Festivals and family events in Maryland

Across the state of Maryland you’ll find a wide variety of festivals that your family will enjoy. Here are just a few of our favorite annual festivals and family events in Maryland.

Germantown Oktoberfest

Your whole family will enjoy Oktoberfest in Germantown. This annual festival features arts and crafts, dance, food, music, shopping and more. You’ll love sampling all the different traditional German food and beverages, and your kids will enjoy painting pumpkins, making a scarecrow, playing games, jumping in the inflatables and much more. This festival takes place each year in Ridge Road Park. Be sure to stay late, so you don’t miss the fireworks show.

Location: 21155 Frederick Road, Germantown, MD 20876

Phone: 240-777-8044

Rates: Admission is free

Website:germantownoktoberfest.org

Artscape

Don’t miss one of the best and biggest public arts festivals in the country. Featuring over 150 artists, Artscape is attended by over 300,000 people each year. This family festival is held for three days each July. In addition to the art, they have special activities and events for kids, live music, street theater, delicious food, shopping and much more.

Location: 140 W. Mount Royal Ave., Baltimore, MD 21201

Phone: 410-752-8632

Rates: Admission is free

Website:artscape.org

The Capital Jazz Festival

If you love jazz, you can’t miss the Capital Jazz Festival that takes place every June. The festival features some of the biggest names in jazz along with top R&B stars. In addition to the music, this multi-day event offers arts and crafts, food, shopping, workshops and more. The festival takes place at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, which is just southwest of Baltimore. General admission seating is outdoors on the lawn — first come, first serve. Pavilion and VIP seating is also available.

Location: 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044

Phone: 301-780-9300

Rates: General admission tickets start at around $50 with pavilion and VIP seating up to $300. Kids under 2 are free.

Website:capitaljazz.com

Sunfest

Considered one of the best classic and contemporary craft shows in the country, Sunfest offers a lot more than arts and crafts. This festival features food, music and other entertainment, as well as special fall activities for the kids. Your children will love the hayrides, pumpkin decorating and especially the big inflatables on the beach.

Location: Ocean City Inlet Boardwalk, Ocean City, MD 21842

Phone: 410-250-0125

Rates: Admission is free

Website:ococean.com

FlowerMart

Break out your flowery hats and head to FlowerMart. This annual two-day festival takes place each May and occupies the entire block of Mount Vernon Place. You’ll enjoy wonderful food, music and dance, contests, parades and much more. On Saturday, bring your kids to the children’s camp, where they can enjoy hands-on arts and crafts, watch a magician, enjoy storytime, learn to dance and participate in other fun-filled activities.

Location: Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore, MD 21202

Phone: 410-274-5353

Rates: Admission is free

Website:flowermart.org

Festival of Trees

The largest holiday event in the Mid-Atlantic region, Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Festival of Trees features over 500 decorated trees, toy train gardens and gingerbread houses. Thousands of visitors flock to the three-day event, which takes place at the Maryland State Fairgrounds each year. The festival features more than 100 craft boutiques, live entertainment, yummy holiday goodies, kids’ activities and Santa himself. This festival takes place over Thanksgiving weekend.

Location: 2200 York Road, Lutherville-Timonium, MD 21093

Phone: 443-923-7300

Rates: $12 for adults, $6 for seniors and kids ages 5-12, and free for children ages 4 and under. You can get $2 off by buying your tickets online.

Website:festivaloftrees.kennedykrieger.org

More about Maryland

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Free activities in Maryland
Maryland parks for the family