4th of July Fireworks and Fun

In Maryland, we’re pretty proud of our state flag, but that doesn’t mean we don’t know how to celebrate the red, white and blue! Whether it’s a family trip to the beach, a day out on the bay, or taking in the annual “Salute to Independence” concert at Antietam National Battlefield, there’s no better place to celebrate Independence Day than Maryland. And with parades and fireworks from one end of the state to the other, you’ve got lots of options. Head to our 4th of July page to find a celebration just right for you.

Maryland’s Summer of Music Rocks On

The sounds of Maryland’s Summer of Music are sizzling with funky and fantastic festivals bringing down the house all season, and July is no exception with three rockin’ festivals to choose from. First up is the Lake Arbor Jazz Festival in Mitchellville July 11-14. Then it’s the Potomac Jazz & Seafood Festival, now in its 20th year, and the festival has gone to three days of great music and great food, July 12-14. Baltimore closes out the month with Artscape, the largest free arts festival in the nation. This year catch TLC and reggae legends Toots & The Maytals plus rides, food, and amazing art, July 19-21. Get the lowdown on all of the amazing Maryland Summer of Music festivals at our website and make plans to catch as much music as you can!

Don’t Miss Pride in Maryland

The rainbow flag is flying high over the Free State as Maryland celebrates LGBTQ Pride. Howard County Pride Celebration and Annapolis’s first-ever Pride festival and parade are June 29. Westminster Pride Extravaganza is July 13, and Cumberland Pride Festival is July 14. And the Lambda Car Club’s Queen City Invitational is in Cumberland July 19-23. Get out and celebrate at all of these great Maryland pride events.

Get Wild on ‘Water Wednesdays’

You know what it’s like — it’s humpday and the weekend feels so far away. And its hot! Well we’ve got a cool plan for you: take the day and head out for a new Maryland adventure. With so many ways to get out on and in the water in Maryland, it can be tough to decide. Why not take advantage of Maryland’s amazing water parks for a wet and wild time? With huge water parks like Six Flags America’s Hurricane Harbor in Upper Marlboro and Jolly Roger Splash Mountain in OC and Gaithersburg’s Water Park at Bohrer Park to name just three, you’ve got a tidal wave’s worth of choices! Visit our Water Parks & Swimming Holes page for lots of great ideas to spend your Water Wednesday!

Celebrate National Ice Cream Month on Maryland’s Cow-to-Cone Ice Cream Trail

Maryland's rich ice cream history dates back to the mid-18th century, when Maryland’s proprietary governor Thomas Bladen reportedly served the first ice cream in the New World at an official dinner in 1744. Maryland has numerous dairies, creameries and specialty shops that serve up your favorite scoops—in fact, Maryland even has an Ice Cream Trail! So whether it’s one of our nine cow-to-cone creameries, or one of our many other delicious ice cream destinations, Head to our web site and follow the Ice Cream Trail.

Make Your Plans Now for the National Folk Festival in Salisbury

September 6-8, Salisbury is the place to be as the National Folk Festival returns for its second year in Maryland. This fantastic free festival has been traveling through America since 1934, moving to a new town every three years. 2019 is the second year in Salisbury, the National Folk Festival is a crown jewel of our Summer of Music and features more than 350 of the nation’s best traditional musicians, dancers, craftspeople and performers. It’s simply not to be missed! For all the info, head to our website.

Get Away to Maryland’s Amazing State and National Parks

Whether it’s lounging on a beach, fishing in a mountain stream, or peering back through time to some of America’s greatest heroes and their stories, Maryland’s State and National Parks have all this and more. Explore Antietam, once the site of America’s bloodiest day of battle, and now a solemn place that lets you explore history by a curated cycling tour. Immerse yourself in the life of Harriet Tubman at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, and paddle the surrounding Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, a landscape little-changed from when Tubman lead her daring escapes. Or chill on the beach doing some fishing and relaxing bay-side at Sandy Point State Park. That’s just the beginning of the endless adventures waiting for you in Maryland’s State and National Parks; see more at visitmaryland.org.

Enter to Win on Maryland Mondays!

Don’t miss your chance at free tickets for amazing events across the state. Every Monday on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, the Maryland Office of Tourism is joining with our sponsors to give away great Maryland travel experiences. We call them Maryland Mondays, but you can enter all week. This week's prize includes a pair of tickets to Disney's Aladdin JR, July 13. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to enter.