We enjoyed this festival at Anne Arundel Fairgrounds. A good assortment of organisations' stands…read moreabout Irish, Celtic, and Scottish cultures. A stand featuring Irish Wolfhounds. Cute gigantic dogs. Good brews (sláinte!), other drinks, and foods. We liked the bands. Also a drums & pipes band. I opted for the Jameson Whiskey Tasting session. Got to sample some of their rarer (and more pricey) whiskeys. Really good opportunity to get a taste of them without spending hundreds of dollars for the bottles.

Fun!!!!! I didn't know that I like Irish music so much…read more Tickets: cash or card. $25 VIP $110 with free beer, wine, cider, soda, and water. Customer service: awesome! They give free sunblock at the gate. Stage: 3! Now at the biggest Shamrock stage. A great band is playing. The vocal makes us laugh a lot:D Drink: Nice beer:) Healthy smoothy:)) Food: fantastic! Shepard's pie, BBQ, grilled oyster, popcorn, etc. Shopping: Green t-shirts! Leather bags. So many cool things. Parking: Free. Kids friendly event:) So many cute fun kids playing around.

I was invited by a friend to join her for this festival yesterday. I was initially apprehensive…read moreespecially after reading some less than glowing reviews on Facebook but heck, I'm new to the country so I'm going to give almost everything a try (as long as it's within reasonable limits). The drive from Loudon to the festival site was beautiful. I went with low expectations and wanted to check out the food vendors however, the craft exhibitors were pretty interesting too. There were about 18 food trucks and stalls offering a wide variety of festival food. There was BBQ meats, kettle corn, ice cream, Mexican food, Asian food, waffles, espresso-based drinks, pepperoni rolls, butterfly potato, hotdogs, burgers and even an Oktoberfest-themed vendor. I had the Purple Piggy Pulled Pork Sandwich with Purple Mango Slaw, Smoked Mac & Cheese, and Baked Beans (made from scratch and not from a can) from Rolling Smoke Bar-B-Que's food truck. Cooked with wood fire, the tender pulled pork had a lovely smoky flavour. Don't miss the sides at US$4 each for a small portion. Though I've never been a fan of baked beans (scarred for life by canned beans), these were excellently smoky, sweet with maple syrup and was in all, a game changer. There are tons of food samples from dips to chips to slushies to coffee and wine (bring your ID) so you can get an idea of what you're buying. I didn't think I'd wind up buying anything but soon found myself buying quite a few soup kits, herbs, Chai tea, 3 bottles of wine and a handcrafted hardwood coin bank with an antique post office box door. The fair's on this weekend from 10 am to 5 pm. PS: Most of the vendors accept credit cards but bring cash as some only accept cash.

The Mountain Heritage Festival is an outdoor fall craft festival that takes place during three days…read moreeach September near Harper's Ferry. Besides crafts, there are fine arts vendors, music, wine, and food. Craft festivals are NOT my thing but I was invited on an outing and decided to try something new and I was not disappointed. Overview and Vendor Examples: There were close to 200 vendors onsite situated under large tents. Vendors sold items such as art glass, baskets, candles, bath and body products, clothing and accessories, dolls, dried flowers, furniture, jewelry, kitchen accessories, leather, metal, musical instruments, knives, photography, pottery, toys, etc. Some of my favorite non-food vendors were Forest Flower Jewelry which sold beautiful hand pressed flower necklaces, bracelets, etc. I also liked smelling all of the candle scents from the Pennsylvania Soy Candle Company. They went all out and transported a store full of candles to the festival. They had a large variety of scents such as Maple Bacon, Reindeer Poo, Nutty Taffy Apple, etc. There were lots of homemade soaps and lotions to choose from at various vendors as well. I did not intend to purchase anything but I bought a small bud vase, a pearl necklace, and three wine frappes. Food and Drink Samples/Vendors: At the end of the row of tents (or at the beginning if you wanted to start in a different direction), there are some great food and drink samples. I will mention a few favorites. A coffee vendor called Snookie Snookerwitz had vats of coffee and hot chocolate samples with flavors such as cinnamon hot cocoa (delish!), mint cocoa, hazelnut mocha, snickerdoodle latte, etc. Their station was really clean and inviting and the cocoa was great, albeit sugar laden. Meadowcroft Farm displayed a large array of relishes, pickles, salsas, pepper jellies, and jams. Their onion relish was really great. They had interesting items such as cinnamon pickles and cherry pecan jalapeño pepper jelly. One of the most popular vendors was Nectar of the Vine which served samples of mango and pomegranate wine slushies, or frappes as they like to call 'em. The pomegranate slushy was fantastic! I purchased several bags of the mix in various flavors (watermelon, pomegranate, and sangria). The bags were flying off the tables! The other food vendors provided samples of roasted nuts, dips and spreads, jams, syrups and a variety of sauces. You can look up any of these vendors via their website. Good to Know: You can consume wine samples on the grounds, but actual consumption of alcohol is prohibited on the grounds. Parking is attendant-guided, grass parking. Admission cost is $6- $7. The festival is opened daily from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. I visited on a Friday and it was perfect. It was likely much more crowded on the weekend. I had plenty of space to move about and was not overwhelmed by the crowds except at one clothing station. The vendors were low pressure and did not push their items. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Many of the items are expensive. Plan a budget ahead of time. Even expensive items tend to look less expensive the longer you are browsing. Pack a lunch if you are trying to eat healthy. Food vendors are onsite but they serve items such as ice cream, fries, deep fried vegetables, and burgers. Bring a backpack. Do not try to carry a heavy purse all day. Wear comfortable shoes Bring sunscreen Restrooms are Porta-A-Potties only

