Senior Friendly Summer Activities in Maryland

By Anna Hazard

Introduction

Here are a sampling of senior friendly festivals, exhibits, and other events that will be taking place around the Maryland region during the summer season. Most events focus on activities that revolve around the summer theme such as in-season produce & other foods, nature & animal fairs, and outdoor sports such as boating or balloon riding.
 
While many events take place outdoors in order to take advantage of the balmy sunny weather, keep in mind that seniors may need more help when it comes to seeking shade to avoid heat or sun overexposure, staying hydrated during outings, and keeping an eye out for handy places to sit when needed.

Maryland Events

Summer Nature Exhibitions & Demonstrations

• These special outdoor events are fun & educational focusing on the nature that is on ample display during the warmer summer months. Most venues are ADA compliant with nearby indoor facilities for those who need to take a break from the summer heat, but seniors with mobility issues should check in advance for any potential problems. Senior discounts may be available to some ticketed events.
• Wings of Fancy Live Butterfly & Caterpillar Exhibit (Montgomery, July 1 - Aug 31)
• Tidewater Archaeology Days (St. Mary's, July 21)
• Wildlife Conservation & Recreation Day (Laurel, Aug 25)
• Yoga at the Zoo (Baltimore, Aug 25 - Sept 16)
• Sip, Stroll, & Learn at the Maryland Zoo (Baltimore, Sept 8)

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Summer Arts Exhibits & Festivals

• These festivals & exhibitions have a specific artistic flair with most of them taking place in the open air outside. A few brightly colored indoor exhibitions are also available for those who may be particularly sensitive to the summer heat. Activities include viewing pre-installed exhibitions of finished artwork, live demonstrations, as well as markets where various works of art can be purchased.
• Paint It! Ellicott City Exhibition (Howard, July 9 - Aug 17)
• Vibrance Exhibit (Howard, July 9 - Aug 17)
• Plein Air Easton (Talbot, July 15 - 22)
• Artscape (Baltimore, July 20-22)
• Madonnari Arts Festival (Baltimore, Aug 7 - 10)
• Artists Paint OC (Worcester, Aug 8 - 12)
• Coastal Arts Market (St. Mary's, Every 3rd Saturday)
• First Sunday Arts Festival (Annapolis, 1st Sunday until Nov)

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Summer Festivals & Fairs

• Here are a more eclectic mix of festivals, fairs, and markets from around the Maryland region that have a summer theme or which take advantage of the balmy seasonal weather for their outdoor activities. Activities range from carnivals, hot air balloon rides, boat tours & races, sea food celebrations, and other seasonal events. Since these festivals mainly take place outdoors, please make certain that proper shade, sunblock & hydration, and places to sit are available, especially for those who may have more delicate health.
• Inner Harbor Family Fun Fridays (Baltimore, May 4 - Sept 14)
• Kent Island Fireman's Carnival (Kent Island, July 23 - 28)
• Great Chesapeake Balloon & Wine Festival (Talbot, Aug 3 -5 )
• Beach Party on the Square (St. Mary's, Aug 4)
• Country Fest (Garret, Aug 4)
• Pirates & Wenches Fantasy Weekend (Kent, Aug 10 - 12) 
• Scottish Living History Weekend (Anne Arundel, Aug 11 - 12)
• Watermen's Appreciation Day (Talbot, Aug 12)
• Caroline SummerFest (Caroline, Aug 17 - 18)
• Maryland Renaissance Festival (Aug 25 - Oct 21)
• National Hard Crab Derby (Sommerset, Aug 27 - Sept 2)
• CrowFest (Kent, Sept 1)
• Skipjack Races & Festival (Montgomery, Sept 1 - 3)
• Greenbelt Labor Day Festival (Prince George's, Aug 31 - Sept 3)
• Ocean City SunFest (Worcester, Sept 20 - 23) 

