The evolution of Mount Airy’s annual summer parade
LOCAL LORE:
FREDERICK COUNTY LIGHTS UP WITH JULY 4 FESTIVITIES
Frederick County transforms into a patriotic playground this week, with fireworks celebrations scattered across the region like sparklers on a summer night. Brunswick kicks things off July 3 around 9 p.m. near the middle school complex, followed by Mount Airy’s afternoon-to-evening festivities at the fire company carnival grounds. Walkersville joins the fun with 10 p.m. fireworks at their volunteer fire station, while the crown jewel remains Frederick’s massive Baker Park celebration July 4 from noon to 9 p.m., complete with two music stages, beer gardens, games, swimming and activities for all ages.
NEW GALLERY OPENS WITH A TWIST
The former Frederick County Bank building at 1 N. Market St. gets new life as Vault of Visions, but owner Bill Stover’s masterstroke isn’t just preserving the original marble and metalwork — it’s converting the actual bank vault into an intimate art-viewing room. Potential buyers can step inside the vault with a piece they’re considering and experience how it might feel in their own space while adjustable lighting mimics different home environments. Gallery manager Emma Sandler, formerly with the Frederick Arts Council, curates monthly solo exhibitions in the second-floor space that previously housed FAC offices, while the main gallery showcases work by about 30 artists. Meet several of those artists at the grand opening this weekend during First Saturday.
SPEAK STORY SERIES FEATURES ACTIVIST STORYTELLER MICHAEL MCCARTY
The Speak Story Series ventures into complex territory July 8 with Michael D. McCarty, whose life reads like a compressed history of American social movements. McCarty’s biography — student activist, Black Panther, Army martial arts instructor, acupuncturist, construction worker, storyteller — represents the kind of multifaceted experience that defies easy categorization. First, there will be a screening of the documentary “Belonging In The USA: The Story Of Michael D. McCarty” followed by live storytelling and discussion at Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church. Learn more at speakstoryseries.com.
BLUEBERRY SEASON HAS ARRIVED
Move over, strawberry season — blueberry picking has arrived with all the same satisfaction and significantly less mess. The genius of blueberry picking lies in its accessibility: no thorns, no crouching, no stained clothing, just the oddly meditative process of cupping your hand under clusters and gently plucking fruit with your thumb. Local farms, from Catoctin Mountain Orchard to Frog Eye Farm, are opening their fields, each offering slightly different experiences. Catoctin Mountain includes a farm-themed playground for kids, for instance, while Frog Eye Farm’s organic approach encourages taste-testing different varieties as you pick. Timing is crucial though, and we are in the sweet spot, so go grab some while they’re fresh!
TAG GALLERY EXPLORES LITERARY THEMES IN “BOOK MARKS”
The Artists Gallery tackles book culture with “Book Marks,” running July 4 to 27. The exhibition features work that interrogates our relationship with books as both objects and ideas. Julie Maynard transforms book pages into feathers suspended from a hawk-shaped kite frame. A political dimension emerges through works addressing book banning and censorship, like Cathy Wilkin’s unsettling “Portrait of Conscience,” a response to schools and libraries “acquiescing to the propaganda of today’s politics.” See the show this weekend.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Share your community stories and events with us! Email llarocca@newspost.com.
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Firefighters feeding firefighters
A look inside the Frederick County canteen
BY CEOLI JACOBY cjacoby@newspost.com
At first glance, a truck serving hot meals may look out of place at the scene of a fire or other large-scale emergency.
But the canteen, as it is affectionately known by local first responders, serves an important purpose.
Based out of Frederick’s Independent Hose Company, the canteen is part of the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services’ response to any “greater alarm incident” — any time the initial crews on scene request additional resources or a specialized task force.
Greater alarm incidents tend to involve more first responders working for a longer period of time. The canteen ensures that the emergency personnel remain fed, hydrated and rested for the duration of the incident.
The canteen is not authorized to operate as a food truck, so all of the items there are given away for free.
In an interview at the scene of a recent multi-structure fire in Ballenger Creek, volunteer firefighter John Patton said that between eight and 10 people are authorized to drive the canteen, and a few others can staff it.
Patton was operating the canteen that day with Mark Nelson, another volunteer firefighter from Independent Hose.
Both Nelson and Patton are retired career firefighters who met while working at a Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service station in Germantown. They put in 32 and 36 years there, respectively.
Nelson, interviewed as he was preparing chili dogs, said he retired from career firefighting two years ago.
“I missed hanging out in a firehouse,” Nelson said, which led him to volunteer his time to Independent Hose and the canteen.
While Patton said that Nelson is “a really good cook,” Nelson was less sure of his culinary prowess.
“Firefighters are finicky,” Nelson said, adding that he will often cook several identical meals but only hear positive feedback about some of them. “They want something different every shift.”
Mark Nelson, a current volunteer at Independent Hose Company and a retired Montgomery County firefighter, heats up food on the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services’ canteen on June 1. The canteen delivers hot food, snacks and drinks to first responders at the scene of any greater-alarm incident, which includes large-scale fires, water rescue efforts and more. The canteen is not authorized as a food truck, so all items are given to the first responders for free.
Packaged food is shown at the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services’ canteen.
The canteen’s menu fluctuates based on the time of day, the season and what’s in stock. For early morning incidents, volunteers keep
frozen breakfast sandwiches in the canteen freezer. On hot days, they reach for ice pops.
Common dinner menu items
include chili and Italian food (the latter is one of Nelson’s personal favorites).
Packaged snacks and cold drinks like water and Gatorade are always available, but Patton said the canteen doesn’t offer sodas because they can be dehydrating.
For colder days, the canteen keeps instant soup on hand. Hot coffee is donated by Dunkin’, Patton said. Any leftovers are delivered back to Independent Hose.
According to Patton, a version of the canteen has been in operation for about 20 years. Prior to operating the canteen, firefighters used to load cold drinks into the back of a pickup truck and transport them to the scene that way.
The current truck is just a few years old and features amenities such as a grill and a warming drawer, enabling volunteers to cook almost any dish. The only thing the new truck doesn’t have is an oven, Nelson said, so everything has to be “a quick fix.”
Patton said he likes to think of the canteen as a “public safety support resource.” It is the only such truck in Frederick County, but neighboring districts like Howard and Montgomery counties have them, too.
In addition to greater-alarm incidents, the canteen can also be found at other festivals and events that have lots of first responders onsite, including the city of Frederick’s annual Fourth of July celebration at Baker Park and the recent National Fallen Firefighters Memorial weekend in Emmitsburg each May.
“The thing I like about this is,” Patton said, “even though I’m retired, I still get to take care of the firefighters and bring them a hot meal.”
Staff photos by Katina Zentz
A guide to picking your own blueberries in the Frederick region
BY TIFFANY MAHANEY
Special to The News-Post
Move over, strawberries! Blueberry season is up next on Mother Nature’s calendar, and we are here for it!
Pick-your-own blueberries is easily one of summer’s most popular activities — and just might be the best of the “U-Pick” fruit experiences.
With any pick-your-own crop, families are connecting with nature, taking in the mountain views, and supporting their local farms while eating tasty, fresh fruit as the reward to the hard work. But pick-your-own blueberries lands extra points, and that’s for three reasons.
For one, they are an easy fruit to pick for adults and children alike. Their bushes have no thorns, and the fruit is easy to pull off. Instead of pinching or twisting a stem, you’re really just cupping your hand underneath a bunch of blueberries and gently plucking the fruit off the bush with your thumb (it’s also oddly satisfying).
Secondly, blueberry bushes grow tall, so unlike strawberry picking, where you’re crouched down and hovered over the patches, you can stand more comfortably while picking your own blueberries.
Lastly, unlike with picking other juicy berries, you won’t walk out of the farm with blue-stained fingers and clothes — i.e., it’s relatively less messy.
So whether you take the kids to go blueberry picking for the antioxidant-rich, fresh fruit, the amazing photo opps among the landscape, or because you’re just looking for something fun to do outside, I highly recommend trying blueberry picking.
Let’s walk through when to go, where to pick and what to expect.
WHEN TO GO
The first crop to ripen is around mid-June, so now is the best time to plan your trip. Blueberries are ripe for the picking until August, depending on weather.
Consider signing up for local farm newsletters, or check their social media pages for opening day and crop updates. Pro tip: Always call the farm the morning you want to visit for field updates before heading out.
As with any outdoor activity, make it a morning excursion. Beat the heat and plan your trip first thing, when
the farm opens.
Filling a bucket of blueberries is not time-consuming. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to fill a bucket. If you yap to your friends and kids like me, about an hour.
WHAT TO EXPECT
First and foremost, remember to check the farm’s website or Facebook page for crop and hour updates, as they will change according to growing conditions and weather.
Closed-toes shoes are best for walking around working farms. Wear sunscreen, bug spray and a widebrim hat to cover your head and neck. You may want to bring cold water, too.
If you’re bringing little ones, tell them to expect little annoyances like gnats, bees, dirt and walking in the hot sun.
When you arrive, check-in to buy your container. Don’t go straight into the fields. Pick your own crops are usually charged by the container or the bucket and purchased onsite before picking begins. You don’t
summer’s harvest, cherries are also ripe for the picking, followed by raspberries, blackberries, peaches and, to end the season, apples and pears in the fall.
Blueberry picking is truly one of summer’s best gifts, so let’s get out there and create those juicy memories!
