Photo by David Roberts
Let Merriment Abound at the Maryland Renaissance Festival
brPicture yourself walking toward what seems like a row of never ending trees and your greeted by a large castle topped with flags swaying back and forth in the wind. The closer you get, the sound of music and laughter starts to rumble through the air. The smell of smoked turkey legs crosses under your nose. You finally make your way through the entrance and your eyes widen as you witness more than 200 professional performers, armored knights, jousters, and village characters filling the grounds at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. brbrArtistic Director Carolyn Spedden, continues to hold one of the biggest responsibilities at the festival, now in its 40th season, finding the entertainment. Each January, applications for the festival start rolling in. From there, Spedden takes time to audition acts coming from all over the world and decides what will work best for the festival.
brbrAlthough she finds the entertainment, Spedden also creates it as well, writing storylines and characters for performances that will occur throughout the festival grounds. This takes extensive research, rehearsals, and scheduling. But in the end, the result is nothing short of incredible!
br brThis year is the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death and in commemoration, Spedden has developed a program called Streets Spear. This consists of monologues and songs from 37 of his plays that will be performed throughout the site!
The Maryland Renaissance Festival runs Saturdays and Sundays now through October 23rd, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. for nine weekends of thrills, feasting, handmade crafts, entertainment, and merriment.
Read our full interview with Carolyn Spedden Here
October Pop-Up Happy Hour Location Revealed
brWhat's Up? Media will host monthly "Pop-Up Happy Hour" events, featuring a sample cocktail or dish from our new column called “Taste This.”
When?
Tuesday, October 18, 2016 from 5:30pm-7:30pm
Where?
O’Learys Seafood Restaurant ,310 Third Street, AnnapolisWhat?
The Apothecary
brThis drink melds some traditional holiday-like ingredients with some serious bourbon.
Fall in love with this libation for the first time or imbibe all over again (Peterson first concocted the rich, amber-colored cocktail last autumn) when What’s Up? Magazine hosts its next Pop-Up Happy Hour at O’Learys. Join us for a free sample, enjoy an appetizer special, and see the new interior touches that make this waterfront staple the place to meet and greet this season. br
Please RSVP here, to let us know you will be attending October's Pop-Up Happy Hour.
The What's Up? Weekend Rundown
Anne Arundel County
Boomerfest
Friday, September 30th, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
brBoomer Fest 2016, an over 50 lifestyle expo is coming to Annapolis and not to be missed! This free event will offer a wealth of valuable information, entertainment and fun. The expo features over 40 exhibitors and boasts an assortment of workshops and seminars to be held throughout the day. Inside the expo you can chat with a wide variety of senior focused resources such as housing representatives, lawyers, transition & “next step” specialists, dementia care, celebration planning and home maintenance providers.
Leach Woods Haunted Experience
Friday, September 30th & Saturday, October 1st, 7 p.m.
brThe Ultimate Halloween Horror Experience. Leach woods is a haunted woods experience with live actors and scares around every corner. Howie's Horror is a not so scary experience for smaller children.
Seventh Annual Puppy Rescue Fundraiser
Friday, September 30th, 7–10 p.m. & Saturday, October 1st, 1–5 p.m.
brThe Puppy Rescue Mission will host their seventh annual fundraiser weekend events in Annapolis. Join service members and their canine ‘battle buddies’ as well as the founder of this world-renowned 501c(3) organization for a cornhole tournament, meet-and-greet, and a fundraiser picnic. All proceeds from the weekend’s events benefit The Puppy Rescue Mission, to help service members rescue the dogs that they bond with while serving overseas and can’t bear to leave behind. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.
