With the recently passed Artscape Festival and the annual
Chincoteague Pony Swim taking place now, I am reminded of the amazing cultural
events and festivals that are held in this area.
When I decided to move here, from rural Indiana, the
decision to be near an urban area was in large part due to my desire to have easy access to large cultural events. I have
to tell you that I have not been disappointed. Late summer and autumn is my
favorite time of year to attend these festivals.
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| Costume seen at Maryland's Renaissance Festival |
Artscape has just passed. It is held annually and is
advertised as “America’s largest free arts festival…”. I have absolutely no reason to doubt that it
is indeed the largest. It is an amazing festival. The food, music, shows, and tent
after tent filled with artwork is a sight to see.
While located in Virginia, not in Maryland, many Marylanders
attend the Chincoteague Pony Swim – the annual event that was made famous by Marguerite
Henry's book Misty of Chincoteague. This
year the pony round up occurred on July 26 and 27th and the Pony
Swim will take place on Wednesday July 30th.
Maryland’s Renaissance Festival is an amazing event. There is live jousting, a storyline each year that involves characters in costume, food, and entertainment. So much of the entertainment, food, and crafts are based in that time period. It is definitely a great way to spend a day or two.
SunFest is held in Ocean City September 18 thru 20th
this year. It is the 40th anniversary of the event. I love SunFest
since it occurs after the typical end of tourist season on Labor Day. This festival stretches summer to it’s limit
and yet the weather is typically still beautiful weather for the beach. There
are crafts, kites, food, and the usual things to see and do while at the
beach.
Sept 6 and 7th 2014 are the dates for the
Maryland Seafood Festival at Sandy Point. Sandy Point is a beach park that is
located at the food of the Bay Bridge. This is a festival that features seafood
in a state that boasts about it’s local crabs. Need I say any more?
I think my very favorite festival is the National AppleHarvest Festival. Again, not located in Maryland but located not far across the
Pennsylvania state line, the National Apple Harvest Festival is an event that I
look forward to year after year. I love
wandering around the small county fairgrounds; eating, listening to music, and
browsing all of the things there are to browse. The smells and the flavors are
all things apple and smoked. The antique tractors and the car show is worth the
price of admission alone.
This is just a minute sample of festivals in this area. There are music festivals, the Preakness,
ethnic festivals, and so much more. If
you enjoy festivals, this is the place to be.
Image Credit: Images are mine ©Dawn Rae – All Rights
Reserved (Click on photo for larger view)
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I've been to apple harvest festivals before, except not on the East coast, always on the West coast. Thank you, again, Dawn Rae, for the great travel information!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Coletta. Thank you for always visiting my post. :) I appreciate it.
DeleteThe Mid-Atlantic area is most definitely a place to visit for its large variety of events and festivals. I'd have really loved to attend the Artscape. Perhaps one year. :)
ReplyDeleteArtscape is amazing. Often the hottest time of the year, which can be difficult for me sometimes, but completely worth getting out in the heat.
DeleteWhat great events to attend. Fall is definitely a beautiful time of year and all of these festivals make a great excuse to get out and enjoy ourselves. Hm, do we really need an excuse?
ReplyDeleteI love how you think. I need no excuse.
DeleteI do miss living in or near a major metropolis and the hustle and bustle of activity, cultural and otherwise. Like you, I enjoy the county fairs and have many good memories of those I attended in the past growing up and living in central Ohio. I would love your apple festival!
ReplyDeleteRuthi, the apple harvest festival I so amazing. The scents of autumn, wood smoke, tractors, and the food... all of the delicious food. It is very much like an amazing country fair, without the noise and lines of the rides.
DeleteWow! I want to go to all of the events and festivals in Maryland. Wondering if I should just move there myself!
ReplyDeleteMouse, they are so much fun. And until I get my cabin in the mountains, I love living in Maryland.
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