Spring festivals and fairs in Maryland offer inexpensive family fun with food, entertainment, and crafts and activities for kids.
Find family book festivals and cultural festivals, boat shows and craft shows, spring flings, food and drink festivals, music festivals and pirate weekends.
This list includes spring fairs and festivals in Maryland and Washington, D.C., starting the end of March through April.
As always, we suggest you call ahead to verify times and locations before attending an event. Be sure to check back often for updates as more events are added. Have fun!
April 2019 Fairs, Festivals and Carnivals in Maryland and D.C.
ArtFest Open House – 2019
March 31. Art demonstrations, music recitals, dance performances, exhibitions, children’s crafts, and a concert from the USNA Band. Free. 1-4pm. Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis. Marylandhall.org
Annapolis Book Festival at The Key School – 2019
April 6. Event features well-known authors, family-friendly comic-con, children’s activities and book sales. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The Key School, Annapolis. keyschool.org/community/annapolis-book-festival/index.aspx
Maryland Chicken Wing and Beer Festival – 2019
April 6. Children’s activities, chicken wings, locally-brewed beer and live bands. $12, children 12 and under are free. 11 a.m.-–7 p.m. Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds, Crownsville. abceventsinc.com/maryland-chicken-wing-festival
National Cherry Blossom Festival – 2019
March 20-April 14. Check out the cherry blossoms and celebrate with the kite festival, parade, and fireworks festival. Various venues, Washington, D.C. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
Bay Bridge Boat Show – 2019
April 12-14. Demo boat rides, simulated paddle and surfboard rides, children’s activities, over 200 brokerage boats, equipment and accessory vendors, food and more. $12-19. Children 12 and under free. Fri. and Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Bay Bridge Marina, Stevensville. annapolisboatshows.com/bay-bridge-boat-show
Anne Arundel County Fair Flea Market Series – 2019
April 13. New and used items for sale, including household goods, kids’ toys, tools, garden equipment, computers, electronics, party plan vendors and more. Free. 8am-2pm. Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds, Crownsville. aacountyfair.org
Spring Open House – 2019
April 13. Trail walks, children’s games, farm tours and more. Free. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Goshen Farm Historic Site and Education Center, Annapolis. Goshenfarm.org
GreenFest – 2019
April 13. “Science and Our Environment” Activities, exhibits, demonstrations, and workshops. Free. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Howard Community College, Columbia. hcgreenfest.org
Fairy & Garden Gnome Festival – 2019
April 14. Imaginative fun and natural play. Unicorn rides, animal petting zoo, create magical costume pieces, discover fairy houses, and face painting. $7, free for ages 2 and under. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. AnnMarie Garden & Arts Center, Dowell. 410-325-4640, annmariegarden.org
Anacostia River Festival – 2019
April 14. Premier closing event of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Bike parade, live music, educational activities, and canoing. Free. 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Anacostia Park, Washington, D.C. bridgepark.org/anacostia-river-festival
Kids Fest – 2019
April 20. Sports instruction, games, activities, crafts, and food. $8–$10. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Meadowbrook Park, Ellicott City. howardcountymd.gov/kidsfest
Canton Spring Festival – 2019
April 20. Food trucks, drinks, a kid zone, and live entertainment. Free. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Patterson Park, Baltimore. bmorespringfest.com
DC Beer Fest – 2019
April 20. Dozens of craft breweries, spring seasonal beers, food trucks, lawn games, and DJs. Ages 21 and older. $45. Noon-3 p.m and 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Nationals Park, Washington. dcbeerfestival.com
Bethesda Literary Festival – 2019
April 25-26. Readings by literary personalities, writing and poetry contests, family and children’s activities and more. Free. See website for schedule. Venues throughout downtown Bethesda. bethesda.org/bethesda/bethesda-literary-festival
Awesome-Con – 2019
April 26–28. A weekend of cosplay, dress ups, signings, photo ops and panels, including the famous Barrow-panel. $35-75; children $5. Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington. awesome-con.com
Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show – 2019
April 26-28. Sailboat rides, boats for sale, entertainment, drink tastings, food and more. $12-19, children 12 and under free. Fri. and Sat., 10am-6pm; Sun., 10am-5pm. Downtown Annapolis, Annapolis. annapolisboatshows.com/annapolis-spring-sailboat-show
Sugarloaf Crafts Festival – 2019
April 26-28. Children’s entertainment, crafts, jewelry and fine arts for sale. $8-10. Fri. and Sat., 10am-6pm; Sun., 10am-5pm. Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium. sugarloafcrafts.com/festivals/spring-tour/timonium
Johns Hopkins Spring Fair – 2019
April 26-28. Funnel cakes, corn hole, a cappella concerts, beer garden, food court and other events run by Johns Hopkins students. Free. Fri., noon-8pm; Sat., 10am-8pm; Sun., 10am-6pm. Johns Hopkins Homewood Campus, Baltimore. jhuspringfair.com
Bluegrass Festival – 2019
April 26-27. 3 stages featuring 14 bands. kids activities, food, beverages and more. $30-182; 2 day passes available. Druid Hill Park, Baltimore. charmcitybluegrass.com
French Market – 2019
April 26-28. The Book Hill neighborhood of Georgetown transforms into a Parisian-inspired open-air market. More than 40 locally-owned boutiques, cafes, salons and galleries will offer designer goods, art, home furnishings, and French fare. Fri. & Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Downtown Georgetown, Washington. Georgetownfrenchmarketdc.com
Y Healthy Kids Day – 2019
April 27. Family fitness activities, healthy treats, crafts, face painting, a moon bounce and more. Free. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Two locations: Greater Annapolis Family Center Y, Arnold and The Y in Pasadena. ymaryland.org
Annual St. John’s / USNA Croquet Match – 2019 – SOLD OUT
April 27. The croquet match brings together two starkly different institutions together for fierce competition for the Annapolis Cup. St. Johns College, Annapolis. sjc.edu
Maritime Heritage Festival – 2019
April 27. Kid’s activities, crafts, pirates,living history, comedic acts, and live music. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Fells Point, Baltimore. fellspointmainstreet.org
Winefest – 2019
April 27-28. Featuring over 300 wines from around the world. “Walk St. Michaels” using the WineFest map as your guide or take shuttle busses provided by WineFest. Regional food specialties, artisans, renowned jazz musicians and more. Ages 21 and older. $55-$200. Downtown St. Michaels. winefestatstmichaels.com
Celtic Festival and Highland Gathering – 2019
April 27. Maryland’s oldest Celtic festival featuring live music and dance, craft and country-dance demonstrations, historic displays, Celtic market and more. $25. Children 12 and under free. 10am-6pm. Jefferson Park and Museum, St. Leonard. cssm.org/festival
Spring Farm Festival – 2019
April 28. Crafts, folk music, and beekeeping demonstrations. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $5; $10 per family. Hancock’s Resolution, Pasadena. historichancocksresolution.org
For more events and activities this month, check out the Chesapeake Family calendar. It’s loaded with hundreds of activities.