Homestead Gardens Annual Fall Festival
Saturday, October 1st, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. & Sunday, October 2nd, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
brHomestead Gardens' Annual Fall Festival is the largest in the area! Enjoy this family tradition featuring 15 rides and attractions, demonstrations, entertainment, food and beverages – including Homestead’s world famous apple cider doughnuts. From our showroom, to the barnyard, to our corn maze and pumpkin patches, 30 acres of Homestead Gardens is alive with the color and bounties of the season. Wind your way through our two-acre corn maze, ride the pumpkin express or stroll through the iconic showroom dressed for fall like no other place.
Paddling with a Purpose Celebration
Sunday, October 2nd, 2–6 p.m.
brLeading the charge for October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Annapolis Dragon Boat Club’s “Paddling with a Purpose!” celebration and fundraiser will take place at the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel. Funds raised will further the club’s mission of aiding in the recovery of breast cancer and other cancers, as envisioned by its founder, Mike Ashford, owner of McGarvey’s Saloon & Oyster Bar in Annapolis.
Eastern Shore
Trawler FestThursday, September 29th through Saturday, October 1st, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
brTrawlerFest is PassageMaker’s stand-alone series of boat shows, specifically designed for cruising under power enthusiasts. Strategically located in key cruising regions nationwide, TrawlerFests showcase the nation’s best in-water display of cruising powerboats, first class boating courses and demonstrations, all the latest in marine products & services, and rendezvous-style evening events and activities!
Harry Potter Festival
Friday, September 30th through Sunday, October 2nd, Times vary
brGrab your wand, hop on your broom, and come for a weekend of magic at the third annual Chestertown Harry Potter Festival on September 30 – October 2, 2016. Explore our colonial river town and join us for spectacular activities and events, for children and adults—wizards and muggles alike.
Clays 4 a Cause
Friday, September 30th, 9 a.m.
brTest your aim at this sporting clays event at Pintail Point on the Eastern Shore. With multiple well-designed stations, this beautiful course offers a challenge to all skill levels.
Ironman
Saturday, October 1st, 6:50 a.m.
brIRONMAN is one of the most grueling athletic events in the world. Elite athletes and ordinary people compete in IRONMAN events, which are held all over the world. Some racers are trying to fulfill a dream of simply crossing the finish line; others hope to qualify for the World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. They all have trained months, if not years, to be in shape to compete. If they are able to finish the course in under 17 hours, they earn the title of “Ironman,” an achievement respected throughout the sporting world.
ARF’s Eighth Hot Dog Grill
Saturday, October 1st, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
brJoin the eighth Hot Dog Grill to benefit homeless animals! 100% of the proceeds/donations will go to the Animal Resource Foundation to care for all of the animals waiting for their forever homes. $4 includes hot dog with chips and a drink. Other food items will be available. There will also be a bake table!
Small Craft Festival XXXIII & 11th Maritime Model Expo
Saturday, October 1st & Sunday, October 2nd, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
brThe Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum will host one of the nation’s largest gatherings of small boat enthusiasts and unique watercraft. Hundreds of amateur and professional boat builders, model boat builders, and enthusiasts come from all over the region to display their one-of-a-kind kayaks, canoes, and other traditional small craft, along with a variety of maritime models also on display and underway in a man-made pond.
Theresa Caputo Live
Saturday, October 1st, 7:30 p.m.
brTheresa Caputo, from TLC’s hit show, Long Island Medium, will be appearing live at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center. Theresa will share personal stories about her life and explain how her gift works. She will deliver healing messages to audience members and give people comfort knowing that their loved ones who passed are still with them, just in a different way.
Osprey Triathlon
Sunday, October 2nd, 9 a.m.
brThe Osprey Triathlon is a family friendly event suitable for athletes at all levels of skill and experience at Kent School. Not ready for a full triathlon just yet? No problem! Create a team and complete in one, two, or three legs of the race. The race will consist of three legs: a seven–mile bike race, a two–mile kayak course, and a three–mile run.
