Summer is finally here. And when school’s out, the phrase every parent dreads hearing from their children can often repeat itself through the season: “I’m bored.” But never fear, as we usher in June, we also welcome the return of many Chesapeake Bay area favorites.
U-Pick: Flowers and Berries
Head to any one of these farms to pick your own fruit and flowers for the season. Go for a drive to find unique finds at Baugher’s Orchard in Mount Airy like sweet and sour cherries, garden peas or gooseberries or stay local with a variety of flowers or fruit at the following:
- Godfrey’s Farm | Sudlersville
- Kent Fort Farm | Stevensville
- Lockbriar Farms | Chestertown
- Swann Farms | Owings
Public Swimming
There is no shortage of local beaches along the Chesapeake Bay that families can visit without having to trek to the coastline. Here are a handful of popular, family-friendly swimming beaches organized by county to visit on summer weekends to cool off from the hot weather.
- Anne Arundel: Beverly Triton Nature Park, Fort Smallwood Park, Mayo Beach Park, Sandy Point State Park
- Calvert: Breezy Point Beach, Calvert Cliffs State Park, Flag Ponds Nature Park , North Beach
- Kent/Queen Anne’s: Betterton Beach, Matapeake Clubhouse & Beach
- Talbot: Sandaway Suites & Beach, The Strand Beach
Movies & Outdoor Concert Series
Nothing beats a cool summer night sitting on a picnic blanket, eating snacks and watching a movie on the big screen or listening to a great band while stargazing at the night sky above you — especially when it’s free.
- Outdoor Movie Nights | Chesapeake Beach
- TGIF Concert Series at Terrapin Nature Park | Centreville
- Summer Concert Series | Historic London Town
- Tides and Tunes | Annapolis
Community Festivals
Big festivals draw big crowds. So, for families looking for something more neighborhood focused, here are three festivals to check out for a fun time with the whole family.
- The Chesapeake Children’s Book Festival | Easton | June 6
- Art Annapolis | Annapolis | June 13
- Maryland Crafted | Centreville | June 13
- Dragon Boat Festival | North Beach | June 14
Not-to-Miss Festivals in June
There’s a lot happening this month to kick off the summer season. Plan ahead to beat the crowds at these three not-to-miss festivals.
- Anne Arundel Arts Month | Anne Arundel County | Throughout the Month
- Let’s Go Music Festival | Crownsville | June 5 & 6
- Delmarva Pride Festival | Easton | June 13
- Juneteenth Parade & Festival | Annapolis | June 18-20
Snowball Season
Whether it’s snowballs, snow cones, shaved ice or just some regular popsicles you are looking for, here’s a list of the best places to get them.
- Go Melvo Sno-Balls | Multiple Locations in Anne Arundel County
- B&B Snowballs & Seafood | Glen Burnie
- Sun Valley Snowballs, Inc. | Pasadena
- Calvert’s Ice Shack | Lusby
- Ice Delights Snowballs | Centreville
- Jack Frost Snowballs | Stevensville
Holidays
All month long is Pride Month, which many local communities celebrate with festivals, parades and more. Don’t miss celebrating these other early summer holidays with your family.
- National Best Friends Day | June 8
- Flag Day | June 14
- Father’s Day | June 15
- Juneteenth | June 19
- Fourth of July | July 4
- Free Slurpee Day | July 11
Summer Reading
Calvert, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties are all participating in the Maryland-wide summer reading program, Unearth a Story — a dino-themed reading challenge. Calvert’s and Queen Anne’s library programs kick off June 1, and dates are TBD for Kent and Talbot counties. Each year, Anne Arundel County Public Library runs a Summer @ Your Library initiative with games and prizes for summer reading. New in 2026 will be a Choose Your Own Adventure option for teens to read or complete activities to win a Nintendo Switch Mario Kart bundle. Adults can get in on the fun with a Wild Card Bingo challenge to win four airline tickets courtesy of Southwest Airlines. Check the library website for updates on the program kickoff.