WHERE TO PICK
Here in Frederick County and the surrounding area, we have some great blueberry farms where you can plan a pick-your-own experience.
Catoctin Mountain Orchard 15036 N. Franklinville Road, Thurmont
301-271-2737
catoctinmountainorchard.com
One of the best market to get fresh produce, pies and cold seasonal slushies is Catoctin Mountain Orchard. They have pickyour-own blueberries, flowers and other fruits. An especially great location for kids with their farmtheme playground onsite.
•••
Pryor’s Orchard
13841B Pryor Road, Thurmont
301-271-2693
pryorsorchard.com
need to bring your own container. Don’t be misled by the first bushes you see as you start; they have been picked-over first. The older bushes grow to seven feet tall or more, so just make your way up and down the rows, walking deeper into the patch to find plenty of untouched bushes with ripe berries. (And please don’t push through bushes to get to another row.)
Benefits of picking yourself is that you control the quality. If you want only sweet, ripe berries, you can carefully pick to get only those. If you want to include some nearly ripe but still tart ones, for flavor, you can do so.
Ripe blueberries are uniformly blue with no tinge of green. They should come off the bush easily — remember, with that satisfying pluck. Some farms, like Frog Eye Farm in Knoxville, encourage guests to taste as they pick. They have so many varieties of blueberries that they want you to see which you like the most. Others farms and orchards may not allow tasting in the fields. Not to fret, if you miss this
Tucked in the mountains of Thurmont is Pryor’s, a small orchard but a town favorite. Homegrown fruit never tasted so good.
•••
Frog Eye Farm
19600 Frog Eye Road, Knoxville
301-799-8645
frogeyefarm.com
No pesticides or chemicals, Frog Eye Farm is an organic blueberry farm with so many varieties to choose from. They encourage visitors to eat and taste as they pick.
•••
Butler’s Orchard
22222 Davis Mill Road, Germantown
301-428-0444
butlersorchard.com
Butler’s welcomes kids to roam their playground, jumping pad, slide and much more. Expect way more than just blueberry-picking.
FarmAtHome
•••
15350 Partnership Road, Poolesville 240-372-0674
farmathome.com
Hours are appointment or walk-
Tiffany Mahaney
Get blueberries fresh off the bush at Frog Eye Farm in Knoxville.
THE
FREDERICK MOM
The Frederick Mom’s recommendations for the weekend of July 4
Find Waldo Scavenger Hunt
July 4, 5, 6
Downtown Frederick
Free
July 1 through 26, the annual Find Waldo scavenger hunt is back! Basically, all you do is head to downtown Frederick and look for all the red-and-whitestriped Waldo shirts hiding in participating businesses and win prizes. Start at one of four locations — Curious Iguana, Dancing Bear Toys & Games, the Frederick Visitor Center or C. Burr Artz Public Library — to grab your Find Waldo Passport, and let the games begin! The hide-and-seek fun and prizes are reserved for kids 12 and under. Passports must be turned in to Curious Iguana by July 26. All participants are welcome to attend the celebration party at C. Burr Artz Library from 2 to 3 p.m. July 27.
Friday and Saturday, celebrate an old fashioned Independence Day with the family at an historic iron forge in Thurmont! Enjoy fun and learning with blacksmithing demonstrations, children’s activities, tours of the Museum of the Ironworker and the Collier’s Log House, Isabella Furnace ruins and casting shed, and the African American Cemetery Interpretive Trail. Catoctin Furnace is sure to make your celebration this weekend memorable. More info at catoctinfurnace.org.
•••
Walkersville Vol. Fire Co. Carnival
5 to 10 p.m. July 4 and 5
Walkersville Carnival Grounds, 79 W. Frederick St., Walkersville
Free admission
Get ready for family fun because it’s carnival season in Frederick County! Head to the Walkersville Carnival on Friday night to see The Feehan Brothers Band or Saturday night to hear the Park Avenue Band. Purchase carnival ride tickets, try your luck at milk bottle ring toss and others games, or just stop in and grab dinner and a funnel cake. Admission and parking are free.
•••
Frederick’s Independence Day Celebration
Noon to 10:30 p.m. July 4
Baker Park, Frederick Free
Celebrate America’s birthday on Friday in Baker Park! Frederick’s 4th’s opening ceremony begins at noon followed by live bands at the Bandshell Stage. You’ll find family fun amusements at the Carillon area from 12:30 to 6 p.m. where kids can ride for $25/unlimited or $1/ticket. There’s face painting, crafts by Dream Free Art, the Boy Scouts of America Monkey Bridge, the DIY Peanut Butter & Jelly Tent plus more games and fun. Mattress Warehouse’s Party in the Park is from 1 to 8:30 p.m. near Culler Lake with awesome performances. Food trucks will line the streets. Fireworks begin around dusk and are shot from Parkway Elementary School. For firework viewing areas and more event details, visit celebratefrederick.com/ events/fredericks-fourth./ •••
Barbara Fritchie Classic
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 4
Frederick Fairgrounds, 797 E. Patrick St., Frederick Frederick
$20/advance; $25/gate (cash); free for kids 5 and under
Try an exciting day of motorcycle racing! The Barbara Fritchie Classic Half Mile is more than a motorcycle race — it’s a tradition. It’s the longest-running motorcycle dirt track racing tradition and it returns to the Frederick Fairgrounds this week. Gates open at 10 a.m. for spectators, and racing is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets required; go to barbarafritchieclassic.com. •••
Family STEAM Drop-In
2 to 2:45 p.m. July 5
Thurmont Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont Free
Science, technology, math, oh my! Drop in the Thurmont Library for 45-minute of a fun, hands-on STEM Lab program designed for kids in grades K-5 plus their caregiver. Best part of this library, is the deck! While you’re there, check out some books and read right on the rocking chairs outside!
•••
Barnyard Band & Booze
5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. July 5
Green Meadows Petting Farm, 10102 Fingerboard Road, Ijamsville
$15/advanced, $18/gate
Saturday, get ready for barnyard fun with the whole family! Visit the animals, run free on the playground, and set up your own chairs for a great Saturday night! Many kid-friendly food trucks will be at the farm serving up dinner. For guests 21+, Saint Rows Brewing, Siema Wines and Rosie Cheeks Distillery will be onsite. Get tickets at greenmeadowsevents.com.
•••
Stargazing at the Farm
6 to 9 p.m. July 5
Milkhouse Brewery at Stillpoint Farm, 8253 Dollyhyde Road, Mount Airy Free
Explore the night and see what stars are visible! This Saturday evening, join the Westminster Astronomical Society and try your hand at stargazing with the family! WASI members will point their telescopes toward the night sky for observers of all ages to find celestial objects. Check Milkhouse Brewery’s website or socials for updates, as this event is weather-dependent and a cancellation will be announced if cloudy.
•••
Wild Soda Making Workshop
2 to 4 p.m.
July 6
Fox Haven Farm & Retreat Center, 3630 Poffenberger Road, Jefferson
$22/adults, $12/child
This Sunday, make your own refreshing, gut-friendly beverage from the land! That’s right. Lacey Walker will host a family-friendly, hands-on “Wild Soda” Making Workshop. All ages are invited to discover the magic of wild fermentation, starting with a guided foraging walk, where you’ll gather fresh herbs and botanicals. Then learn how to transform those herbs, spices and fruits into naturally carbonated, probiotic-rich drinks. For tickets, go to foxhavenfarm.org.
Tiffany Mahaney is at least a fifth-generation native to Frederick County, and she now proudly raises her own family here. She is the owner of The Frederick Mom on Instagram. Follow her @thefrederickmom.
TIFFANY MAHANEY
Saturday evening, join the Westminster Astronomical Society at Milkhouse Brewing and try your hand at stargazing with the family.
Tiffany Mahaney
Frederick’s 4th
An Independence Day Celebration returns to Baker Park on July 4
Celebrate Frederick will present the annual Frederick’s 4th: An Independence Day Celebration from noon till dusk at Baker Park.
The celebration kicks off with opening ceremonies at noon at the Bandshell stage. Festivities include activities and amusements for kids, music and entertainment for all ages and food throughout the day, culminating with a fireworks display at the end of the event.
BANDSHELL STAGE
Noon – Opening Ceremonies
Join local dignitaries and representatives from the Frederick Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution for a reading of the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence. Special guests include 2025 Miss Frederick Jazlyn Leonzo, Miss Central Maryland Gianna Romero and Miss Frederick’s Teen Jenna Dick who will lead the Pledge of Allegiance, and Miss Central Maryland’s Teen Kinsley Potts who will perform the National Anthem.
2 p.m. – My Cousin’s Girlfriend’s House (pop punk)
With soaring three-part harmonies, an infectious live energy and a personality that speaks for itself, My Cousin’s Girlfriend’s House have cemented themselves as a powerful presence in the Philly scene. Bridging the gap between Blink 182, Foo Fighters, Hot Mulligan and Transit, the Philadelphia four-piece carries a nostalgically familiar yet innovative feel in their songs.
4:15 p.m. – Ahzay & The Squad (hip-hop/R&B)
Formed in 2024, Ahzay & The Squad was born as a dynamic blend of hip hop, rhythm & blues, and soul. Offering a diverse range of sounds, Ahzay & The Squad fuse hip-hop roots with soulful melodies, rhythmic beats and harmonies that elevate the experience to a new level. Each performance guides the audience through a journey of reflection, fun, and even nostalgia with covers of golden oldies.
