Baltimore Festivals 2025

Baltimore hosts several of Maryland's most popular festivals. The city is home to a number of venues, parks, and other facilities where enthusiasts can enjoy festivals.

Maryland officials recently announced the 2025 dates for Artscape, AFRAM, the Baltimore Caribbean Festival, and Charm City Live. 

“Starting in May, we will have not just one, but four spectacular events coming to Baltimore. Over the years Artscape, AFRAM, the Baltimore Caribbean Festival, and Charm City Live have become more than just fun for the whole family,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott.

2025 Baltimore Festival dates:

Artscape will take place Memorial Day Weekend on Saturday, May 24, and Sunday, May 25, 2025. 

AFRAM will occur around the Juneteenth holiday on Saturday, June 21, and Sunday, June 22, 2025. 

The Baltimore Caribbean Festival will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025, and Sunday, July 13, 2025. 

Charm City Live will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2025. 

More Information

Effective January 1, 2025, the City of Baltimore will be updating its public-facing special events calendar to help ease collaboration and planning efforts for events across Baltimore.

The updated calendar will include Non-Permit Dates so that external partners and the public can plan events around the availability of City services.

2024 Maryland First Day Hikes

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently released an invitation to the public to participate in the 2024 Maryland First Day Hike.

Maryland State Parks will be offering First Weekend hike opportunities across the state from December 31, 2023 – January 2, 2024.

First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks that encourages all 50 states to offer outdoor hiking opportunities to kick off the year.

For 2024, Maryland State Parks will offer more than 60 hikes across 40 state parks. As in previous years, there are two types of hikes available:

Ranger-led hikes: These hikes are accompanied and include interpretation by one or more Park Rangers, have specific start times, and often require advance registration. 

Self-guided hikes: These hikes will be available throughout the weekend, on well marked trails. Park staff and volunteers may be available to help hikers get started but will not join them on the trail.

With nearly 50 ranger-led hikes and 15 self-guided hike options through the weekend, there is a wide variety of outdoor adventures and experiences for every level of hiker and walker throughout Maryland. 

2024 First Day Hike Highlights:

In Western Maryland, hikers can join a ranger-led First Day “Fitness Hike” at Rocky Gap State Park, for those looking to break a sweat to kick off the New Year, a ranger-led guided “First Day Hike through History” at South Mountain Battlefield State Park, and a  “Little Naturalist First Day Hike”, an easy 1-mile hike for children and their families, at New Germany State Park. 

In Central Maryland, the Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail will offer bicyclists a guided “First Day Bike” ride; hikers have a choice of either an early morning First Day Sunrise Hike or First Day Sunset Hike at North Point State Park, and a “Last Day Hike” or “Kids Countdown Hike” on New Year’s Eve at Patapsco Valley State Park. 

In Southern Maryland, hikers can bring their four-legged friends on a “Trails and Tails” ranger-led First Day Hike at Calvert Cliffs State Park, join the guided “Where One Goes Pleasantly” First Day Hike along Mattawoman Creek at Smallwood State Park; or kick off the year with a “First Day the Rosaryville Way” hike at Rosaryville State Park.

On Maryland’s Eastern Shore, hikers can bring their binoculars for a guided “First Day Bird Walk” or bring their own horse for a “New Year’s Day Ride” at Tuckahoe State Park, a “First Sunset Hike” at Janes Island State Park, a “First Day Family Hike” along the beach at Assateague State Park. “I Hiked” stickers will be available at select locations while supplies last. 

In addition to scheduled hikes, all Maryland’s state parks, state forests, and wildlife management areas will be open to all. Hikers should check the DNR website for information about public lands near them.

After taking part in a First Day Hike or visiting a state park, hikers are asked to complete an online survey to track their hikes and how many miles they covered.​ 

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources

**2024 UPDATE**

A total of 4,248 people hiked about 10,691 miles during First Day Hikes in 40 different Maryland state parks on New Year’s weekend, according to Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). 

Between Dec. 31, 2023 and Jan. 1, 2024, park rangers led 47 scheduled hikes and other programs with an additional 15 self-guided opportunities that were available on state public lands across Maryland.

Related Information

Things To Do in Maryland

Economic Impacts of Maryland State Parks

2018 Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival

The Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival will be held on May 19th and 20th, 2018 at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis, MD.

This year's performers include: Brian Setzer's Rockabilly Riot, Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, Delbert McClinton, Keb' Mo', Doyle Bramhall II, Shemekia Copeland, Mike Zito, Heather Gillis, Mr. Sipp, Brandon Taz Niederauer, Jerron "Blind Boy" Paxton, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, and others.

Chesapeake Bay Events is pleased to announce that Deanna Bogart will travel from her home on the west coast to appear at the 20th Anniversary of the Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival (CBBF).