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Summer County Fairs

• Usually larger than other themed festivals, these general county fairs are a good place to get a bit of sun while enjoying music, games, fair festival foods, viewing vendors & displays of summer produce, live stock, and other items, as well as other related activities such as horse or pig racing. Larger fairs tend to be ADA compliant with some events taking place in nearby indoor facilities for those who may wish to take refuge from the sun, but checking in advance should be done for those with mobility or health issues.
• Cecil County Fair (July 20 - 28)
• Harford County Farm Fair (July 23 - 28)
• Sommerset County Fair (July 23 - 28)
• Carroll County 4-H Fair (July 28 - Aug 3)
• Garrett County Agricultural Fair (July 28 - Aug 3)
• Caroline-Dorchester County Fair (Aug 1 - 4)
• Howard County Fair (Aug 4 - 11)
• Queen Anne's County Fair  (Aug 6 - 11)
• Wicomico State Fair (Aug 17 - 19)
• Maryland State Fair (Aug 23 - Sept 3)
• Montgomery County Agricultural Fair (Aug 10 - 18)
• Anne Arundel County Fair (Sept 12 - 16)
• Charles County Fair (Sept 13 - 16)
• The Great Frederick Fair (Sept 14 - 22)
• St. Mary's County Fair (Sept 20 - 23)

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Summer Music Festivals & Concert Series

• Here are an assortment of music themed festivals and concert series of various music genres that can be found around the Maryland region during summer. Many concert series and most festivals take advantage of summer weather by being held outdoors towards the later hours of the day in order to help avoid the brunt of seasonal heat. Festivals tend to incorporate more elements such as food, games, and vendors and are usually one time occurrences as opposed to concert series that are held repeatedly throughout the season.
• Summer Jam Series (Prince George's, May 18 - Sept 21)
• Baker Park Summer Concert Series (Garett, June 3 - Aug 26)
• Tides & Tunes (Annapolis, June 14 - Aug 16)
• Groovin' in the Grass (Baltimore, June 17 - Aug 5)
• Little Yough Summer Music Festival (Garrett,  July 13 - Aug 17)
• Concerts on the Beach (Worcester, July 14 - Aug 31)
• Merriweather Post Pavilion Summer Concerts (Columbia, July 14 - Sept 30)
• Pier 6 Pavilion Summer Concerts (Baltimore, July 15 - Sept 29)
• Summer Reggae Wine Festival (Mount Airy, July 20 - 21)
• St. Mary's River Concert Series (St. Mary's July 20 - 21)
• Historic Londontown Summer Concert Series (Anne Arundel, July 29 - August 26)
• Wine & Jazz at Marietta (Prince George's, Aug 4)
• L'il Margaret's Bluegrass Festival (St. Mary's, Aug 9 - 11)
• Calvert Marine Museum Waterside Concerts (Calvert, Aug 10 - 23)
• Moonrise Festival (Baltimore, Aug 11 - 12)
• Hot August Music Festival (Baltimore, Aug 18)
• Fairwood Music Festival (Prince George's, Aug 26)
• Monty Alexander Jazz Festival (Talbot, Aug 31 - Sept 2)
• Chesterton Jazz Festival (Kent, Sept 6 - 10)
• National Folk Festival (Wicomico, Sept 7 - 9)
• Berlin Fiddler's & Bluegrass Convention (Worcester, Sept 21 - 23)

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Summer Food Festivals

• Here are a sampling of festivals from around Maryland that have a specific focus on food, especially produce and meats that are in season during the summer including peaches, berries, and many kinds of sea foods and barbecues. Most festivals are free to enter or visit, but will cost extra to partake in any of the wares on display. While most festivals take place outdoors, some include access to tents or other nearby indoor facilities for those who may need to avoid extended sun or heat exposure for health related reasons.
• Tilghman Island Seafood Festival (Talbot, July 21)
• Blackberry Bash (Elkton, July 21 - 22)
• Tri-fecta Food Truck Festival (Baltimore, July 28)
• Watermelon Festival (Wicomico, July 28)
• Annual Peach Festival (Annapolis, Aug 4 )
• Sudlersville Peach Festival (Queen Anne's, Aug 4)
• Maryland BBQ Bash (Harford, Aug 10 - 11)
• Seafood Feast-I-Val (Dorchester, Aug 11)
• Harford Vineyard's Peach Festival (Harford, Aug 11)
• Annual Peach Festival (Baltimore, Aug 11 - 12)
• Chesapeake Crab & Beer Festival (Prince George's, Aug 18)
• Maryland Seafood Festival (Annapolis, Sept 8 - 9)