6:30 p.m. – Dan McGuire Group (pop/rock)
With an extensive set-list spanning five decades, the Dan McGuire Group (DMG) goes beyond the traditional format by engaging the crowd and taking requests, making each show a one-of-a-kind experience. From
timeless classics to modern hits, DMG’s repertoire also includes a diverse range of hidden gems from the ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘00s and current music, ensuring that everyone in the audience will be swept up in a wave of nostalgia and musical bliss.
99.9 WFRE FREE COUNTRY PRESENTS ‘PARTY IN THE PARK’
Baker Park, Southwest side of the Swimming Pool at Intersection of Fleming Ave. and West College Terrace
1:15 p.m. – Hannah Ponce
At just 20 years old, this Linganore High School alum has been turning heads with her powerful vocals and hometown charm. She’s been singing since she was 3 years old in her church choir, but her breakout moment came when Riley Green pulled her onstage at last year’s Great Frederick Fair to sing the ACM Single of the Year, “You Look Like You Love Me” — and she crushed it.
3 p.m. – Shotgun Highway
Shotgun Highway is a Marylandbased outlaw country crew bringing high-octane, Southern rock-infused sound to the stage. Known for their gritty vocals, driving guitars and noholds-barred live shows, Shotgun Highway has earned a loyal fanbase across the Mid-Atlantic. Their raw, rebellious energy and hard-hitting country storytelling turn every performance into a full-throttle celebration of the outlaw spirit.
5 p.m. — The Brown Brothers
After the Brown Brothers opened for country singer Neal McCoy, he took the stage and simply put it to the crowd, “Give it up for the Brown Brothers! Man, those boys are old school!” Brothers Connor and Austin of Damascus front their country group consisting of fiddle, steel guitar, bass and drums. They blend classic outlaw country music with swampy Southern rock, as well as some good ole bluegrass and Rockabilly.
7 p.m. – Runaway June
Runaway June is one of Nashville’s hottest country trios, turning heads with their signature harmonies, bold storytelling, and unstoppable energy. Often likened to the Dixie Chicks with a modern twist, these powerhouse women have racked up ACM and CMT Award nominations and made history as the first all-female trio in over a decade to crack the Top 5 on the Mediabase Country chart with their smash hit “Buy My Own Drinks.” Blending contemporary edge with classic country soul, they’ve shared the stage with Carrie Underwood and continue to carve their place as trailblazers in the country music world.
The Family Friendly Beer, Wine & Spirits Garden is located at the Carillon Area Baker Park, close to the Second Street tennis courts. This is open to
Staff file photo by Katina Zentz
The Baker Park Fourth of July fireworks as seen from the Church Street parking deck in 2024.
BLUEBERRIES
(Continued from 5)
in hours on Saturday and Sunday mornings at this blueberry farm in Montgomery County. You can upgrade your experience with luxury blueberry picnics, too.
Here you can bring your own container or buy one of theirs. They don’t have pre-picked fruit, but check out their lineup of pickyour-own experiences offered.
Larriland’s popular pick-yourown produce is a hit every year! Pack your own picnic and relax at one of their shaded picnic tables. The Red Barn is also stocked with pre-picked produce and locally sourced goodies, including their famous strawberry peach slushies. •••
This is a favorite for Frederick residents. Glade Link has a beautiful gazebo onsite to rest before or after you fill up one of their iconic white buckets.
CELEBRATION
(Continued from 7)
guests of all ages. Those 21 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. All guests 21 and over must present valid ID to drink. Various acoustic acts will perform from noon to 8 p.m.
Other beer, wine and spirits gardens will open at noon at various locations around the park. Pay a $5 cover charge to visit any of the gardens throughout the day.
Family activities are scheduled at the Carillon area, between College Avenue and N. Bentz St., including a Pickleball Tournament (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.), amusements (12:30 to 6 p.m.), iinflatable fun ($1 each or Unlimited Ride Wristbands for $25 each), Boy Scouts of America Monkey Bridge & DIY Construction Projects (12:30 to 6 p.m.), the Valley Girls Custom Merchandise (12:30 to 6 p.m., with fee), Corn Hole Tournament (1 to 4 p.m.), DIY PB&J (2 to 4 p.m.) and Bliss Face Painting (12:30 to 7 p.m., with fee).
WFMD will host the Free Talk Tent from noon to 5 p.m. at the Culler Lake Area, where you can mingle with local radio personalities.
The Edward P. Thomas Jr. Municipal Pool will be open for swimming from 12:30 to 8 p.m.
Fireworks will be set off from Parkway
Elementary School at dusk. Sit on the grass, potluck at the picnic tables or walk around and enjoy the city at night. The park will be open to free seating at 7 p.m., so grab seats early.
The show is visible from most areas of Baker Park, the Frederick High School front lawn and the Fleming Avenue swimming pool area, with limited visibility from the Bandshell stage seating area, adjacent playground and areas outside Baker Park. Caution tape around Parkway Elementary will indicate areas where visitors can and cannot sit. For more information on the show and a Viewing Locations Map, visit celebratefrederick.com/events/ fredericks-fourth/fireworks.
An information center is located at the Gazebo in the Carillon area and will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
All events will be held rain or shine. In the event of a storm, activities will be suspended until it passes.
There will be free parking provided all day in the Church Street, Court Street, W. Patrick Street and Carroll Creek parking decks.
For more information, contact Celebrate Frederick at 301-600-2841 or visit celebratefrederick.com.
Tiffany Mahaney
A container of blueberries from FarmAtHome in Poolesville.
Frederick’s forgotten role in the Battle of Gettysburg
BY ROCCO GEPPI
Special to The News-Post
More than 160 years ago, cannons thundered and rifles cracked over the hills of Gettysburg. More than 40 miles to the south, the city of Frederick stood at the nerve center of a Union army scrambling to meet the Confederacy’s northern push. Though history books place Gettysburg at the heart of the Civil War’s turning point, Frederick’s contributions to the events of July 1863 remain critical and often overlooked.
In the final days of June 1863, Frederick, nestled in a quiet crossroads between Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Southern Pennsylvania, swelled with Union troops and military urgency. With Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia advancing through Maryland into Pennsylvania, Union forces rushed to intercept, flooding into Frederick County along the National Road.
On June 28, in a farmhouse on the city’s western edge known as Prospect Hall, history shifted. Brig. Gen. George G. Meade was abruptly awakened in the early, pre-dawn hours and told he was replacing Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker as commander of the Army of the Potomac. The change in leadership, made just three days before the Battle of Gettysburg erupted, would shape the course of the conflict.
From that moment, Meade began directing the Union’s hurried march north. Troops passed through nearby towns like Middletown and Emmitsburg, aiming to head off Lee’s advance into Pennsylvania. Frederick became the rallying point — the launchpad for what would become the bloodiest battle on American soil.
A massive boulder from Gettysburg’s Devil’s Den now sits near Prospect Hall, a symbol of the military transition that helped turn the tide of the war.
“[The boulder] represents Frederick’s role as an important crossroads,” said Jody Brumage, archivist at Heritage Frederick. “When we talk about Frederick as a crossroads of local and national history, that is certainly evident in the events that unfolded here during the Civil War. United States and the Confederate armies occupied
An additional plaque was affixed to the Meade Monument to mark the centennial anniversary of Meade’s taking command of the Army of the Potomac in June 1963. Among those in this group photo are Senator Charles M. Mathias (right), Judge Edward S. Delaplaine (second from right) and C. Lease Bussard (fourth from right). From the collection of the Frederick County Archives and Research Center, Heritage Frederick.
Frederick at various points when the city largely became a hospital center to treat a number of wounded coming from the battles of South Mountain and Antietam, and that position, that strategic position, would continue with the movement of the armies towards Gettysburg.”
While troops filled streets and countryside, Frederick’s strategic importance extended well beyond its military role. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and the National Road gave Union leadership the ability to quickly transport troops, messages and munitions. These arteries also became critical lifelines for the evacuation of wounded soldiers in the chaotic days that followed the fighting at Gettysburg.
“The government’s use of Frederick as a strategic place for positioning, supplying and sending out troops on campaigns, that was kind of centered around the Frederick area and would continue to be a factor in 1864,” Brumage said.
Frederick’s importance did not go unnoticed by the Confederacy. Confederate cavalry, including units under Gen. J.E.B. Stuart, operated in the region early in the campaign, sowing disruption. Though the city avoided occupation in 1863 — unlike the previous year when Confederate troops seized control during the Maryland Campaign — its proximity to enemy forces kept civilians on edge.
Residents were no strangers to war. Just nine months earlier, Frederick had functioned as a makeshift hospital following the bloody clash at Antietam, roughly 25 miles west of Frederick. By the time of Gettysburg, its churches, homes and civic buildings were once again bracing for wounded men returning from yet another costly engagement.
As the Union army surged through the region, local families endured supply shortages, confiscation of resources and the destruction of roads and fields. Despite the hardships, the city largely remained loyal to the Union, offering shelter, supplies and support during one of the Civil War’s most intense campaigns.
After three brutal days in Gettysburg, with more than 50,000 casualties between both sides,
(See GETTYSBURG 11)
Photos courtesy of Heritage Frederick
The unveiling of the monument to General George Meade in 1930. From the collection of the Frederick County Archives and Research Center, Heritage Frederick.
