Spring Activities for Seniors in Maryland

By Anna Hazard

Introduction

Spring has finally sprung and so it's time to shake off the dust (any last clinging snow flakes), put away those winter coats, and start enjoying those outside activities with senior loved ones during the mild weather between winter's chill and summer's heat.
 
Here are a selection of spring themed activities, festivals, and other outside gatherings that will helpfully bring a bit of sunshine into your life & spring into your step. This guide concentrates on those spring festivities that are mostly free or with inexpensive entrance fees around the Maryland area with a particular focus on the Baltimore region.

Spring 2018 Activities

Spring Garden & Flower Festivals

• These festivals & gatherings scattered throughout Maryland have a particular focus on flowers, gardens, and other wildlife. Due to their outdoor nature, they are a good way to take advantage of the mild spring weather for better exercise & absorption of sunlight to help in the body's processing of Vitamin D (a deficit that seniors often incur while remaining indoors during the winter months). Most festivals have enough accessibility for wheelchairs or rollators, but please confirm with an individual event if you have any concerns.
• Smile Herb Festival (Prince George's, April 28th) | May Day in Annapolis (May 1, Annapolis) | Baltimore FlowerMart (Baltimore, May 4-5) | Ladew Garden Festival (Baltimore, May 5)| Baltimore Wildlife Week (Baltimore, May 6 - 12) | Greenbelt Green Man Festival (Prince George's, May 12 - 13) | Beyond the Garden Gates (Frederick, May 19 - 20) | Charles Village Festival & Garden Walk (Baltimore, June 2 -3)| | Maryland Lavendar Festival (Frederick, June 16 - 17)

Spring Garden Touring

• There are many public & private gardens available for touring during spring time. Many also serve dual functions as historical monuments, stores, or art venues. Larger garden sites as well as longer tours may require quite a bit of walking or mobility. Some of the multi-site tours will require access to vehicular transportation. While many gardens have wheelchair or rollator accessibility through paved paths, some may require walking through grass & other foliage. Please confirm with a specific site if mobility & accessibility may be a problem.
• Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimmage (Various, April 21 - May 26) | Rawlings Conservatory & Botanic Gardens (Baltimore) | Sherwood Gardens (Baltimore) | Ladew Topiary Gardens (Baltimore)  | William Paca House & Garden (Annapolis) | Homestead Gardens (Annapolis) | Historic London Town & Gardens (Anne Arundel) | McCrillis House & Gardens (Bethesda) | Soleado Lavendar Farm (Montgomery) | Brookside Gardens (Montgomery) | Lilypons Water Garden (Frederick) | Sotterly Plantation (St. Mary's) | Ann Marie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center (Calvert)

Spring Farmer's Markets

• Many Farmer's Markets tend to be held outside during fair weather and thus can be a good alternative for those without the mobility to pick their own fruit or stroll through open gardens. Featuring local seasonal produce & oftentimes available seasonal flowers as well, Farmer's Markets are family friendly options for a quick, low-key outside trip in the sun that can also be a good source of healthy food products. As most markets close along with the cold winter months, spring is a good time to check them out before the rising temperatures (and growing crowds) of summer.
• 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 | Hampden Farmer's Market | Catonsville Farmer's Market | Kenilworth Farmer's Market | Boordy's Good Life Farmer's Market
• Carroll : Caroll County Farner's Market | Hampstead Farmer's Market | Mount Airy Main Street Farmer's Market
• Frederick : Brunswick Farmer's Market | 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 | Port Town Farmer's Mercado
• 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)

Spring Fruit, Produce, & Berry Picking

• Pick Your Own fruit, veggies, herbs & other produce and even flowers are a popular, fun, & healthy way to gain exercise, a bit of extra sun light (never forgetting the sunscreen applications as well), as well as excess to local & fresh produce. Generally this sort of outing will require a bit more mobility to be able to traverse the gardens, fields, and orchards of the publicly accessible farms as well as a bit of hand strength & dexterity to be able to pluck the chosen bit of produce. Farmer's Markets are a good alternative for those whose health isn't quite up for a bit of farming. Strawberries are generally the first pick-your-own crop that comes into season during spring.
• Shaw Orchard (White Hall) | Swann Farms (Calvert) | Catoctin Mountain Orchard (Thurmont) | Weber's PeachBerry Farm (Parkville) | Jones Family Farm (Edgewood) | Baugher's (Westminster) | Butler's Orchard (Germantown) | Shlagel Farms (Charles) | Glade Link Farms (Frederick) | Maynes Tree Farm (Frederick) | Gorman Farms (Howard) | Larriland Farm (Howard) | Southern Comfort Berry Farm (St. Mary's) 