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Summer Restaurant Weeks

• Restaurant week festivities and special discounted menus are a good summer-themed option for those who would like a more structured food based outing that takes place indoors and thus will help people better beat the ongoing summer heat or will be easier to navigate for those with limited mobility. Servings tend to come in courses with a focus on fresh ingredients that are readily in reason and with prices varying depending upon the venue and the exact type of food being sampled.
• Howard County Summer Restaurant Week (July 23 - Aug 6)
• Baltimore Restaurant Week (July 27 - Aug 5)
• Baltimore County Restaurant Week (Aug 3 - 18)
• Carroll County Restaurant Week (Aug 12 - 19)
• Baltimore Vegan Restaurant Week (Aug 17 - 26)
• Allegany County Restaurant Week (Aug 24 - Sept 2)

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Summer Produce Picking

• A way to get a bit of fun exercise while gaining excess to healthy fresh fruit, veggies, herbs and other produce, most of these pick-your-own farms & orchards also contain their own farmer's markets or fresh produce stores for those seniors who may have health or mobility concerns that may keep them out of the fields & orchards. In-season summer produce that is currently locally available in mid-July include peaches, nectarines, apricots, melons and many types of berries.
• Anne Arundel : Berry Daze
• Baltimore: Weber's Cider Mill Farms | Hybridoma Farms | Shaw Orchard |  Baugher's
• Carroll : Glade Link Farms | Larriland Farm
• Cecil : Millburn Orchards | Walnut Springs
• Dorchester : Emily's Produce
• Frederick : Catoctin Mountain Orchard
• Montgomery: Homestead Farms | Butler's Orchard
• Mount Airy : Rock Hill Orchards
• Queen Anne's : Godfrey's Farm | White Marsh Orchard
• Washington : Litton's Produce & Berries | Garden Hour Orchards | Frog Eye Farm
• Worcester : Berlin Organics | Assateague Farm

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Summer Farmer's Markets

• Farmer's Markets are a good option for those who wish to have the experience of picking their own fresh produce without the added effort & mobility required to harvest them directly from the orchards or farms. While many Farmer's Markets tend to be held outdoors, most will also provide an element of shade through tents, awnings, or available indoor stores for those who need to keep their sun & heat exposure at a limit.
• Baltimore : 32nd Street Farmer's Market | Baltimore Farmer's Market |  Druid Hill Farmer's Market | Federal Hill Farmer's Market | Fell's Point Farmer's Market  Govan's Farmer's Market | Catonsville Farmer's Market | Kenilworth Farmer's Market | Canton Waterfront Farmer's Market
• Carroll : Caroll County Farmer's Market | Hampstead Farmer's Market | Mount Airy Main Street Farmer's Market
• Frederick : Frederick City Market | Middletown Farmer's Market | NCI Farmer's Market
• Howard: Ellicot City Old Town Market | Howard County Farmer's Market | Maple Lawn Farmer's Market
• Montgomery: Central Farm Markets | Farm Women's Market | Dawson's Market | Montgomery Village Farmer's Market | Olney Farmer & Artist Market | Potomac Village Farmer's Market | Shady Grove Farmer's Market | Takoma Park Farmer's Market
• Prince George : Farmer's Market at Maryland | Greenbelt Farner's Market | Hollywood Farmer's Market | Hyattsville Farmer's Market
• Other: Crofton Farmer's Market (Anne Arundel) | Mountain Fresh Farmer's Market (Garrett) | Harford County Farmer's Markets (Harford)  | Havre de Grace Farmer's Market (Harford) | Kent Island Farmer's Market (Queen Anne)