Deanna is an award winning, multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, singer, songwriter, producer, pianist and sax player.  She combines the best of Boogie-Woogie, contemporary Blues, Country and Jazz into a blend that she calls "blusion".

She has 22 WAMMIES (Washington Area Music Awards) and 3 BMA Awards for Horn Instrumentalist of the Year.

She has played for US Troops in Iraq, Kuwait and Egypt.

Deanna appeared at the very first festival in 1998 in the pouring rain.

Deanna is scheduled to perform with a full horn section on Sunday, May 20th, 2018.

Maryland Boat Parades 2015

A variety of boat parades will be held around Maryland for the 2015 Christmas season. The following list includes events on the Eastern Shore and Western Shore:

Baltimore

The Baltimore Parade of Lighted Boats is scheduled to occur in the Northwest and Inner Harbors at Baltimore, MD on December 5, 2015, between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.The parade consists of 36 sail and power vessels of various lengths that will gather near Fells Point in the Northwest Harbor, proceed to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, and return to Fells Point.

A lighted boat parade is scheduled to occur in the Middle River on November 28, 2015, between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The parade consists of up to 50 sail and power vessels operating on the Middle River.

Annapolis

The Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade is scheduled to occur in Annapolis Harbor and Spa Creek on December 12, 2015, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event includes two separate boat parade routes.

Solomons Island

A holiday season lighted boat parade is scheduled to occur on the Patuxent River, Solomons Harbor, and Back Creek at Solomons, MD on December 5, 2015, from 6:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. The boat parade consists of 15 sail and power vessels operating on a designated route that includes Solomons Harbor, Back Creek and the Patuxent River, before returning to Solomons Harbor.

Salisbury

A lighted boat parade is scheduled to occur in the upper Wicomico River on November 28, 2015, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. The parade consists of approximately 15 power vessels beginning at the Wicomico Yacht Club in Wicomico Creek and transiting the Wicomico River upriver to the Port of Salisbury, MD, before returning to Wicomico Creek.

source: U.S Coast Guard 5th District

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary 30th Anniversary

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary 30th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Glendening Nature Preserve
1290 Wrighton Rd
Lothian, MD

On Saturday, October 3, 2015, the Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary (JBWS) will host an anniversary celebration and concert at the Glendening Nature Preserve (Plummer House).

The FREE anniversary celebration will feature a climbing wall, hayrides, live animals, touch-a-truck, kids’ zone, guided hikes, food, local vendors, gift bag giveaways, native milkweed planting, and more.

During the celebration, visitors will enjoy live music throughout the day from the Jug Bay Jug Band, Bridgette Michaels, Rockfish, and The Back Pages.

Maryland Boating Events

Boaters and other nautical enthusiasts will find a never-ending list of boating-related events in Maryland. Things to do include boat docking contests, boat races, exhibitions, festivals, and other events.

2015 Boating Events

Pocomoke Boat Docking Challenge
Saturday August 29, 2015
Downtown Pocomoke City, MD

Deal Island Skipjack Races and Festival
September 5-7, 2015
Deal Island Harbor
10319 Richard Webster Road
Deal Island, MD 21821

National Hard Crab Derby
September 3, 4, 5, 6, 2015
Somers Cove Marina
Crisfield, MD

Crisfield Maryland Boat Docking Contest
September 6, 2015
Somers Cove Marina
Crisfield, MD

Solomons Plein Air Festival
September 15 – 20, 2015
Solomons Riverwalk
Solomons Island MD

Water Works Art Exhibition
September 17, 2015 to November 01, 2015
Maryland Federation of Art
Annapolis, MD

Choptank Heritage Skipjack Race
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Long Wharf Park
Cambridge, MD 21613

Crisfield Maryland Dock Day on the Bay
September 26, 2015
Somers Cove Marina
Crisfield, MD 21817

Tales of Annapolis & the Chesapeake Bay (boat cruise)
October 01, 2015 11:15 a.m.-2:15 p.m.
Departs: Cruises on the Bay by Watermark
Annapolis, MD

Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival and Maritime Model Expo
October 3-4, 2015
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
St. Michaels, MD

Downrigging Weekend - Tall Ship and Wooden Boat Festival
October 29- November 1, 2015
Chestertown Waterfront
Chestertown, MD

Baltimore Tall Ships 2015

Several tall ships will be visiting Baltimore during late summer and fall 2015.

The following is a partial list of tall ship arrivals:

USCGC James (WMSL-754) – 418' cutter
Dates: Aug. 18-21    
Location: Fells Point, Broadway Pier

USCGC Eagle – 295' tall ship
Dates: Aug. 28-31
Location: Inner Harbor, West Wall

Kalmar Nyckel – 141' tall ship
Dates: Sept. 10-14
Location: Inner Harbor, Pier 1

Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race Schooners in Baltimore
Dates: Oct. 11-14
Location: Baltimore Harbor

HNoMSStatsraad Lehmkuhl – 322' Norwegian tall ship
Dates: Nov. 4-10 
Location: Inner Harbor, West Wall

2015 Ecological Society of America (ESA) Meeting

Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey will present their research at the 100th annual Ecological Society of America (ESA) meeting from Aug. 9-14, 2015, in Baltimore, Maryland.