General Spring Festivals

• Featuring food, vendors, music, art, rides, games, and more various festivals have different focuses ranging from the spring season, to celebrating  certain events & holidays, giving a taste of their individual locations across Maryland, or simply being a good excuse for the public to gather & celebrate.  Note that while many festivals take place along roads, tents, or have pavement for easy wheelchair or rollator access, some take place entirely or partially in open fields or gardens and thus may require a bit more mobility to access. Also keep in mind that festivals at their height of crowds may also pose accessibility problems for those with limited mobility.
• Marley Station Spring Carnival (Anne Arundel, April 26 - May 6) | Montpelier Festival of Herbs Teas & the Arts (Prince George's, April 28) | Towson Town Gardens Day & Spring Festival (Baltimore, May 3 & 5) | Ocean City Spring Fest (Ocean City, May 3 - 6) | Historic St. Mary's May Day (St. Mary's, May 5) | Made in Maryland Fest (Anne Arundel, May 6) | Arbutus Spring Fling (Baltimore, May 6) | Sykesville Art & Wine Festival (Carroll, May 6) | Bethesda Fine Arts Festival (Montgomery, May 12 - 13) | Preakness (Baltimore, May 17 - 19) | Arbutus Arts Festival (Baltimore, May 20) | Brewscape (Baltimore, May 20th) | Chestertown Colonial Tea Party Festival (Kent, May 25 - 27) |  Stars & Stripes Festival (Calvert, May 26 - 28) | Annual Sowebo Arts and Music Festival (Baltimore, May 27) | Secret Garden Caribbean Music, Arts & Wine Festival (Carroll, May 13) | Taste of Wheaton (Montgomery, May 31 - June 3) | First Sunday Arts Festival (Annapolis, 1st Sunday May - November)

Spring Food Festivals

• These spring festivals have a particular focus on food, especially the kinds that are beginning to come into season such as strawberries, blue crabs, as well as revving up the bar-b-cue grills in preparation for warmer weather. Some festivals also spotlight the specific cuisine in the local area. While some festivals are free to enter (with people buying from vendors the treats that catch their eye), some require an upfront price of admission. Most food festivals take place in pavilions, fair grounds, and various other areas with easy accessibility, but please check with the individual venue if mobility may be a problem.
• Taste of Carroll (Carroll, April 30) | Naptown Bar-BAY-Q (Anne Arundel, May 5) | Taste of Chestertown (Kent, May 7) | New Orleans Seafood Festival (National Harbor, May 12) | Baltimore Wine & Food Festival (Baltimore, May 12) | Somerset Strawberry Festival (Somerset, May 12) | Beer, Bacon, Music (Frederick & Prince George's, May 19 & June 9) | Good Life Feastival (Baltimore, May 26 - 27) | Soft Shell Spring Fair (Sommerset, May 28) | St. Mary's County Crab Festival (St Mary's, June 9) | Maryland Food Truck Festival (Anne Arundel, June 10) | Maryland Crab Fest (Baltimore, June 23)

Spring Exhibitions

• For a more focused event without all the furor that comes with the vendors, music, and food of a more general festival, try one of the many indoor or outdoor spring themed exhibitions & shows that are scattered around Maryland. Kites, floral art, and car shows are particularly popular theme around this time of year. Most events take place in venues with proper pavement for wheelchair & rollator access, but please check with a particular exhibition if mobility problems may arise.
• Up in the Air Kite Exhibition (Montgomery, March 10 - April 29) |  Sakura Dream Immersive Digital Art Exhibition (DC, March 15 - May 6) | In Bloom Spring Photography Exhibition (DC, March 21 - April 29) | Spring Fling Car Show (St. Mary's, April 29) | Cruisin' Ocean City (Ocean City, May 17 - 20)  | Maryland International Kite Expo (Ocean City, May 27 - 29) | British Car Show (Frederick, June 3)

Boat Shows & Cruises

• With the warming of the weather boat shows, maritime festivals, and cruise trips begin springing up around the Chesapeak Bay like spring time flowers. Generally enough mobility to navigate docks and board the boats & ships will be required, so inquiries to the exact accessibility of each venue is definitely recommended for any seniors with mobility problems. All cruises & boat rides will require an entrance fee before boarding. Reserving in advance is also recommended when it comes to the larger cruises.
• Bay Bridge Boat Show (Baltimore, April 27 - 29) | Solomons Maritime Festival (Calvert, May 5) | Chesapeake Bay Antique and Classic Boat Festival (Talbot, June 15 - 17) | Spirit of Baltimore Cruises (Baltimore Inner Harbor) | Baltimore Cruises on the Bay (Baltimore Inner Harbor & Annapolis) | Baltimore Water Taxi

Music Festivals

• These spring festivals have a particular focus on music whether it's the blues, bluegrass, or a more eclectic mix of funk, pop, rock, soul, brass ensemble, or even polka. The music festivals generally have entrance fees and while they are also generally held within venues that have proper pavement for the use of wheelchairs or rollators (with some exceptions being mainly held within fields or on the grass), there may be some mobility issues due to the crowding of people making both movement or finding a seat when necessary harder.
• Charm City Bluegrass Festival (Baltimore, April 27 - 28) | DelFest (May 24-27) | Hometown Holidays Music Fest (Mongomery, May 26 - 28) | Western Maryland Blues Fest (Hagerstown, June 1-2) | Tides & Tunes Concert Series (Annapolis, June 14th-August 16th)