 MARYLAND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL

The Maryland Seafood Festival returns to Annapolis on August 19–20, but at a new location! After more than 30 years at Sandy Point State Park, the festival will be held at the Annapolis City Dock and Susan Campbell Park. A 55-year tradition, the festival has been showcasing great seafood, live music, arts and crafts, chef demos, and the crab soup cook-off to thousands of festival attendees. One of the highlights of the event for the past 30 years, the Crab Soup Cook-off, will be back with our local celebrity judges, people’s choice winners, and over 20 different soups to taste. The Beer and Oyster tent will include oysters from local fisheries and a great place to take in some pre-season NFL games. Chef demonstrations will exhibit how to make scrumptious dishes, including best practices on handling tasty invasive species. A portion of the proceeds benefit local charities. For tickets and more information, visit mdseafoodfestival.com.

 Maryland Renaissance Festival

The 47th Annual Maryland Renaissance Festival begins August 26th and 27th! Every weekend through October 22nd is special at the Renaissance Festival, but what is better than opening weekend at the Crownsville festival grounds? This year’s storyline takes place in 1536: Henry VIII’s Year of Change. Many stages will have musical guests, readings, arena jousting, archery, magic, plus trades demonstrations, festival food, drinks for adults and the kiddos, craft vendors, and so much more to take you back to the time of the Renaissance. Visit the rennfest.com for exact dates this season, plus ticket information.

Maryland State Fair

The opening weekend of the Maryland State Fair will be at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium August 24th through 27th. The fair will then continue August 31st through September 4th and September 7th through 10th. The three long weekends will be a fun and educational destination for the whole family. There will be live entertainment, thoroughbred horse racing, fair treats, farm fresh foods, rides, games, the U-Learn Agriculture Education Zone, and so much more. Find more information at marylandstatefair.com.

 BOWIE BAYSOX

The Bowie Baysox, the minor league baseball team affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles, have a jam-packed schedule this month. The Baysox will be competing on 27 of the 31 days of August, and twelve of those games will be at their home stadium in Bowie (behind Home Depot). The Baysox will be playing the Portland Sea Dogs on August 1st through 6th, and the Altoona Curve on August 15th through 20th. Check out the time of the games and buy tickets at milb.com/bowie.