Courtesy of Heritage Frederick
Catoctin Furnace Historical Society acquires African American cemetery, plans to give to state park
BY ERIK ANDERSON
Special to The News-Post
For Elizabeth Comer, president of the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, taking the historic cemetery that holds the remains of dozens of enslaved ironworkers from private to public hands is a matter of dignity.
“Nobody should ‘own’ the final resting place of anybody, much less of people who were already ‘owned,’” Comer said. “It’s a huge insult.”
After seven years of fundraising and navigating bureaucratic processes, the historical society finally completed the purchase of the cemetery from a local family at the end of May and have announced that it will soon become part of Cunningham Falls State Park.
The process took a long time, Comer said, because the Historical Society needed to raise $150,000 for the purchase price, plus an additional $25,000 to $30,000 for the complicated process of subdividing the cemetery lot from another property.
The cemetery is on an overgrown, 2-acre hill tract sandwiched between U.S. 15 North and state park land that includes The Museum of the Ironworker and many other artifacts of the Catoctin Furnace, which produced iron products from 1776 through 1903.
Forgotten for more than a century, the cemetery was rediscovered in 1979 when a State Highway Administration archeological study, undertaken at the urging of Comer’s parents, uncovered the remains of enslaved African Americans ahead of the planned expansion of the nearby highway.
At that time, 35 graves were excavated, and the remains of 32 individuals were collected and stored at a Smithsonian Institute facility, where they remain today. Recent ground-penetrating radar studies of the cemetery have found that at least 27 graves remain. Before the cemetery was rediscovered, the village had lost the memory of the enslaved ironworkers who operated the furnace from its founding until they were sold en masse about 60 years later. Replaced by white wage workers, mostly of German descent,
Courtesy photo
“
Appending this 1.921 acres of Cunningham Falls State Park demonstrates the state’s commitment to telling
this full story and taking care of this land,
ELIZABETH COMER, president of the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society
the enslaved workers’ stories are still largely unknown.
But thanks to the remains recovered from the cemetery, recent
scientific studies have yielded information about the workers’ ancestors and descendants.
Last year, a group of descendants formed a nonprofit organization with plans to help put the cemetery into the state park system and to co-manage its future stewardship. Some of the descendants are linked to the African Americans of Catoctin Furnace through DNA connections, some by documentary evidence, and some through family stories.
But according to Comer, all African Americans should feel a sense of connection to the furnace’s enslaved population.
“I came up with this idea of collective kinship because I
want African Americans to come to Catoctin and embrace their ancestors’ contribution to industrial might,” Comer said last year when the group met for the first time.
She said that in addition to solving the problematic symbolism of the African American cemetery being privately owned, placing it in the care of the state park will ensure the descendant group has the lead voice in making decisions for the land.
“As a co-manager with the descendants, [the state park] can make decisions and make plans that satisfy the descendants who are part of the management group,” she said. “The agreement is that
Descendants Agnes Summers Jackson with daughters Vicki Winston, Sharon Green and Barbara Hart, as well as sellers Michael and Julie Boone joined CFHS president Elizabeth Anderson Comer at the African American cemetery settlement on May 27.
the very, very first thing is that we will find the funding for a management and preservation plan.”
She said the plan will include determinations such as what extent of landscaping work is appropriate and what level of access members of the public should have to the cemetery. One option for allowing some public access without disturbing the gravesites would be to extend the park’s interpretive sign trail to pass near the cemetery.
Because the cemetery site is unique in Maryland — it’s the only location where slavery was used in an industrial context — Comer said the management may present new questions about cemetery preservation and interpretation that have never been addressed. That is one of the reasons, she said, that it’s better for the land to be transferred to the state park rather than be kept by the historical society. The state’s Department of Natural Resources has “protocols” for answering sensitive questions, she said.
But whatever management plan is selected, she said, having the cemetery as part of the park will enhance opportunities for public historical education. The land acquisition, she added, likely means the cemetery will be included in the park’s literature and incorporated into its special events and educational programing.
“Appending this 1.921 acres of Cunningham Falls State Park demonstrates the state’s commitment to telling this full story and taking care of this land,” she said. “It brings the people who worked there back to the fore of the story of what is now the park. It definitely expands the focus of the park.”
Comer said that the staff at the state park have been extremely supportive of the process from the start, standing ready to begin the park’s acquisition process the moment the historical society secured the deed.
She said the goal of all stakeholders is to have the transfer complete by the time the descendant group holds its next reunion event on Sept. 12 to 14.
Erik Anderson is a freelance writer in Frederick who cares about few things more than the history of his community. Email him at erikanderson07@gmail. com.
view of Prospect Hall, the location where
before the Battle of Gettysburg. From the
GETTYSBURG
(Continued from 9)
Frederick once again became a focal point for the wounded. Rail lines carried hundreds of injured soldiers southward into the care of doctors and nurses already familiar with battlefield trauma. The community, many of whom were women with no formal medical training, already seasoned by previous campaigns, rose again to meet the challenge.
“Before the Civil War, there were no nursing schools, and the vast majority of medical schools did not accept women,” National Museum of Civil War Medicine director of interpretation Dana B. Shoaf said in an email. “It was thought that they were too delicate for such work, and also the prospect of seeing naked patients was considered improper for women [during the late 19th century].”
Today, that legacy endures in quiet memorials scattered around the city. Nearby cemeteries hold the remains of soldiers who never made it home and walking tours weave visitors through streets that once echoed with the footsteps of Union infantry. Cities like Frederick
offer a deeper view into the layers of strategy, sacrifice, and resilience that defined the American Civil War.
Rocco Geppi is a freelance writer, having earned his professional journalist credentials in his late
teens, and has made a career out of his passion. He enjoys connecting with people, bringing communities together, and highlighting what makes the people and the community uniquely invaluable.
Photos courtesy of Heritage Frederick
A
General George Meade was given command of the United States Army of the Potomac three days
collection of the Frederick County Archives and Research Center, Heritage Frederick.
The General George Meade Monument as it appeared in the 1990s, photographed by William Willmann. From the collection of the Frederick County Archives and Research Center, Heritage Frederick.”
National Juried Exhibition — through July 13, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Features works in a variety of media by artists from around the region and the nation. Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. 301-6980656 or delaplaine.org.
Cumberland Valley Photographers
Exhibit — through July 27, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown. Juried, annual exhibition showcasing artists of the Cumberland Valley region. 301-7395727 or wcmfa.org.
”Curiosities” — through July 29, Gifts Inn Boonsboro, 16 N. Main St., Boonsboro. Paintings by Kelly Scuderi. Combining realism and surrealism, her characters, surrounded in majestic color studies, come to life. To Scudieri, the mystery is a part of the beauty of the art. “It’s not so much about “who” specifically these characters are as to the human complexities they represent.” 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. 301-4320090, giftsinnboonsbor.com.
Crestwood Gallery Summer Exhibit — through Sept. 5, Frederick Health Crestwood Building, 7211 Bank Court, Frederick. See original works of art, including oil, watercolor, mixed media and photography from some of Frederick County’s most talented artists. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. 240-215-1460 or frederickhealth.org/crestwoodart.
“Harmonious Duality: Featuring Two Boots Farm” — through Sept. 22, Sandbox Brewhouse, 880 East St., Frederick. Phylinda Moore’s paintings feature Two Boots Farm, a sustainable, family-run Maryland flower farm. 50% of the profits will go to expanding a food health program with Moon Valley Farm and the Judy Center: Frederick County. Hours Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 4-10 p.m. Friday 3-11 p.m., Saturday noon-11 p.m. Sunday noon-8 p.m. sandboxbrewhouse. com.
”Marine Scenes” — July 3 through Aug. 5, Washington County Arts Council, Main and Michael G. Callas Galleries, 34 S. Potomac St., Suite 100, Hagerstown. Works by Denny Clarke. Opening reception 5-7 p.m. July 3. Artist talk 2-4 p.m. July 5. Virtual exhibit available July 5. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday
through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Use the A&E parking deck at 25 Renaissance Way. 301-7913132, washingtoncountyarts.com.
”Two Painters, Separate Paths” — July 4-27, Links Bridge Vineyards, 8830 Old Links Bridge Road, Thurmont. Artwork by artists Tom Ritchie and Lissa Abrams. These two successful and increasingly well-known plein air artists each have their own unique styles which visitors will enjoy contrasting. Where Ritchie uses a lavish “thick and juicy” brushwork, Abrams is more delicate and sensitive. Weekends 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; open July 4, other days by appointment. 301-466-2413, linksbridgevineyards@gmail.com.
”Inspiration and Influence: Artist-Educator Mentors and Motivators” — July 5 through Aug. 31, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Woodcut prints by Pamela Lawton, focus is on the intricate part that mentors and teachers play for artists. Each piece in the exhibition aims to highlight
and honor those who have led the way — in some capacity — for her work. Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine. org.
”Floral and Fantasy” — July 5 through Aug. 31, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. With vibrant colors and dynamic compositions, Linda Robinson’s paintings focus on themes of expressionistic portraiture, abstracted still life, and magical realism as a way to consider the interconnectedness between humanity and the natural world. Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.