Peruvian festival is a festival of happy and friendly Peruvians and friends of Peru that just…read morecelebrated its 30th anniversary. The parking was good, no entrance fee, a lot of free stuff (ice creams, water, bags, jello's, etc...), plenty of Peruvian food choices. Entertainment was rich and fun as you can tell by the pictures - they even had the horses do the tricks... I had food that I had never tried before: Anticuchos - marinated and grilled calf hearts, was delicious meal, with the taste and texture close to a calf liver. Picarones - Peruvian doughnuts were soft and sweet. I was expecting they will be soggy but they were perfect, melting in mouth. This festival is very colorful, and had all the colors under the sun, not just red and whites (their flag). The festival is family friendly and even had a NPS stand where kids can learn and touch objects. Only problem with that is the lack of alcohol (I would have loved a Peruvian beer) but that is a small price to pay for an excellent Peruvian experience.

The Thai New Year's Day is 13 April every year. If your New Year resolution did not pan out as you…read moredesired, you can always start new one with the Chinese, Vietnamese, Persian or Thai New Year. The Songkran, Thai New Year in Sterling temple exceeded my expectations. I did not expect that it will feel like you are on the street of Bangkok. Food and smiles everywhere! There is a food that you can find in a Thai restaurant and the one that you may not find in a Thai restaurant. I had grilled squid and Beef noodle soup that was made right there in front of me. Choice of noodles - noodles get dipped in the boiled water and 30 seconds later your noodles are done. Choice of meat - liver and other parts get put in. Green plants (lemongrass), salt and been sprouts and sauce is added and then another scoop from another boiling pot and your broth is poured over your ingredients with peanuts and spices on top of it all. I could not find Thai doughnuts and tasty curry puff was under $1 (6 for $5). At least 30 different meals (including a lot of fish) were offered. Besides eating Thai delicacies, you could listen Thai music, buy clothing or jewelry or get inspired by the Buddhist monks in orange clothes. Free parking, affordable food cost and jovial surroundings makes it an enjoyable festival.

WTMB First Thursday's festivals has been on my bucket list all summer. It happens during the first…read moreThursday of each month during the summer months. Located in the Canton waterfront park, you can enjoy local bands performing and local food trucks. Each month a few different bands are always featured. You can also enjoy bars that have been set up throughout the park, sponsored by Mother's bar and Grill. Some of my favorite food that is always featured, is Jimmy's Famous Seafood and Underground Pizza. Don't forget to also enjoy some ice cream from the ice cream trucks. Prices are reasonably priced and expected from the restaurants. You can always expect great quality food, great service, and fast service, especially as the night goes on and the park gets more crowded. Parking is best available on Boston Street or walking to the festival if you live in Canton is a perfect option. Don't forget to bring chairs and a blanket for sitting on the lawn, or if you get there early enough, you may be lucky enough to get a park bench where you can sit all night.

WTMB's summer festival series is a great family-friendly place to spend a summer evening. Its free,…read morehas a great crowd and friendly neighborhood vibe, and the cost can't be beat. Vendors have tons of food options--from fried chicken to veggie options, and local breweries and bars set up booths for drinks. It's heals rain or shine on the first Thursday of hot months, starting at 5:30. Oh, you you're so inclined, boat parking is provided.

This is a GREAT venue. The pavilion is large but not too large. The acoustics are great. They…read morealways have top notch musicians and for a very reasonable price. The location is in a beautiful setting, on the grounds of Shrine Mont in Orkney Springs, VA..in the Shenandoah valley. There's no big huge crowds, traffic jams...it's a small venue with a lot of class. You get a close up intimate performance by some excellent, outstanding musicians. In fact, this evening when we arrived to see Bruce Hornsby and his band perform, we were walking towards the pavilion and we practically bumped right into Bruce Hornsby while he was walking towards the stage to perform!

This is an awesome event to attend. It is very well organized. I love going there. It is well worth…read morethe price. Lots of choices for food. Great place.

