Arts & Entertainment

Syrup Festival + Harriet Tubman Day + St. Patrick's Parade: MD Events

A syrup festival, Harriet Tubman Day and a St. Patrick's parade are coming to Maryland. Here are some upcoming events in the Old Line State.

Jacob Baumgart's profile picture
Jacob Baumgart, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
The National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways and Chesapeake Conservancy suggested attending the upcoming Maple Syrup Festival at Cunningham Falls State Park. A bottle of syrup is shown above.
The National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways and Chesapeake Conservancy suggested attending the upcoming Maple Syrup Festival at Cunningham Falls State Park. A bottle of syrup is shown above. (Jacob Baumgart/Patch)

MARYLAND — Looking for some family-friendly events in Maryland? A maple syrup festival, Harriet Tubman Day and a St. Patrick's parade are all coming to the Old Line State this month.

Patch recently partnered with several local organizations to bring you their latest news. This guest contribution comes from National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways and Chesapeake Conservancy. Here's what Jody Hedeman Couser submitted to help you explore the Chesapeake Bay:

"Maple Syrup Festival

You’re invited to celebrate the annual Maple Syrup Festival at Cunningham Falls State Park. Gather around the Sugar Shack to watch sugarmakers demonstrate the traditional way of boiling sap into syrup against the backdrop of Maryland’s woodlands. Enjoy live bluegrass music, hayrides through the maple grove with syrup collection demos, join the great pancake race and have a hot pancake and sausage breakfast with Maryland-made maple syrup. $5 donation requested and breakfast is available for an extra cost. This event is ADA accessible and a sign language interpreter will be stationed at the Sugar Shack on both Sundays. March 11-12 and 18-19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Cunningham Falls State Park, Thurmont, MD. More details"

Find out what's happening in Annapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"Harriet Tubman Day

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park has put together a full day of music, history, art, theater and family activities to celebrate the legacy of Harriet Tubman. The celebration begins with the Cambridge-South Dorchester High School "Valhalla Voices," followed by an exploration of the history of spirituals and how they serve as the cultural undergirding of African American music. Learn the histories of Alexander Helmsley, Moses Viney and Isaac Mason, unknown heroes from the Eastern Shore who exemplify the courageous people who took the initiative to escape slavery. Relive the life of Harriet Tubman with a screening of the film Visions of Freedom, followed by a Q&A. Children will enjoy stories and traditional children’s games and crafts. March 11, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center, Church Creek, MD. More information"

"Annapolis St. Patrick's Parade

This year[,] the Annapolis St. Patrick’s Parade is a whole weekend of family fun. The Friday night Hooley party is sold out, but Saturday and Sunday’s Shamrock the Dock offers plenty of Irish music and dancing on the Hooley Stage, Irish dance lessons, fun games, giveaways, stilt walkers and more. General admission is $30 on Saturday with kids 13 and under free and Sunday is free general admission. Sunday the parade (free) starts at 1 p.m. March 4-5, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Annapolis City Dock, Annapolis, MD. More information"

Find out what's happening in Annapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"It’s Time to Order Your Native Plants

Adkins Arboretum in Ridgely, Maryland will be conducting this year’s plant sale March 2-30. They will have a wonderful selection of landscape-ready native trees, shrubs, perennials, ferns, grasses and vines for the Spring Native Plant Sale. Sales will be conducted online and will be fulfilled by timed pickup beginning the last week of April. More information"

"Finding a Birding Hotspot Right Under Your Nose

Avid birder and Baltimore native Nico Sarbanes stumbled upon Rocky Point ... by accident, but [he] had a hunch [that] it had great potential. He decided to include it in his personal birding challenge for 2022. His hunch paid off: Between twenty-seven visits in 2022 alone, he observed 166 species at the park, more than had been observed there across all previous years combined. Nico encourages you “to seek out a lesser-known park and give it some love – you never know what amazing things you might discover!” Read An Amazing Year of Birding at Rocky Point Park (and enjoy the great photos and detailed eBird data)."

"DIY Backyard Wildlife Habitats

Mother Nature could always use some extra assistance and you probably have a lot of materials around the house and yard that can be repurposed to create [a] backyard wildlife habitat. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has some great ideas for backyard [habitats] using materials at hand, including using egg cartons to start seeds, using old stumps to make planters, homemade bird baths, using seashells as decorations that also function as shelter, repurposing suet cages for bird nests and more! DIY backyard wildlife habitat ideas and instructions."

Related:

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Annapolis