The theme is "Ecological Science at the Frontier: Celebrating ESA’s Centennial."

The Ecological Society of America is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization of scientists founded in 1915 to promote ecological science.

2015 Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival Performers

The list of performers is set for the 2015 Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival, according to Chesapeake Bay Events, which produces the annual festival.

Star performers include Gregg Allman, Buddy Guy with Quinn Sullivan, Jonny Lang, Beth Hart, Charlie Musselwhite, Bobby Rush, Shemekia Copeland, Tommy Castro and the Painkillers, Mingo Fishtrap, Jarekus Singleton, Davy Knowles, The Sisterhood of Soul with Patty Reese, Lil' Margie Clark, Sylver Logan Sharp, Lisa Lim, Justine Miller, Heather Haze and Leigh Pilzer.

The festival will be held on Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17th, 2015 at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis, Maryland.

Saturday, May 16, will open with 18 year old blues sensation from South Carolina, Marcus King and his band. Sunday will open with an all star lineup of local musicians, including Dean Rosenthal, Mark Wenner, Tommy Lepson, Pete Ragusa, Jan Zukowski, and Robert Frohm.

In addition to national performers on stage with video walls, there will be a variety of food vendors, a craft village, children's activities, and other attractions.

General Admission tickets are available for purchase online at www.bayblues.org or by phone at 410-982-0799. VIP Tickets are sold out.

For more information, visit www.bayblues.org.
source: Chesapake Bay Events, Inc.

Maryland Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement Open House

Maryland Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement Open House
Tuesday, April 7 noon - 2 p.m. and 5 - 7 p.m.
DNR Headquarters - Tawes Building
580 Taylor Avenue
Annapolis, Maryland

Maryland will host a Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement Open House on Tuesday, April 7,2015. Officials from DNR, MDE, and other agencies will be on hand during the open house.

At the event, stakeholders will have the opportunity to learn more about the new Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement management strategies and ask questions.

source: Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Geological and Geophysical Surveys Public Meeting (Offshore Maryland)

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is holding an open house to provide citizens with an overview of the Geological and Geophysical (G&G) Permitting Process, and get feedback on G&G activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf.

The meetings will take place April 1 in Annapolis --  from 3-4:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 7 p.m. -- at the Doubletree by Hilton (210 Holiday Court, Annapolis, 21401).

For more information, visit http://boem.gov/Atlantic-G-and-G-Permitting.

Maryland Hunting Coalition Rally in Annapolis

High winds and freezing temperatures did not deter Maryland’s hunting community from attending a Hunter’s Rally at the State House on February 5, 2015. The event, which was organized by the Maryland Hunting Coalition, brought together hunters from across the State to meet lawmakers as they traveled to and from the State House.

“We were not there to lobby for a particular issue or to make speeches. We were there simply to meet lawmakers and ask they support our traditional privileges to hunt, trap and lawfully use our firearms” stated Allan Ellis, Executive Director of the Maryland Hunting Coalition.

During the rally, an estimated 75 plus lawmakers expressed their support for hunting in Maryland.

source: Maryland Hunting Coalition

2014 Maryland Free Fishing Days

Maryland Free Fishing Days:
June 7, 14 and July 4, 2014

Maryland's 2014 free fishing days are June 7, June 14 and July 4. No fishing license, stamp or registration is required to recreationally fish in State waters on these days.

Maryland also features 23 unique license-free fishing areas, where anglers can fish without a license throughout the year. However, a free Maryland Saltwater Angler Registration is required in these areas except on free fishing days.

As always, anglers must adhere to fishing regulations, including size and possession limits, which are available online in the digital 2014 Maryland Fishing Guide. Printed copies of the guide are offered at most Maryland tackle shops and any of the seven Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Service Centers.

Anglers 15 years and younger do not need a license to fish, year-round.

source: Department of Natural Resources

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Eagle Festival

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Eagle Festival
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, MD
March 15, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge eagle festival includes several free bus tours to see active eagles' nests.
Pre-registration is NOT required.

source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

2013 Southern Maryland Blues Festival Performers

Chesapeake Bay Events, Inc. recently released the lineup for the 2013 Southern Maryland Blues Festival. The festival will be held on September 7th and 8th at the Calvert County Fairgrounds in Barstow, Maryland.

Music genres featured at the inaugural Southern Maryland Blues Festival will include blues, funk, soul, zydeco, country, and southern rock.

