Spring Into Festival Season in Frederick County
From craft beer and colonial history to lavender fields and vibrant arts, Frederick County comes alive with a season of unforgettable events.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY VISIT FREDERICK
The spring opens up the festival season in Frederick County, Maryland, with plenty of opportunities to taste incredible Maryland beer, explore centuries of stories, and experience a vibrant community buzzing with art and culture.
On May 9, Carroll Creek Park in Downtown Frederick reverberates with energy during the Maryland Craft Beer Festival. Dozens of Maryland breweries gather along the water, pouring more than 200 beers that reflect the creativity and range of the state’s brewing scene. Live music carries through the park while visitors move between tents, sampling new flavors and familiar favorites.
One week later, attention turns north to the historic village of Catoctin Furnace for the Maryland Iron Festival. On May 16-17, Frederick County’s industrial past takes center stage through blacksmithing demonstrations, live iron pours, and hands-on experiences that connect visitors directly to the region’s earliest industries. As we commemorate the 250th year of American independence, this is an opportunity to learn about one of the sites that helped manufacture the tools used to win victory over the British.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY VISIT FREDERICK
June carries the festival season’s momentum forward with a shift toward art, agriculture, and community expression. At Springfield Manor, the Maryland Lavender Festival on June 13-14 invites visitors into blooming fields filled with color, fragrance, and a slower pace. Enjoy live music, artisan vendors, and an opportunity to explore Maryland’s only combination of winery, brewery, and distillery at one location.
That same weekend, Carroll Creek Park becomes a vast gallery during the Frederick Festival of the Arts and Artopia. Artists line the walkways of the park, while Downtown Frederick turns out for a celebration of art and culture.
PHOTO BY BILL ADKINS
On June’s final Saturday (June 27), Frederick Pride returns to Carroll Creek with a powerful sense of purpose. What began as a small community gathering a decade ago has grown into a defining community event, welcoming tens of thousands to celebrate identity, inclusion, and belonging in the heart of Frederick’s historic district.
Explore these events – and many more – by heading over to visitfrederick.org