”Over 70 Show” — July 19 through Aug. 31, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. A signature of the Delaplaine’s Creative Aging Month, this annual exhibition celebrates local artists over age 70 and showcases a wide range of styles, techniques and interests.
Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org.
”Being There — Catching the Light” — Aug. 2-31, Links Bridge Vineyards’ Wine and Art Series, 8830 Old Links Bridge Road, Thurmont. An exhibit of artwork by Maryland artist Ann Schaefer. The exhibit collection of plein air paintings, many inspired by Frederick’s rural environment. Weekends 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., other days by appointment. 301-4662413, linksbridgevineyards.com.
”The Art of Overcoming: Healing Through Creativity” — Sept. 4-30, Washington County Arts Council, 34 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Opening reception 5-7 p.m. Sept. 4. In conjunction with Washington Goes Purple. Hours 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. 301-791-3132, www.washingtoncountyarts.com.
Courtesy photo
“Spiritus Harmoniae” runs through July 3 at Ibiza Cafe in downtown Frederick featuring work by Jeff Compton. Shown here, “A Curve in Yin.”
New Vault of Visions gallery will host its grand opening during First Saturday
BY LAUREN LAROCCA llarocca@newspost.com
There’s a new commercial gallery in town — or, rather, a reimagined space.
Vault of Visions will host its grand opening from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 5 during First Saturday in downtown Frederick. The gallery, owned by Bill Stover, is at 1 N. Market St. The gallery space, often referred to as “the bank building” because it once housed Frederick County Bank, was formerly managed by the Frederick Arts Council.
Visitors can meet the exhibiting artists during the event.
The solid marble flooring and accents remain intact — as does the original bank vault, hence the gallery name.
But the new ownership but a spin on the usage of the vault.
Now, visitors who are considering buying a piece of art can, with assistance, see it hung inside the vault, which has been converted into a tiny sitting room with two chairs, mimicking what it would be like to live with the piece in your
own home. Stover has even installed adjustable wall lighting that will allow the viewer to see the piece under a spectrum of shades and temperatures of lighting. They call it the Vault Viewing Room, and you enter through a metal gate.
“This was 100% my vision,” Stover said recently.
He, meanwhile, runs his digital printing company, Jover Photo and Fine Art Printing, in a large side room. He started the printing business about four years ago in his cottage in West Virginia (“I was retired and bored,” he said), then moved it to 103 S. Carroll St. before moving again to the current location in May.
The gallery held its soft opening in June.
“It’s a one-stop shop,” said gallery manager Emma Sandler, who formerly worked for the Frederick Arts Council.
“People can make art [in the adjoining studios], display it, and print it.”
Jover Fine Art Productions, Stover’s parent company, also manages some of
the artist studios on the third floor of the building.
Another change of space usage comes with the second floor space overlooking the main gallery. FAC had used this nook for offices; Vault of Visions is using it for solo exhibitions.
Work by a new artist will be on view each month, according to Sandler, who curates the shows. The featured artist in July is Christine Merry.
In the main gallery space, with its large ceilings and huge windows filling it with natural light, work by about 30 local, regional and national artists are on view at all times, a broad spectrum of mediums and styles.
“That gives a lot of visual information for the viewer to take in,” Sandler said.
About 50% of the group is hyperlocal to Frederick.
Artists are represented on initial three-month terms, and work will rotate accordingly. Additional work, kept in storage, will be displayed as pieces are sold or available to be viewed if a visitor
is interested in seeing more work by a specific artist.
Stover has also developed programs to educate young artists and help their careers, including digitizing their work. He and Sandler are also working with an intern from Hood College, who will learn the ropes about running a gallery as well as the printing industry.
“We don’t use any robotics,” Stover stressed. “It’s one thing we’re very big on. If you call, the worst thing that happens is you leave a message. I don’t want technology to replace the human element.”
Stover, a longtime photographer himself, also prints greeting cards and custom items like wedding photo books, in addition to large-scale artwork and other printables.
“It really is a pleasure to see this maintained as an art space,” Sandler said. Lauren LaRocca is the editor of 72 Hours. You can reach her at llarocca@ newspost.com, or follow her on Instagram @karmarocca.
Lauren LaRocca
The main gallery space of Vault of Visions at 1 N. Market St., Frederick.
‘To Look Without Fear’ solo exhibition by JordanRiver Michaels on view at Hood College
“To Look Without Fear,” a solo exhibition by JordanRiver Michaels, is on view at Hood College through July 11. The show is located inside the Hodson Gallery at Tatem Arts Center on campus.
Michaels is an artist known for his work in photography and mixed media. He has gained recognition for his style and has had the honor of exhibiting and publishing his work worldwide.
In addition to his artistic pursuits, he also serves as an art director, publisher and art curator.
ARTIST STATEMENT:
Artistic expression often serves as a powerful outlet for emotions and experiences. In “To Look Without Fear,” the fusion of various mediums — sculpture, photography, and interactive objects — creates
a profound dialogue between the viewer and the creator. Michaels’ work invites us to engage with his journey of personal healing, transforming trauma into a tangible narrative that resonates within us. The installation is not merely observed; it demands our participation and reflection, confronting us with the complexities of life and the necessity for acceptance. This dynamic interplay reveals how art can be both a personal sanctuary and a public commentary, fostering connections and offering solace to those who experience it.
Learn more about the artist at jordanrivermichaels.com.
Hood College is at 401 Rosemont Ave., Frederick.
TAG artists present book-themed work in the new show ‘Book Marks’
TAG/The Artists Gallery presents book-themed work by Suzanne Lago Arthur, Palma Brozzetti, Colleen Clapp, Patricia Dobbin, Luc Fiedler, Sarah Higgins, Leslie King, Liz LaGarde, Chris Madden, Julie Maynard, Jan McIntyre-Creager, Mariam Memarsadeghi, Karen Peacock, Marie Riccio, Pat Scull, Rhonda Smith, S. Manya Stoumen-Tolino and Christine Stovall.
They’ve explored the subject in unexpected and thought-provoking ways for their new exhibition, “Book Marks.”
Julie Maynard used the wooden framework of a hawk-shaped kite to hang a series of actual feathers, as well as feathers made from book pages.
S. Manya Stoumen-Tolino found inspiration in the 1947 anthology “The World of Dreams,” edited by Ralph L.Woods. “Its worn pages, strange titles and faded certainties drew me in,” she says. “I began pulling pages, following a quiet thread of intuition. These works trace that journey where dream, memory and material begin to speak.”
Liz LaGarde is also showing mixed-media wall pieces using book pages as a foundation, as well as a small, machine-sewn bound art book.
Jan McIntyre-Creager has written and produced an original book, “The Crow: A Thought Progression.”
Other artists chose to paint their interpretations of the theme.
Suzanne Lago Arthur’s “Perceptions of Red” is a small still life featuring a postcard of John Everett Millais’s painting “Red Riding Hood.” It was painted as an exercise in the power of a limited pal-
ette: just four varieties of red, plus black and white.
“Working within self-imposed parameters as a painter often helps to create a beautiful sense of mood, much like the limited, yet intentional, word choices in a poem,” Arthur says.
The news inspired Cathy Wilkin’s large and unsettling painting, “Portrait of Conscience.” “Schools, libraries and businesses are acquiescing to the propaganda of today’s politics,” she says.
Rhonda Smith continues the censorship theme. Her hand-printed brown paper book covers allow people to publicly share that they are reading banned books.
Luc Fiedler’s “The Scribe” sculpture plays with traditional writing and modern technology to depict an entity that transcribes computer code into book form.
Karen Peacock’s “The Grammarian” consists of dictionaries and other reference books. The ever-changing, site-specific-installation is a temporary memorial to her journalist husband, who died in 2022.
“Joel loved sharing books,” Peacock says. “Visitors are encouraged to take home any books they want. I’ll come by every so often to rearrange the installation, and anything left after the show ends will be donated.”
“Book Marks” opens on July 4 and runs through July 27. Gallery hours are noon to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. TAG/ The Artists Gallery is at 501 N. Market St., Frederick. See theartistsgalleryfrederick. com for details.
Courtesy photos
Jan McIntyre-Creager’s “The Crow” can be seen at TAG through July 27.
New micro gallery at the Delaplaine invites viewers to take something, leave something
BY JENNIFER LEE
Special to The News-Post
A new “micro gallery” was recently installed in the Etchison-Davis Library on the second floor of the Delaplaine Arts Center in downtown Frederick. This community-centered gallery explores the idea of art ownership.
“If you walk by, like a piece, and it speaks to you, you can take it home at no cost. Then, if you create or find something you’d like to share, you can leave it for someone else,” said Elizabeth Davis, art teacher at The Banner School. “It keeps the installation dynamic and community-driven.”
The micro gallery is meant to encourage people to share ideas. It is meant to inspire. The concept of its creation is to move artists to value their creativity and reinforce a sense of worth — as in each piece of artwork is worthy of being displayed.
“By inviting people to take part, the gallery empowers the community to shape what art means to them,” Davis said. “Everyone becomes both artist and curator.”
Davis came across the idea of a micro gallery, which she called “creative, assessable and community-minded,” and realized she hadn’t seen anything like it locally.
She sketched the initial concept at the beginning of the school year, then shared it with colleagues Sophie Huntington, associate head of school; Ann Wagner, head of school; and Jeffrey Townsend, physical education teacher
at the Banner School.
