Crownsville — near the center of Anne Arundel County, between Severna Park and Annapolis — is an ideal access point for community members, and this is no more apparent than during the summer.
Two of the county’s longest running late summer/fall festivals take place in and around Crownsville, and have provided an opportunity for families to connect with pieces of county history.
The Maryland Renaissance Festival, which returns each year for nine weeks beginning in late August, offers a taste of Maryland history with the state sport of jousting. Its village of Revel Grove opened for the first time in 1976 and unlike some other Renaissance festivals, exists year-round, with public access during the festival’s run.
Connecting families to history beyond Maryland, the festival actually features the history of medieval England via an evolving storyline each year. Costumed actors wander the grounds, while visitors also don their best feathers, skirts and tunics, eat turkey legs and enjoy games, music and more—all in keeping with the style and materials used in that age.
This year, the fair will be open on weekends and Labor Day from Aug. 24 through Oct. 20.
Another link to local history is the Anne Arundel County Fair, which has been a fixture in the community since 1952. The fair gives families a lens into historical Anne Arundel County—a county once teeming with farmland.
Nationally, the number of farms has been on a slow decline since 1982, which followed a drastic decline beginning in the 1930s, according to the USDA Economic Research Service.
Families can experience that farm history today through the fair’s livestock auction and educational exhibits, and kids and teens ages 11 to 19 have the opportunity to get involved by joining the junior fair board.
Originally held at the old Labrot Race Track near Sandy Point, the fair moved to Sandy Point State Park in 1953 before finally settling in Crownsville in 1984.
Unique to the fair is its “Fair Giant,” a 20-foot replica of lumberjack Paul Bunyon donated by a local family in the early ‘90s.
This year, the 72nd fair celebrates its history with traditional county fair favorites including carnival rides and games, specialty food and live music.
The fair is free for children ages 9 and younger. Admission includes entrance to the fair but does not cover carnival rides or games. The fair runs from Sept. 11-15.
