My husband and I made an appointment for a Friday evening for something to do that was different…read morefor date night. The owner was so nice and explained everything well and helped us while we did the experience as well. We killed some zombies and some criminals while there lol. We will be back again.

Visiting Frederick with a friend, I was so happy to stumble across @VR! So many games to choose…read morefrom, great group, single, or couples activity. Even w it being our first time playing VR games. The staff is amazing. Suuuper helpful and patient. I dont kno how they manage it, but even with a full house, were nearby, attentive, and friendly. The owner is amazing and really knows the games. You wont regret this and will def want an hour or more! Zombie game was my favorite multiplayer!

We had a wonderful time seeing Paranormal Cirque in White Marsh, MD. Getting inside of the venue…read morewas quick and easy. They had a short haunted maze that was fun. Concessions are extremely overpriced, but not uncommon for these types of events. The bathrooms were port-a-potties, but not really enough for the crowd in my opinion. The show was really fun. I enjoyed the variety of performers, aerial, jugglers, roller skaters, contortionists, and more! There is a cool wheel of death performance towards the end. The performers were great and engaged well with the crowd. There were some light horror aspects and some comedy aspects as well. Overall, it was an enjoyable show and I'd definitely recommend it!

I loved the show! This review is specifically for their "Nightmare" tour. I missed it last year and…read morethey have different themes and storylines. I didn't find out they were back until their second to last day, but I love anything horror themed so I had to go. They had a haunted maze in the tent with jump scares, loud noises, and a man in a chainsaw running around. It was short, but loads of fun. It did scare my wife since it was pretty dark with something lurking in every corner. They had two snack vendors (churros, popcorn, cotton candy, icees, sodas, and nachos), an arts table in the front before you enter, and a merch table with shirts and different masks (masquerade, horns, and such). The shirts were not on display so you have to ask for them. It was $40. About the same as concert shirts or theme park prices so that's something to note since everything is cash only (they mention this when you buy tickets). The seats are nicely spaced out and you get to see most acts from the sides. The only part we didn't have a good view of were the magic acts, so if you're a fan of that (they did have some amazing tricks) then you'll want any seats overlooking the stage and closer to the center. Otherwise, you'll get the gist of what's going on but you will miss pieces of the magic acts from the side. All other acts were enjoyable from our seats. They had great music, a live band during some parts, great lighting and smoke effects, and a few interesting performances I hadn't seen before. The aerial stuff I can honestly watch 100 times as that will aways amaze and terrify me. I also loved the reaction from audience members and seeing their minds blown. Circus acts are rare and some are incredibly expensive, so I get it might be a first for most people. If it is, then I recommend this one, if you love Halloween and want a reason to dress up, do it here too!

The MOOseum is a dairy barn that is opened on Saturdays, from May through October, from 10AM-3PM…read more They also have a special program/event offered on the fourth Sunday of each month (from 1-4PM), such as Montgomery County History Tours, Farm Tour & Sales, County Fairs, etc. Admission is free! With your admission ticket, we participated in one of their offered tours (you can see their collection of dairy farm-related items (like milk bottles, cans, and related equipment from local farms), check out their dairy maps, photographs, hear oral histories, and were able to peruse their research library that has a collection of books/print/videographic material that's related to the dairy industry. Just note that there aren't any 'live' animals, as this is more of a museum/educational set-up. There is also plenty room to picnic and a children's playground for the little ones. We also stopped by the shop where you can purchase gifts of local artists/artisans, books, and anything 'MOO'-related. If you're into barns, the farm-life, or just curious and want something interesting to do, check out the MOOseum - it's close by, too, in Germantown :D

So....not quite what I expected. I had hoped for a bit more liveliness out of a barn, but hey, it…read morewas still fun. And free. Free is awesome. Just so we are clear though, there are no live animals at this barn. There are no dead ones either. But fake ones aplenty. The volunteers were very knowledgable and friendly and there was a lot of education to be found regarding Montgomery County's disappearing dairy farm history. You can "milk" two different cows and play conductor with the toy trains. At most you need maybe 30 minutes to see everything. For kids, there is a little playroom off to the side where they can color. And the park just right out front is very nice with a play set for kids and lots of room to run.

Please never apply for becoming part. They collect only your $40 for the jury fee. See what they…read moresent to my ZAPP - "Thank you for applying to the 27th Annual Frederick Festival of the Arts. We regret to inform you that your work has not been juried into this year's event. We had a large pool of applicants and appreciate you taking the time to apply. On behalf of the Frederick Arts Council, best of luck with the rest of the festival season! ~Jasmine & the Festival Committee." Cheaters!

