Good morning, Rockville.

Today, the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair opens at 3 p.m. at 501 Perry Parkway in Gaithersburg and will run until Aug.

16. The fair offers farm animals, rides, daily honey bee demonstrations and special events such as a monster truck show, rodeo and demolition derby plus local food vendors.

Maryland shoppers will benefit from a tax-free week starting Sunday, August 10 — the state will waive the 6% sales tax on clothing and footwear under $100 and the first $40 of backpack purchases until Saturday, August 16.

The event, established in 2007, lets residents save money and support local stores.

Earlier this week, Superintendent Thomas Taylor announced that Montgomery County Public Schools will improve background checks for every adult who works with children—using on-site services and a continuous monitoring system to quickly clear new hires while keeping current staff in their roles. More details will be shared soon to ensure no adult has unsupervised access to students.

Montgomery County Public Schools will hold its Summer School Graduation on August 15 at 10:00 a.m. at Gaithersburg High School—graduates must arrive by 8:30 a.m. for lining up and attend a mandatory rehearsal on August 13 at 10:00 a.m.; each student needs one person to complete the Graduation Confirmation Form and should contact their home school for cap and gown arrangements if needed.

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation will install digital bus arrival displays at 100 busy stops this summer to give riders real-time updates—about 50 screens are already in use and include audio, video, and text-to-speech features for accessibility.

County Executive Marc Elrich continued his opposition to a zoning change that expands housing options along transit corridors—he said the new measure fails to protect homeowners—and noted that the change, part of the More Housing N.O.W. package passed on July 22, is now in effect and cannot be reversed. The development has fueled debate among council members and raised tension in the upcoming county executive race.

Maryland Tax Free Week starts Sunday, August 10—families can shop for select shoes and clothing under $100 and save on the first $40 of backpacks to help with back-to-school costs.

Westfield Montgomery Mall will offer events with a free HIIT Cardio class at 10 a.m.—and an AntLab scavenger hunt by Smithsonian scientists at 11 a.m.

Montgomery County leaders mourned the death of Register of Wills Joe M.

Griffin (60) who died on August 7. He had worked in the office since 1993 and was serving his seventh term while local officials remembered his strong public service.

Intro to Macraweave with Lisa Nho

3-5 p.m. — Shop Made In DC — Registration required — Discover the art of macrame and weaving while creating unique tapestry pieces and expressing your creativity.

Intro to Boxing Trial Class for Adults

6:00 – 6:50 PM — Lake Marion Community Center & Pool — Cost info not provided — Experience the thrill of Mansell’s Fitness Boxing in a class designed for adults aged 18 and up.

O'McPub Band Performance

7-11 p.m. — Montgomery County Fair — Free entry — Experience the lively sounds of an Irish-American folk duo bringing pub tunes to life.

Clay Mottley with Love Story Band Concert

6:30-10:30 p.m. — King Farm Community Center — Cost info not provided — Experience clever and catchy melodies from a master craftsman in songwriting.

Eli Lev Live Performance

7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. — Olney Rotary Club — Check website for details — Enjoy uplifting songs from rising singer-songwriter Eli Lev as he connects the world through music.

Ice Cream Social

12:15 – 1:45 PM — Benjamin Gaither Center — Free entry — Cool off with ice cream while enjoying lively line dancing for all skill levels.

Eli Lev Live Performance

10 AM – 4 PM — Olney Farmers and Artists Market — Free entry — Experience the uplifting melodies of singer-songwriter Eli Lev, promoting global connection through music.

Jonathan Sloane Band Performance

9:00 PM - 11:59 PM — Hank Dietle's Tavern — No cover charge — Enjoy a night of blues, R&B, and rock 'n' roll with the multi-talented Jonathan Sloane Band.

Fall Flea Market

8 a.m. - 1 p.m. — North Creek Community Center & Pool — Free entry — Clean out your old treasures and discover unique finds at this community flea market.

TSB Basketball Express for Ages 4 to 5

12:00 PM — Lake Marion Community Center & Pool — Participation fee required — A fun and engaging introductory basketball program for young children to develop skills and teamwork.