Townsend said the first thing he thought of were the mini libraries scattered throughout neighborhoods, book exchanges that encourage people to “take a book, leave a book.”
Once Wagner approved Davis’ idea, Davis reached out to the Delaplaine.
Jillian MacMaster, community engagement manager at the Delaplaine, was thrilled. “Our goal is to support our vision of ‘everyone deserves art’ by breaking down barriers to art experiences,” MacMaster stated in an email.
“Anyone, of any age or artistic background, is welcome to interact with the micro gallery,” she added. “I hope that our visitors can see the significance of this long-term partnership and feel excited to take a little art and leave a little art.”
Townsend refined the sketched design provided by Davis into a buildable structure, and eventually, the micro gallery became a reality. But it was the students’ artwork that brought it to life.
The micro gallery itself is not only intentionally small in size, but the art, created by students at The Banner School, is also small. The community-centered gallery offers mini paintings and will grow to offer tiny clay sculptures, no larger than four to five inches. But most paintings, acrylic on wood panels, are only three to four inches, and the handbuilt clay sculptures will be about two to three inches in size.
The Banner School, an independent Pre-K through eighth grade school in Frederick, is known for its nurtur-
ing, hands-on approach to education. As Davis put it, “Our community fosters creativity and intellectual growth across all disciplines.”
Davis works with students in every grade. She guides them through a rich curriculum that includes drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture and art history.
She stated that her program challenges students to explore both realism and expressive styles. Even Davis’ youngest students learn to use sketchbooks, as well as learn to tackle advanced visual concepts and boost confidence. She has found that confidence is often the key to student success.
“My main goal as an art teacher is to help students see themselves as confident, capable artists.”
This project provided her students a chance to publicly share their artwork, which she believes has helped them embody an identity of “capable artists.”
Davis said that being able to share their work at a major Frederick gallery can be a powerful moment, and it also “reinforces the idea that their creativity matters and deserves to be seen,” she said.
Davis always encourages self-assurance and growth through learning but also feels that public validation can go a long way in helping a child believe in themself.
But it’s not all about the validation, nor recognition; it’s about learning how meaningful it can be to share art with others, she said. Sharing art is “how we connect and inspire another,” she continued. She believes that seeing some-
one else’s art work can also spark new ideas or emotions. She thinks her students are beginning to understand that creating art is not just a personal act but a communal one, as well.
Students were given the choice to participate in the exhibition. So far, seven works of art from students across multiple grades are represented in the micro gallery.
The exhibition was installed during The Banner School’s spring break, and Davis surmises that more students will choose to display their artwork at the Delaplaine Etchison-Davis Library in the future.
Meanwhile, the wider Frederick community has embraced the micro gallery, she said. Visitors have already begun adding their own artwork.
Davis said this project is a powerful way for her students to express themselves, while growing more assured in their abilities as they connect with others through art.
This micro gallery is a “living, evolving collection that reflects both student creativity and community engagement,” she said.
The micro gallery will remain in place through the next academic year, so the community has plenty of time to engage with it.
And for anyone who hasn’t yet visited the Etchison-Davis Library, it’s a lovely space on the second floor of the Delaplaine Arts Center, open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Courtesy photos
A new micro gallery has been installed at the Delaplaine Arts Center, encouraging visitors to take a piece of art, leave a piece of art.
Penchant for a PARTY
The evolution of Mount Airy’s annual summer patriotic parade
BY ERIN JONES
Special to The News-Post
By the time most of the country is buying hot dog buns and hanging flags for the Fourth of July, the town of Mount Airy will have already gotten the party started.
The American Spirit Parade, on July 1 this year, runs from Mount Airy Elementary School on North Main Street to the Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company Carnival Grounds on Twin Arch Road.
Along the route, the long line of festive floats, emergency vehicles and candy-throwing marchers wend their way along Wildwood Park, a park that has borne witness to more than a century of Mount Airy’s penchant for a party. In the early 1900s, the park was the recreational hub of the town — the scene of dances, fairs, competitions and even jousting.
When the parade arrives at the Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Department (MAVFC) Carnival Grounds, a flag raising ceremony will hoist the towering stars and stripes, where it will remain aloft until the Fourth of July.
The parade in its current form is a relatively new event. However, the American Spirit Parade is a reprisal and reimagining of a historic parade with nearly a century of tradition — a parade baton, passed to the town of Mount Airy from the MAVFC.
From its earliest years, the town of Mount Airy had a fire problem. From its earliest years, the town of Mount Airy had a fire problem. A series of disastrous fires caused havoc on the town at the turn of the 20th century. A 1903 inferno reduced much of Main Street to ashes, and then the milling company fire of 1914 sent flames sweeping through downtown once more. As the town burned yet again in 1925, B&O locomotives were enlisted to bring water by railroad, but the need for a permanent fire brigade became clear.
To fundraise for the new initiative, a street fair, the earliest iteration of the now-booming carnival, made just over $630. The fire company officially began in 1926.
Today the carnival is the fire company’s largest annual fundraiser, with a goal to make $100,000 in fundraising profits. Admission is free, so funds are raised through ride tickets, food, games and raffles. In the evenings, the entertainment stage hosts concerts, drawing crowds to enjoy music in the cooling evening air.
This will be the 58th working carnival for Doug Alexander, Public Information Officer and longtime Mount Airy firefighter, though if he counts the total carnivals he attended, that number is higher. “My mother swears I’ve been to every carnival,” Alexander says with a laugh. “When I was a kid, I was being wheeled around there in a stroller.”
While the decades Airy change, Alexander core facets of the carnival unchanged. This year The annual tradition World War II and the
The Firemen’s Parade, circa 1959, in Mount Airy.
The historic Farmers Parade,
Courtesy of the Town of Mount Airy
The Town of Mount Airy celebrates with an annual American Spirit Parade at the beginning of each July.
Courtesy of the Town of Mount Airy
The Town of Mount Airy celebrates with an annual American Spirit Parade at the beginning of each July.
Carroll counties and contains addresses that fall in in Howard and Montgomery counties. This has meant significant collaboration between emergency services across county lines. That collaboration was reflected in the annual Fireman’s Parade and continues today in the new American Spirit Parade in the representation of emergency vehicles who participate in the parade.
Historically, the annual Fireman’s Parade also attracted bands from Westminster to Frederick. Majorette groups were popular up until the 1980s. Horse clubs would dress up and participate as well. Social organizations like Rotary and the Lion’s Club also joined in, along with local businesses.
Over the years, the cost and logistics of things grew difficult for the fire company to shoulder. Crossing the busy Route 27 to get to the carnival grounds became more expensive and complex than it had in simpler times. The length of the parade grew and pushed back the arrival time to the carnival later and later.
“All these are minor factors, but put them all together and they’re a major factor,” Alexander said.
2019 was the last of the parades in that form, just before the pandemic paused everything.
The carnival resumed in 2022, but the fire company informed the Town of Mount Airy that they would not be able to continue the parade. Not wanting to lose a tradition spanning nearly a century, the Town of Mount Airy picked up operations of the parade, working with the fire company to renew and recreate Mount Airy’s summer parade tradition.
“We showed them how to organize a parade — why we organized the way we did … and then they picked it up from there,” Alexander said.
Where to watch fireworks this month
Frederick County is dazzling with celebrations for this upcoming Fourth of July, starting on July 3.
★ Independence Day Fireworks Display in Brunswick — July 3, around 9 p.m./dusk — Near Brunswick Middle School Complex, 301 Cummings Drive, Brunswick
★ Mount Airy Fireworks — Celebrating America — July 3, 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company Carnival Grounds, 1008 Twin Arch Road, Mount Airy
stroller.” decades have seen Mount Alexander says much of the carnival have remained year will be the 96th carnival. tradition lapsed only briefly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
One relatively recent change is that up until 2019, the carnival was directly preceded by the annual Fireman’s Parade. Among the highlights were a showcase of emergency vehicles from both the town and surrounding counties.
Mount Airy has the rare distinction of being geographically in both Frederick and
The American Spirit Parade falls at the beginning of the month, allowing a patriotic prelude to the town’s fireworks display on July 3. Many of the parade’s components are the same, including the fire company’s participation with as many units as possible and floats featuring the mayor, council members and other key local figures. Of course businesses and social organizations each bring their own unique flavor of fun to the parade.
Parades are not only a cherished tradition in the town but represent the unity and
★ Walkersville Carnival and Fireworks — July 3, 10 p.m. at Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company, 79 W. Frederick St., Walkersville
★ Frederick’s 4th: An Independence Day Celebration — July 4, noon to 9 p.m. at Baker Park, 121 N. Bentz St., Frederick
★ Urbana Volunteer Fire Department Carnival — July 19, 10 p.m. at Urbana Fire & Rescue, 3602 Urbana Pike, Frederick — Mara K. Bell
Staff file photo by Bill Green
A fireworks display capped Frederick’s annual Fourth of July celebration in 2022.
The Historical Society of Mount Airy, Maryland
The Historical Society of Mount Airy, Maryland
The Firemen’s Parade, circa 1959, in Mount Airy.