This is a fun outdoor event, we visit every year. There is tons of art for sale at various price…read morepoints (something for everyone) along with food, entertainment, and activities for the kids. You can't go wrong with an event that runs along beautiful Carroll Creek Linear Park.

We came here on the first Saturday it was open and it was extremely crowded. They had several…read moreparking lots that costed $15 so we went to the one that did not have a price on it as we assumed it was free. It ended up being $10 which we didn't know until we were already inside the lot. Then we had to wait for the tractor tram to take us to the side door which had a lot of dust. I ended up using a napkin to cover my nose so I wouldn't breathe it in. There is an admission fee which is $10 per person then inside, there was no map so we peed in a porta potty. I had a good time looking at the horses, cows, pigs, and goats. They were super close up and the opportunity to see such a view is very rare. The carnival games were very expensive, Ferris wheel was $6 per person and there is a fee to buy a card to allow you to ride the rides, and there is a credit card convenience fee for every purchase. A corn dog was $8 and also had a cc fee. The lines for each ride was about 20-30 minutes. I usually go to the Howard county fair which was way cheaper. They had free parking, rides were only $2 per person on the Thursday I went, and admission fee was cheaper.

Great is one word to describe the Frederick Fair…read more Enormous Gargantuan Huge-gantic a few others. Luckily I got there at around 3 in the afternoon. By the time I left there were lines of cars stretching for miles in each direction trying to get into the fair. They had rides galore. Like there was at least like 4 different rides that resembled Tilt-O-Whirls. There was funnel cake, bbq, popcorn, nuts and everything else you'd expect to be a at a large fair. And then there was the animals section. Hundreds of animals that included, but was not limited too: sheep, cows, goats, rams, horses, donkeys, geese, turkeys, pigs, and more. A special baby animal tent where you could see animals that had recently been born. A swath of of educational farming activities and exhibits. I mean, it was surely a farmers dream. The 4H kids there were competing and showing their animals. An experience that I have never had before. Ever seen someone bring out a goat by holding it's head and trot it around for a judge to see what pedigree it was. It was like a dog show but with cows and goats and what not. They had a small beer garden at one end of the fair where I was able to try a "Feed The Monkey" beer which, as expected, had subtle notes of banana and burnt sugar. And to top it off, the Amish were there, selling their amazing pretzels, whoopie pies, and more. One thing is for sure; People in Frederick are serious about their fairs.

A great pumpkin patch for the family. The price is less expensive than other pumpkin patches in the…read morearea and you get bang for buck. I don't know what they do to their pumpkins but they are the most vibrant and long lasting pumpkins you will find in the area. They are always bright orange with healthy green stems and last well through the year. The staff at the park and farm store are very friendly and always helpful. Check out Jumbo's this Halloween season!

The good: adorable piglets and true to its name, the pumpkin patch is indeed "jumbo."…read more The bad: You have to pay extra to do things like the corn cob shooter game and ride the horses. It is not an all inclusive ticket. But the worst thing (and the main reason for the two star rating) is that the jumbo pumpkin patch was absolutely INFESTED with Jimsonweed, a toxic and very spiky plant! It is not somewhere to take kids, especially toddlers, because they could easily grab the spiked pods and injure themselves. We will not be coming back here and do not recommend this spot at all, especially if you have small children. Hopefully, for their sake, they are able to get rid of the weeds next year.

The 2015 Montgomery County Fair is wonderful. Worth every penny of the $10 admission fee…read more The agricultural exhibitions are heartwarming. Seeing the 4-H kids care for and show their livestock is a privilege. These youngsters are carrying on a tradition that the USA mightily needs. The farm animals are adorable and many can be petted. Just talking with the Maryland farm families is fabulous. This year's food and drink vendors do not disappoint. Here's my recommendations: Be sure and get a grilled cheddar cheese sandwich sold at The Big Cheese booth. They're made right before your eyes and come out hot and gooey. Hands down this is THE BEST food item this year. The meals for sale at two competing church booths--St. Francis of Assisi Catholic and Germantown United Methodist--feature some highly respectable pulled-meat BBQ sandwiches (both chicken and pork), along with some killer fries. There's a vendor selling large ears of freshly roasted corn that be can dipped (or not) in butter before purchase. A condiment table offers all kinds of salts, hot sauces and cheese toppings. The roasting of the corn makes it nutty-tasting and plumps up the kernels. I could not finish my ear because it was so huge, and was depressed beyond words. Freshly-squeezed lemonade for sale all over the fairgrounds is tart, refreshing and addictive. The free entertainment is out of the ordinary and fun: piglet races; magic acts; a "chainsaw chick" who creates impressive works of art from wood; local dance troupes, etc. You name it, it's here. Of course no fair is complete without rides and amusements and the "Carnival" section has something for all ages seeking thrills. The high-flying swing ride is wildly popular. But you better act fast. This edition of the Montgomery County Fair closes at midnight on Sunday, August 23, 2015.