Truth be told, my mom has been dragging me to the National Apple Harvest Festival since I was a…read morelittle kid. So this wasn't my first rodeo--but after a 15-year hiatus from the apple-scented chaos, I decided it was time to make the trip again. My most vivid memory from those childhood visits was getting a scrapple, egg, and cheese sandwich as soon as we walked through the main gate. So naturally, that was my one and only mission this year. I left early on a cool Sunday morning to beat the crowd, and once I got close, I was impressed by how well-organized everything was. Signs for parking and shuttles were everywhere, and plenty of friendly folks were directing traffic. I scored a front row parking spot (woot woot!) and hopped on the yellow school bus shuttle--instantly transported back in time to grade school days, tire hump seat and all. Tickets were $11.80, which I bought online ahead of time (pro tip: screenshot your ticket before you leave home--cell service is spotty at the festival). The line for online tickets was blissfully empty, and moments later, I was walking through the gates toward my breakfast destiny. And there it was--the same stand in the exact same spot I remembered, still cranking out hot breakfast sandwiches to hungry festivalgoers. A few minutes later, I was living my memories: melty cheese, a thick slab of crispy scrapple, a simple no-nonsense bun, and a cold chocolate milk in hand. Standing in the sunshine on a crisp October morning, surrounded by laughter, music, and the smell of apples--it was pure nostalgia. After breakfast, I wandered through hundreds of vendors selling everything from handcrafted furniture and antiques to apple cider slushies and apple butter (of course I bought some). There was even a petting zoo, live music, and plenty of fall charm packed into every corner. The port-a-johns were plentiful, clean, and monitored (bonus points!), and the free parking/shuttle system worked like a dream. Go early if you want to avoid the crowds--by midday, the place was packed. All in all, it was a perfect fall morning--a welcome blast from the past and a reminder of a family tradition worth keeping alive.

Friends of mine have been attending this festival for a few years, and I was finally able to join…read morethem last year (and plan to attend again this year). Think Renaissance Festival only a million times better: the people who put this one provide a real sense of community and a sacred space that is unlike any other I've ever been to. Drum circles, dances, great food, fun shops, and famous and soon-to-be famous authors work their magic on this place, and I look forward to attending as often as I can work it into my schedule. The festival held every year around the start of May and dressing up is highly, highly encouraged! Kubiando!

We had a blast with the kids. I thought it was a bit expensive for what it was and they didn't…read moreeven give us a flyer/map at the gate where we gave up our money. It is completely magical as explained in the other posts. It's fun and lots of people dress up and there are food vendors, stuff vendors, fairy goodies, circles, dancing, a may pole, characters walking around like smasher and mossman. I enjoyed it very much - I wish there had been some more shade here and there (got a bit warm for a while). Loved the animal corner with the pets to touch, greyhounds, pigs, and other awareness venues. Very fun, parking was at a cost as well, but it wasn't too bad. Glad it didn't rain - would have been a lot of mud. Porta pottys were not too busy, but they were running out of paper towards the end of the day. Magical - fun, I will be back.

It was a FUN day spending with good friends, music, watching Caps play, beer and having short rib…read moresliders from Trio. Port City Brewery had the Belgian white ale & India pale ale, but we went for the Belgian white ale (my all time fav) and it was the perfect drink on a beautiful day watching the Caps!! Everyone was out along with children, dogs & grandparents, enjoying the fun festival on a lovely Saturday! Definitely have to go check out Port City Brewery with friends!!!

Pros - fun for younger kids (think toddler aged), smooth flow of traffic, pretty lights, and you…read moreget to tune into a specific radio station to listen to Christmas music during the ride Cons - it's a very short ride. For $20, I guess I was expecting at least a half hour drive. The music didn't sync with the lights which I thought would have been cool. It just wasn't as extravagant as I expected. I don't think I would have paid more than $10 for it had I known how short the ride was. But the youngster had fun and that's all that matters!

For what it's worth I had a good time. My daughter wants to come see the Christmas lights so I…read morepurchased tickets on event bright for $20 to attend. I went on a Tuesday evening and the light display opens at six I arrived at around 5:30 PM and had a little bit of a wait. They did open the display probably 15 minutes early. The line moves very quickly and we were able to see is the light show in a reasonable amount of time. I remember seeing it in the past and it was a little bit longer before they did all of the construction on the Meriwether property. Now it's pretty condensed and you weave through the actual where actual Merriweather post pavilion and lawn. Took approximately 10 minutes to go through the entire light this way. They recommended you go to the radio station to listen to their Christmas music. I found a little annoying with all of the advertisements that they had on that station so I opted to just use my Amazon music app and play Christmas music through my car radio. Overall I had a good time and my daughter enjoyed it which was the most important part. Something nice to do during Covid when you can't really be out socializing. They have a website where you can go to you and see the estimated wait time for a particular day. As it gets closer to the Christmas holiday I think the lines will continue to get longer and longer.