Regional
Mermaid’s Kiss Oyster FestThursday, September 29th, 6–10 p.m.
brOnce a year the Chesapeake Bay community gathers in Baltimore to celebrate past and present efforts to restore our treasured keystone species – the Eastern oyster. It’s a bivalve lovers bash showcasing local aquaculture and the delicacies that has earned Mermaid’s Kiss the reputation as best raw bar event in Baltimore. Come celebrate the year’s successes with the oyster industry’s leading network of restaurateurs, farms, friends and advocates. The evening will feature live music, a silent auction and signature dishes from some of the best seafood restaurants in the region.
Chipotle Fundraiser to Help Homeless Pets
Thursday, September 29th, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
brHelp homeless pets by visiting any Chipotle Mexican Grill in Maryland and Chipotle will donate 50% of your sale to the Maryland SPCA. Patrons must let the cashier know that they are there to help the Maryland SPCA for the sale to count. Patrons can also show the fundraiser information from their smart phones.
Madonnari Arts Festival
Friday, September 30th, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
brThis three-day cultural event will showcase elaborate chalk paintings created by artists directly on the streets of Little Italy. The event will be enhanced with Italian food, wine, music, theater and dance in a celebration of the contemporary renaissance of Baltimore’s historic Italian neighborhood. The model for this event originated in Italy in a tradition that dates back to the 16th century — the art of street painting.
Party with a Purpose
Friday, September 30th, 6:30–10 p.m.
brBest Buddies Maryland, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, will present its 5th Annual Tastebuds Event at Horseshoe Casino. This night of fantastic food, specialty drinks, and friendship features tastes of signature dishes from more than a dozen of Baltimore’s top restaurants. All proceeds from Tastebuds help provide support for Best Buddies programs in a total of 97 schools and colleges in Baltimore and throughout Maryland that seek to end the isolation of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Bowie International Festival
Saturday, October 1st, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
brJoin Us for a Day of Celebration and Exploration! There will be a variety of entertainers, artists, crafters, food, and children’s activities at Allen Pond Park for the annual Bowie International Festival. This festival will take you “Around the World in Just One Day.” Bring your family and join friends and neighbors and check out all the fun activities offered!
25th Annual Hurlock Festival
Saturday, October 1st, 10 a.m.
brThe Hurlock Fall Festival is held annually on the first Saturday in October each year. The Fall Festival officially begins with a parade through town. Another one of the highlights of the day might be the pony rides that are available for the smaller children. The "star" of the day has to be the train rides available at various time throughout the day. Board the "Hurlock Express" and step back in time. Relax and enjoy your scenic ride through some of the most beautiful farmland that Dorchester County has to offer. The round trip ride to Federalsburg takes approximately 1 hour and is a pleasant break from the other activities that go on all day long.
Autumn Wine Fest
Saturday, October 1st, 6–10 p.m.
brWhat better way to spend a crisp fall evening than dining on delicious cuisine provided by Manor Tavern, sipping on a glass of lovely Boordy wine, and enjoying the sounds of the Real Geniuses. All the while helping the Claire Marie Foundation in the fight against adolescent melanoma!
Zoo Zoom 8K
Saturday, October 1st, 8:30 a.m.
brHere’s your chance to run wild through Zoo. Whether you have the speed of a cheetah or pace of a tortoise, join The Maryland Zoo for this wildly popular annual event. Choose from either the 8K race or theCareFirst BlueCross BlueShield one-mile family walk/fun run. Both courses run right through the center of the Zoo alongside the animals!
14th Annual Riverside WineFest
Saturday, October 1st, 12–5 p.m.
brFall might seem far away, but at Historic Sotterley, they are beginning to get their grounds ready for almost 6,000 guests that annual attend Riverside Winefest! Full of regional wines, live music, and incredible artisan vendors, WineFest has become a staple to the Southern Maryland Community.
What's Up? Media Promotions
brWhat’s Up? Media loves our community and wants to give back. Check out our promotions page for opportunities to win amazing giveaways such as tickets to the most happening local events around, gift cards to your favorite local restaurants, and more! More details here.