Bands scheduled to appear include:

The Sam Grow Band
The Patty Reese Band
Bonerama
Walter Trout
Ana Popovic and the Mo Better Love Band
Canned Heat
Swamp Candy
The Daryl Davis Band
Rosie Ledet and the Zydeco Playboys
Mark Hummell Tribute to Little Walter
Trampled Under Foot
The Marshall Tucker Band

All proceeds from this festival will go to End Hunger of Calvert County.

In addition to the music, the festival will have a crafter village, moon bounces, face painting, local food, wine and beer, and more.

Tickets will go on sale on June 1, 2013. They are available on line at: www.somdblues.org

source: The Chesapeake Bay Events

2013 Lefty Kreh TieFest

Lefty Kreh's TieFest
Saturday, March 9th
Prospect Bay Country Club
Grasonville, Maryland

CCA's Kent Narrows Chapter will host Lefty Kreh's TieFest at the Prospect Bay Country Club in Grasonville.

For more information, visit: www.ccamd.org

Maryland Outdoor Recreation Stakeholder Evaluations

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking citizens for their input on State outdoor recreation facilities and services in areas throughout Maryland. The Department gathered information from those in Southern Maryland earlier this month.

The recreational evaluations are the first step in a comprehensive statewide effort to enhance existing recreation areas in Maryland, these include; State parks, forests, wildlife areas and trails.

DNR will ask participants to assess the extent to which outdoor recreation facilities, programs and services meet the needs of the community and identify future demand and need.

The public input will help guide the update of the Maryland Land Preservation and Recreation Plan, which will serve as a roadmap for future State outdoor recreation facilities and services.

The Department has hired a nationally-known parks and recreation management consulting firm, GreenPlay, LLC, to oversee the Recreation Component of this planning process.




Maryland Outdoor Recreation Stakeholder Evaluations

Western Region - March 5 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Greenbrier State Park, 21843 National Pike, Boonsboro

Eastern Region -  March 6 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Talbot County Community Recreation Center, 10028 Ocean Gateway (Rt. 50), Easton

Central Region - March 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Howard County Robinson Nature Center, 6692 Cedar Lane, Columbia

Cost: Free

source: MD DNR

Maryland First Day Hikes

The Maryland Park Service will sponsor guided hikes in 19 State Parks on New Year’s Day 2013 as part of America’s State Parks First Day Hikes.

The nationwide program offers participants an opportunity to get outside, exercise, enjoy nature and welcome the New Year with friends and family.

First Day Hikes in Maryland are family-friendly, easy to moderate, guided hikes led by Maryland State Park staff and volunteers.

Among the locations for First Day Hikes are:

 - Cunningham Falls, the longest cascading waterfall in Maryland
 - historic Turkey Point Lighthouse at Elk Neck State Park

 - Pocomoke River State Park on the Eastern Shore

 - Orange Trail at Cedarville State Forest

For a complete list of First Day Hikes in Maryland, including locations, difficulty, length and specific starting times, visit dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/firstdayhikes.asp

source: MD DNR

National Wildlife Refuge Week Maryland Events

In Maryland, a number of activities will be held in celebration of National Wildlife Refuge Week 2012.

Patuxent Research Refuge will host a variety of activities Saturday, October 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The event will feature live animals, kids’ crafts, tram tours ($3), scientific demonstrations, and behind-the-scenes research tours of the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. Participants will learn how endangered whooping cranes and sea ducks are raised and studied.

On Sunday, October 14, Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge will participate in the "The Big Sit!" bird count.

The activity will be held at the Tubby Cove Observation Platform, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. During the event, teams count and report bird species seen or heard from a 17-foot-diameter circle.

Each year in October, The Big Sit! bird count is held at a number of refuges across the USA.

source: USFWS

Maryland 2012 Hunting and Fishing Day Expo

On September 22nd, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host the State’s 2012 National Hunting and Fishing Day Celebration and Expo. The expo will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore in Marriottsville.

The show will include more than 30 fishing and hunting clubs, conservation organizations and local businesses. A number of interactive activities will be available, including spin casting, waterfowl calling lessons, dog demonstrations, archery and target shooting with expert instructors. There will also be hunting and fishing displays and demonstrations.

Local sponsors of the event include the National Wild Turkey Federation-Maryland Chapter, National Wildlife Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club International- Chesapeake Chapter, Baltimore County Game and Fish Protective Association, Tudor Farms Inc., Maryland Fur Trappers Inc., and the Maryland Bowhunters Society.

The event will take place at the Associated Gun Clubs of Baltimore, 11518 Marriottsville Rd., Marriottsville, Md. 21104. Citizens who would like more information, or those who are interested in becoming a vendor, may call 410-260-8537 or visit dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/Hunt_Trap/NHFD/index.asp

source: MD DNR