring it with you to speed your registration.

New sutlers must have applied by February 15, 2026, and been approved by the Trade Committee to attend as sutlers. Contact  info@friendsoffortfrederick.info for questions.

PARTICIPANT VOLUNTEERS:

Market Fair volunteers please read the 2026 Notice to Volunteers

Please use the link below to sign up for the various duties such as the registration tent, road watch, HQ tent, etc.


Please direct all questions to:
info@friendsoffortfrederick.info

The Market Fair Committee

DIRECTIONS:

(About 14 miles west of Hagerstown, MD)

Take Exit 12 off I-70   MD 56   (Big Pool Road)  Big Pool,  Indian Springs.  Follow signs about 1 mile to the fort.

CAMPER & SUTLER APPLICATIONS

Registration for 2026 has begun. Returning Campers and Sutlers should receive an email or paper application by early December 2025. If you don’t receive anything by the end of 2025 please contact the Friends at info@friendsoffortfrederick.info or call Fort Frederick State Park 301-842-2155 and ask for Ranger Study.

New Campers and Sutlers must fill out and submit a Camper or New Sutler Application:

Camper Application 2026 (PDF version 1-4-2025)
    or
Camper Application 2026 (Word version 1-4-2025)


New Sutler Application 2026 (PDF version)
    or
New Sutler Application 2026 (Word version)

Deadlines:
  • Sutler Application must be post marked by February 15, 2026.
  • Camper Applications must be post marked by March 15, 2026. After that date, campers registering at the gate pay an additional fee.



Event Information & Trade Rules

All participants must agree to abide by all rules and regulations of the event and Maryland Park Service.

Event Information & Trade Rules 2026 (PDF version)
   or
Event Information & Trade Rules 2026 (Word version)

AUCTION

Saturday at 1:00 PM

Sutlers donate handcrafted items to be auctioned to support the Friends of Fort Frederick State Park mission of keeping history alive!

Become a Friend

Are you a member of the Friends of Fort Frederick State Park?   We encourage you to join us.  You do not have to attend meetings to be a member.  Meetings are generally held via Zoom vidoeconference.  There is a great monthly newsletter, a member discount in the store, and your membership supports events such as the Market Fair and many other historical events.

The Friends of Fort Frederick supports the Park by sponsoring educational activities and programs as well as contributing financially to support the Park’s historical, cultural and administrative needs.

Contact info:
The Friends of Fort Frederick
11115 Fort Frederick Road
Big Pool, MD 21711

info@friendsoffortfrederick.info   

Visit us on Facebook…
Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau

The Friends of Fort Frederick State Park contributes support to the park by sponsoring educational activities and programs throughout the year, as well as contributing financially to support the park's historical, cultural and administrative needs. Those interested in joining their efforts may contact:

The Friends of Fort Frederick
11115 Fort Frederick Road
Big Pool MD 21711

info@friendsoffortfrederick.info

Visit us on Facebook