The Historical Society of Mount Airy, Maryland Parade, circa 1905, in Mount Airy
Local Mentions Local Mentions
CASH BINGO
Sunday, July 20, 2025
Woodsboro American Legion Auxiliary Doors open 12 pm, Games @ 1:30 pm
$40 for 25 games, includes 3 specials @ $150 and 2 jackpots @ $500; Reserve early and receive free special game-call Peggy at 301-514-7164; King tuts, bingo balls, holder jars and door prizes; Food, drinks, baked goods available
Donate canned food item for local food bank and receive free special game Proceeds benefit scholarships, veterans, and youth
CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN ORCHARD
U-Pick Black Raspberries
Call for picking days & times
Available in our Market: Strawberries, Blueberries, Red Raspberries, Blackberries, & Black Raspberries
Evercrisp, Pink Lady & Fuji Apples Apricots, Semi Cling Yellow Peaches, Bananas, Cantaloupe, Watermelon Potatoes, Rhubarb, Green Beans, Cherry Tomatoes, Tomatoes, Cabbage, Red & Green Peppers, Spring Onions, Radish, Kale, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Collards, Sugar Snap Peas Grab & Go Items, Fresh Baked Fruit Pies, Apple Cider Donuts, Fresh Apple Cider, Flower Arrangements, Hanging Baskets, Potted Flowers & Succulents
Annual Flowers 25% OFF Specialty CMO Ice Cream, Fruit Slushies, Jams & Jellies 301-271-2737
Open Daily 9am-5pm 15036 North Franklinville Rd. Thurmont MD www.catoctinmountain orchard.com
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301-663-1888 • 301-416-7229
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Our two stuffed squirrels that know no bounds in their adventures! The Return of Family Storytelling in the new book Eloquent Adventures in Poetry by Dr Janet Fish
Introduction to Select Characters & 2 Poem Reading Session
Location: Surreybrooke Gardens 8610 Baltimore National Pike, Middletown, MD 21769
Early Eating Peaches Plums & Apricots Low-Dye Apples PYO Blueberries! Also, as available, green beans & sweet corn, zucchini, patty pan & yellow squash cucumbers & kale
Cauliflower and broccoli Assortment of honeys, jellies & sparkling ciders
Always call first: 301-271-2693
Open Daily 7:30am-6:00pm 2 miles west of Thurmont off Route 15 take 77 West, 1 mile to Pryor Rd www PryorsOrchard com
SCENIC VIEW ORCHARDS
Blueberries, Cherries, Peaches Red Raspberries, Lettuce Red Potatoes, Kale, Spinach Spring Onions, Sugar Snap Peas, Squash, Tomatoes
Doors open @ 5 p m , Bingo starts @ 7 p.m. Bonanza, Early Bird, Regular, Specials, Jackpot! Small Jackpot-$500 Big Jackpot-$1500 Great Food! Thurmont Event Complex 13716 Strafford Drive Thurmont, Maryland Thurmont Community Ambulance Service, Inc
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order 20# of blueberries! Melons, lopes, sour and sweet cherries; Candy onions
own green beans, cukes, squash, zucchini
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Thursday July 3
ETCETERA
Green Grove Flea and Farmer’s Market
— 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Green Grove Gardens Flea Market , 1032 Buchanan Trail East, Greencastle, Pa. Yard salers, antiques, collectibles, crafts, ammo sales, food, baked goods and more. Plus a petting zoo, bounce houses. Dog friendly. Themed weekends too with bands. 717-765-1311. tonyaschroyer@yahoo.com.
2025 Exhibits at the Museum of Frederick History — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Museum of Frederick County History, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. See our all new and renovated exhibits, now through Dec. 13. Free admission on Wednesdays. $5, $10 adults, $5 seniors and students. Outreach@FrederickHistory.org. frederickhistory.org.
Tween/Teen Leadership Camp (Ages 11-18) — 10:30 a.m. to noon at Emmitsburg Branch Library, 300 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. Join us every Thursday this summer for a Tween/Teen Leadership Camp and earn Community Service hours each week. Today’s theme is Public Speaking. Anyone can have a good idea, but leaders know how to inspire people to listen to their ideas! In this workshop, teens will play games and complete challenges that teach public speaking skills and boost their self-confidence. Project H.E.A.R.T.S. facilitates dynamic workshops on healthy relationship skills at schools and youth organizations in Frederick County. 301-600-6329. www.fcpl.org.
Tween/Teen Leadership Camp (Ages 11-18) — 10:30 a.m. to noon at Emmitsburg Branch Library, 300 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. Join us every Thursday this summer for a Tween/Teen Leadership Camp and earn Community Service hours each week. Come join the fun! 301-600-6329. www.fcpl.org.
Teen Time: Window Painting (ages 1118) — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Come and decorate the Teen Zone windows with fun art! This program is for teens in 6th through 12th grades (ages 11-18). 301-600-7250.
FAMILY
Musical Storytime — 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Music, movement, stories and more.
Red, White, and Blue Special Musical Storytime — 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Wear your red, white, and blue and come ready to wiggle, giggle, and soar with us and a special patriotic guest just in time for Independence Day! Music, movement, stories and more! 301-600-7200.
Elementary Explorers: Who Was Betsy Ross? — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Learn about the woman behind the legend of the American Flag! Participate in a variety of experiences related to science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. This program is designed for children in grades K - 5 and their caregivers. 301-600-7200.
Teen and Tween Open Chess Play — 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Spend the first Thursday of the month with a game of Chess! Open to all levels of chess players, bring your own chess set or use one of ours. Bring your friends and meet other chess enthusiasts. Ages 9-18. 301-600-7200.
Pajama Storytime — 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Emmitsburg Branch Library, 300 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. Enjoy music, stories, and more! Designed for ages up to 5 with a caregiver. 301-600-6329. cdillman@frederickcountymd.gov. www.fcpl.org.
FESTIVALS
Mount Airy Fireworks — 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company Carnival Grounds, 1008 Twin Arch Road, Mount Airy. The Mount Airy Fireworks celebration is set for July 3. Gates open at 4 p.m. with the event starting at 5 p.m. There will be live bands, food vendors and a free fireworks display approximately at 9:30 p.m. 301-829-1424. acollier@mountairymd.gov. www.mountairymd.gov.
MUSIC
Alive@Five: Honest Lee Soul — 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Carroll Creek Amphitheater, Freder-
ick. Craft beverages and food available by local breweries, distilleries and food trucks. 21 and older, with ID. $6. 301-698-8118. downtownfrederick.org.
Live Jazz at the Cocktail Lab — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Tenth Ward Distilling Co., 55 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Get swanky with us every Thursday night for live jazz and your favorite craft cocktails. 21 and older. 301-360-5888. monica@tenthwarddistilling.com. tenthwarddistilling.com.
Max Wareham & the National Bluegrass Team — 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Hub City Vinyl, 28 E. Baltimore St., Hagerstown. Max Wareham is a banjo player, songwriter, and author from Boston. He is a member of the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band and was featured on the Grammy-nominated album “Calling You From My Mountain.” $18. 860-685-0000. maxwareham@gmail. com.
Friday July 4 ETCETERA
Green Grove Flea and Farmer’s Market — 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Green Grove Gardens Flea Market , 1032 Buchanan Trail East, Greencastle, Pa. Yard salers, antiques, collectibles, crafts, ammo sales, food, baked goods and more. Plus a petting zoo, bounce houses. Dog friendly. Themed weekends too with bands. 717-765-1311. tonyaschroyer@yahoo.com. Open Coworking Day — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Cowork Frederick, 120 E. Patrick St., Frederick . Give coworking a test drive! Register to try a free day of coworking every first Friday of the month. 301-732-5165. heycowork@coworkfrederick.com. coworkfrederick.com/ open-coworking-day.
Fourth of July at the Thurmont Historical Society — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Thurmont Historical Society, 11 N. Church St., Thurmont. Opening a new, temporary exhibit in honor of July 4th to share Thurmont’s military history. See some of the artifacts from our collection that highlight the military history of Thurmont and its residents. Free, but donations accepted. We will be open July 4-6th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parking is free and entrance to the museum is free, but donations are strongly encouraged! 301-271-1860. f riends@thurmonthistoricalsociety.org.
Guided Exhibit Tours — 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St., Fred-
erick. Experience the Museum of Frederick County History through a guided tour. Join either archivist Jody Brumage or curator Amy Hunt as they explore the exhibits. Each tour is a unique experience based on the interests of the group and what special things staff wants to highlight that week. Descriptions of each week’s tour can be found on the Heritage Frederick website, which includes accessibility notes. Tours are included with admission.
Fourth at the Furnace — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Catoctin Furnace, 12698 Catoctin Furnace Road, Thurmont. Continues July 5. Enjoy fun and learning with blacksmithing demonstrations, children’s activities, tours of the Museum of the Ironworker and the Collier’s Log House, Isabella Furnace ruins and casting shed, and the African American Cemetery Interpretive Trail. catoctinfurnace.org.
Frederick’s 4th – An Independence Day Celebration sponsored by Wawa — noon to 10 p.m. at Baker Park, Culler Lake to the Talley Center along Second Street, Frederick. Celebrate the largest Independence Day celebration in Frederick County with two stages of entertainment alongside family-friendly rides, activities, food, and fireworks from noon to dusk. 301-600-2841. www.celebratefrederick.com/events/ fredericks-fourth.
Fourth of July Celebration — 4 p.m. to at Carroll County Farm Museum, 500 S. Center St., Westminster. Food, live entertainment (Park Avenue from 5:30-8:30 p.m.), children’s activities, more. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
$10 per vehicle (cash only). carrollcountyfarmmuseum.org.