The 2016 fair is so-so. It's kind of a scam if you're not really careful about how much you spend…read more You can park at Lakeforest Mall and take the ''shuttle'' to the fairgrounds (it's just a school bus), and then you pay $10/person to get in, plus payment for tickets OR a $15 wristband on wristband days to ride all the rides you want as long as you get there before 5:00PM. So if you get wristbands, you're already at $25/person. If you get food and drinks, that's easily another $20-$30/person extra because the food and drinks are crazy overpriced. Fries for $7? A corn dog for $8? Lemonade for $5? It's insane. The games are an entirely different ball game. AVOID them. The people running the games will taunt you as you walk by and make you want to play but don't. They're all rip-offs. $5/game seems reasonable but it's really not because you're tempted to keep playing until you win something and before you know it you've spent $30. Plus, that $5 doesn't even give you much - 3 basketballs at the shoot-out games and 3 darts at the balloon ones. Again, it's insane. The rides, on the other hand, are actually not bad. Some of them are uncomfortable and rickety, but the others are pretty smooth and thrilling. Getting the wristband is a good investment because getting tickets if you wanna ride a lot of rides ends up being more expensive. Expect lines. And if it rains, the rides will definitely close down. The agricultural stuff is okay. I didn't see a petting zoo this time, but there is a rabbit house and barns where they keep cows and pigs and chickens. It's cool and all but beware of the smell and the nasty pathways.

Absolutely gorgeous gardens and the best part is that admission is completely free…read more Rain or shine, the gardens were stunning and exceptionally well maintained. We were impressed by the variety of plant collections, some of which rivaled gardens we had previously paid admission to visit. Parking was free and we chose to park at the Visitor Center. However, those planning to visit the Butterfly Experience should park closer to the Conservatory, as the walk between the two was fairly substantial. The map was detailed and pathways were well maintained, making the grounds accessible for wheelchairs and strollers. We purchased tickets for the Butterfly Experience and check in was quick and seamless. I did find the additional $2 service charge unfortunate, especially since there was no option to purchase tickets in person. Thankfully, staff were flexible with entry timing. The volunteers were incredibly kind and guided visitors through the double door system efficiently. Inside, butterflies freely flew around the conservatory and many rested on the ground, so we had to stay mindful of where we stepped. I especially appreciated the bulletin board displaying all the butterfly species currently housed inside. The Children's Garden was relatively small but wonderfully colorful and dense with greenery. The vibrant artwork throughout added a whimsical charm that made the area feel playful and inviting. Nearby, the Winter Garden and Camellia Garden were similarly well maintained, though neither was particularly abundant in blooms during our visit. I still appreciated the many art installations scattered throughout the surrounding trails. The Fragrance Garden absolutely lived up to its name and ended up being one of my favorite sections. Beyond the floral aromas surrounding the garden, the entire area felt incredibly serene and the air itself felt remarkably fresh and crisp. The Japanese Tea House was beautifully simplistic, featuring plain wooden benches along the exterior while overlooking still water framed by lush Japanese trees. The Anderson Pavilion offered a similar tranquil atmosphere on the opposite side of the Visitor Center, though surrounded by a different collection of trees and landscaping. The Visitor Center contained a small gift shop, though I did not notice many customized or particularly memorable souvenirs. The building otherwise seemed primarily dedicated to educational programming and exhibits. The grounds were incredibly well maintained and there was an impressive variety of gardens to explore and interact with. While I found the Butterfly Experience somewhat expensive, it would absolutely be worthwhile for those who have never visited an active conservatory before. Otherwise, the free portions of Brookside Gardens alone make this an easy and worthwhile stop for anyone in the area.

This is a lovely park and served as a great alternative to going downtown to see the cherry…read moreblossoms. They have areas to sit with various views of the lake. Dogs are not allowed unless they are service animals. There are centers on the premises that have bathrooms in addition to events and programs they give yearly.