Who doesn't love watching kites decorate the sky on a beautiful day? There are quite a few parks around Maryland where you can fly a kite, but only one kite festival where you can view these aerial wonders in the hundreds. Take a look at the following fun event that's a must-see at least once.
advertisement
If you've ever visited Ocean City, you may already be familiar with The Kite Loft.
Be transported to another world as you view whales, dragons, unicorns, and more. Kite makers travel from all over to show off their one-of-a-kind creations.
When the weather starts getting cooler and the leaves start to drop, there’s nothing I’d rather do than spend a day outside. A special autumnal spirit just sort of takes over during fall in Maryland. While you could simply set foot outside your door and let your feet take you where they will beneath the colorful leaves, there are also plenty of outdoor festivities set to happen in our great state this fall that shouldn’t be missed. Here is our list of seven of the best fall festivals in Maryland that are happening this spooky season and are sure to put you and your family in the autumn mood!
advertisement
1. The Maryland Renaissance Festival -Select dates between Aug. 31 and Oct. 20, 2024
When Marylanders think of autumn weekends, they think of turkey legs, costumes, jousting, and cold mead in wooden mugs. The Maryland Renaissance Festival is annually listed among the nation’s best. The Ren Fest runs every weekend from the end of August until October 20, stopping just before Halloween, so there are plenty of opportunities to put on your favorite corset and stroll about beneath the falling leaves. It's a great way to celebrate fall in Maryland.
2. The Maryland Corn Maze - Select dates between Sept. 14 and Nov. 3, 2024
Every year Maryland families gather to get lost in this 8-acre corn maze in Gambrills. This festival runs from mid-September to early November and has tons of family-friendly activities to partake in, including ziplines, games, a petting zoo, a pumpkin patch, and of course the massive corn maze you can spend hours exploring!
advertisement
advertisement
3. Summers Farm Fall Festival - Sept. 14 through Oct. 31, 2024
Summers Farm in Braddock Heights, Maryland boasts another famous corn maze, but with perhaps a more carnival-like atmosphere. They have a whole autumn village set up starting in September, with fresh-baked cookies and apple blasting - an exciting game you have to experience to understand. This is one of the most fun fall festivals in Maryland.
4. Ghost Tours of the Haunted Savage Mill -Held on select dates throughout the year.
Maryland is famous for its prolific ghost tours, which can be found all across the state. Savage Mill’s tour, however, is one of my favorites. On select dates throughout the year, you can explore the spooky history of this fascinating old cotton mill after dark. You may want to wait until spooky season to get the best out of this tour, though!
The Mid-Autumn Festival, known also as the Moon Festival, is celebrated across Asia and is one of the most important festivals in Chinese culture. The harvest moon is celebrated with tons of lanterns, traditional dances, and the exchange of mooncakes. This year the Vietnamese American Services are holding a Mid-Autumn celebration in Silver Spring on September 17th! This is one of the most beautiful fall festivals in Maryland!
6. The Autumn Glory Festival of Garrett County - Oct 9-13, 2024
For 57 years, Garrett County has held an annual Autumn Glory Festival that is the pride and joy of the community. This year the small town of Oakland, Maryland is hosting the event, and this small town has been frequently listed as one of the best places to view the fall foliage. The festival runs for four days and promises live music, a parade, farmers' markets, and the staple that kicked the whole thing off half a century ago - turkey dinner platters. That sounds amazing to me!
advertisement
advertisement
7. Zoo Boo! at the Maryland Zoo - Oct. 28-29, 2024
Some of the most fun a kid (or a grown-up) can have is putting on an animal costume and heading down to the zoo to keep the animals company on Halloween. Zoo Boo! at the Maryland Zoo is a family-friendly way to spend the days before the trick-or-treating starts, and it’s a lot of fun if you’ve ever wanted to know what the animals get up to around this spookiest of holidays.
Have you ever attended any of the above best fall festivals in Maryland? What are some of your favorite autumn events to attend in Maryland?
If you’ve ever wanted to study up on the haunted happenings of the Old Line State, then Bookshop.org has exactly what you need for a fireside read this October!
Calling all lovers of lavender! Of all the late spring and early summer festivals in Maryland, what better way to kick off the new season than with the sweetest-smelling celebration of them all? There are actually quite a few lavender festivals in Maryland every year, but one annual event is a little extra fragrant! The Lavender Festival in Thurmont, MD is dedicated to this relaxing and lovely-smelling herb and is certainly worthy of a spot on your calendar.
advertisement
The Maryland Lavender Festival takes place annually at Springfield Manor in Thurmont.
Of course, all of the lavender cocktails and signature drinks (like lavender lemonade) are on point here.
There will also be a professional photographer snapping mini photo sessions among the lavender. There is a nominal fee for sessions, but they include all sorts of props and the photos will be emailed to you within one week.
What a lovely family day trip idea! The 2024 Maryland Lavender Festival at Springfield Manor will be June 22-23. Note that adults and children over 2 years of age will require a ticket to attend the festival and/or to check out the winery (single-day admission only). Find more information and grab your tickets early on the Springfield Manor website.
Have you ever visited this annual lavender festival in Maryland? What was your favorite part? Tell us below! Or, nominate your favorite things to do in the area.
For more summer adventures around the Old Line State, how about some neat boardwalk strolls? Or, stick around Thurmont for a little longer - this pretty little cabin is an incredible basecamp for all of your MD hikes, festivals, and explorations!