GALLERY
Denny Clarke: Marine Scenes — 11 a.m. to 7:05 p.m. at Washington County Arts Council, 34 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Opening reception 5-7 p.m. July 3. Artist talk 2-4 p.m. July 5. 301-791-3132. gallerymanager@washingtoncountyarts. com.
www.washingtoncountyarts.com/july-2025. MUSIC
Live Music at the Cocktail Lab — 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Tenth Ward Distilling Co., 55 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Every Friday in the
Cocktail Lab we’ll be servin’ up our deliciously wild concoctions and some sweet tunes to get your weekend started off right. 21 and older.
Barbara Fritchie Classic Motorcycle Race — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Frederick Fairgrounds, 797 E. Patrick St., Frederick. The Barbara Fritchie Classic Half Mile is more than a motorcycle race, it’s a tradition! It’s the longest-running motorcycle dirt track racing tradition and it returns to the Frederick Fairgrounds! Gates open at 10 a.m. for spectators and racing is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
$20 advance, $25 at the gate (cash), kids 5 and under free. barbarafritchieclassic.com.
Saturday
July 5
CLASSES
All-levels Yoga with Yogamour — 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at FAC’s Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Join the Yogamour Team for another season of our all-levels flow yoga classes in the open air venue. Every Saturday, May through September. Please bring a yoga mat and water with you. Parking is available on street or in the city parking garage.
$20 drop in, $150 for 10 class pass. 301662-4190. skystage@frederickartscouncil.org. yogamour.org.
Shri Yoga — 10 a.m. to noon at Urbana Regional Library, 9020 Amelung St., Frederick. A calming but challenging style practiced in an informal environment. Classes include various asanas, breathing exercises, chakra vibration, mantras, and relaxation techniques. Attendees are welcome to bring their own mat. 301-600-7000.
ETCETERA
Green Grove Flea and Farmer’s Market — 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Green Grove Gardens Flea Market , 1032 Buchanan Trail East, Greencastle, Pa. Yard salers, antiques, collectibles, crafts, ammo sales, food, baked goods and more. Plus a petting zoo, bounce houses. Dog friendly. Themed weekends too with bands. 717-765-1311. tonyaschroyer@yahoo.com. Myersville Farmers Market — 9 a.m. to noon at Municipal parking lot, 301 Main St., Myersville. Saturdays through Oct. 25. myersvillefarmersmarket.com.
2025 Exhibits at the Museum of Frederick History — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Museum of Frederick County History, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. See our all new and renovated exhibits, now through Dec. 13. Free admission on Wednesdays. $5, $10 adults, $5 seniors and students. Outreach@FrederickHistory.org. frederickhistory.org.
Conversation Class for English Language Learners — 10:30 a.m. to noon at Bruns-
wick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Adults who want to practice their English are welcome to a conversation class hosted by the Literacy Council of Frederick County. Participants will practice their speaking and listening skills with conversations guided by an instructor from the Literacy Council of Frederick County. 301-600-7250.
One Vast Hospital - Civil War Walking Tour in Downtown Frederick — 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Saturdays and Sundays from April through September, join NMCWM docents for a walking tour of Downtown Frederick focused on the city’s role as a makeshift hospital in the final months of 1862. $15. 301-695-1864. chris.reed@civilwarmed.org. www.civilwarmed.org/weekendtours.
Fourth of July at the Thurmont Historical Society — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Thurmont Historical Society, 11 N. Church St., Thurmont. Opening a new, temporary exhibit in honor of July 4th to share Thurmont’s military history. See some of the artifacts from our collection that highlight the military history of Thurmont and its residents. Free, but donations accepted. We will be open July 4-6th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parking is free and entrance to the museum is free, but donations are strongly encouraged! 301-271-1860. friends@thurmonthistoricalsociety.org. www.facebook.com/share/17HpTMS51q.
Summertime Liqueur Release — noon to 10 p.m. at Tenth Ward Distilling, 55 E. Patrick St., Frederick. The livin’ is easy over here so swing by for a sip or to try the newly released summer cocktail menu! Summertime Liqueur - Tenth Ward’s apple brandy distilled here in Frederick and jam-packed with hibiscus tea, white tea, raspberries, lemon balm, lemon peel, roasted rhubarb, orange blossom water and angelica root. This pretty lady will have berry, floral and lemon notes dancing on your tongue, then pucker up for hints of tannins, refreshing tartness, tea and herbs. 21 and older. 301-360-5888. info@tenthwarddisitlling.com. www.tenthwarddistilling.com.
Tour Schifferstadt Architectural Museum — 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Schifferstadt Architectural Museum, 1110 Rosemont Avenue, Frederick. Step back (way back!) in Frederick’s history to see how the pioneering Brunner family lived in the 1750s. You can do that at the Schifferstadt — Frederick’s oldest intact house, built in 1758. You can see how German engineering and home design came to Colonial America. Guided tours explain the features and tell the history of the family and their home. $8 adults, under 12 free. 301-663-3885. boycerensberger@gmail.com. fredericklandmarks.org.
Barnyard Band & Booze — 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Green Meadows Petting Farm, 10102 Fingerboard Road, Ijamsville. The scheduled band, Captain Crunch, will be playing modern and classic rock songs. Various breweries, distilleries, wineries, food and more on-site. Enjoy an adult beverage purchased from one of our vendors. The
MOUNT AIRY
(Continued from 17)
collaboration of its many facets.
“I would call it the fabric of the community,” Alexander said. “You have a little fabric within the town of your four entities: your businesses, your citizens, your fire department, and your town.”
IF YOU GO
The carnival ground now holds new traditions at the end of the American Spirit Parade. Each participant is announced by emcee, former mayor and council member Peter Helt. The current mayor, Larry Hushour, leads a flag raising ceremony. Visible from many corners of the town, the massive flag is unfurled high above the grounds by crane, thanks to local company Digging and Rigging, and presides over Route 27 and the surrounding area until the Fourth of July.
Mount Airy Fireworks will be held on July 3. The Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company Carnival will take place July 21 to 26. Advance tickets for rides and raffles are on sale now. For more information, go to mavfc.org.
Mount Airy’s Main Street is bisected by the Frederick/Carroll County line. Helt is familiar with the complications of a town in which neighbors can end up in different county school systems, or deal with a different county’s sanitation schedule. However, he also knows better than most the deep sense of community found there. He has witnessed parades from the sidelines, the mayor’s car and now the main stage as emcee.
“It’s always nice to see everybody come out with their kids,” Helt said. “Long before the parade, people will be setting up chairs out on Main Street, particularly through the downtown. The chairs will be there for hours before the parade comes.”
The first American Spirit Parade held extra meaning, as it represented a re-emergence of community after pandemic lockdowns. That first year, Helt was stationed on Main Street, announcing the participants as they passed by.
“It was neat to see everybody out,” Helt recalls. “After everybody’s been locked up and everything, it was neat to see the street lined up with people.”
The county line fades at events such as these. Perhaps babies in strollers being wheeled around the carnival grounds this month will one day be keeping the traditions alive for future generations.
Erin Jones is a freelance writer, former humanities teacher and owner of Galvanize & Grow Copywriting. She holds a BA in English from Hood College and an MA in English from the Bread Loaf School of English, through which she studied literature at Middlebury College and Oxford University. Learn more at erinjoneswriter.com, or follow her on Instagram @ErinJonesWriter.
The Historical Society of Mount Airy, Maryland
The Firemen’s Parade, circa 1959, in Mount Airy.
Celebrate the summer with July First Saturday! Discover one-of-a-kind shopping, delicious local dining and fun activities for the whole family. Be sure to check out the self-guided Sunday Artwalk on July 6—the perfect way to wrap up your weekend in Downtown Frederick.
Downtown Thursday Market
Thursdays from 4pm-7pm
Dates: April 17th to November 20th
Location: 331 North Market Street, Frederick, MD 21701
Old Carmack Jays parking lot
We are a weather permitting market
Weather Permitting
Downtown Thursday Market Thursdays from 4pm-7pm
We are working on accepting WIC, FMNP but not at this time. We have plenty of parking and are pet friendly
BRUNSWICK
FARMERS' MARKET
Shop local produce, honey, meats, wine, flowers, plants, crafts and more while enjoying live entertainment and a rotating cast of food trucks
NEXT DATES: Second & Last Fridays April-October 4-7pm July 11th & 25th August 8th & 29th Martin's Creek Parking Lot 100 E Potomac St.
Provide proof of any market purchase and be entered to win a $25 "Buy Local, Buy Brunswick" gift card*, courtesy of Brunswick Main Street. -�* Two gift cards awarded on opening day (Apr. II} and each Last Friday market.
Animal Barn will also be open. Bring your blankets, chairs & friends. Children are welcome.
$15 to $18, credit only, for ages 2 and older. 301-865-9203. info@greenmeadowsevents.com. greenmeadowsevents.com.
Ghost Tours of Historic Frederick — 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Brewer’s Alley Restaurant and Brewery, 124 N. Market St., Frederick. Take a remarkable journey through Frederick’s gruesome and bloody past. Nearly 300 years of war, executions and revenge. True documented stories of the “paranormal” with “Maryland’s Oldest Operating Ghost Tour!” Reservations recommended. $17 for adults. 301-668-8922. info@MarylandGhostTours.com. marylandghosttours.com.
FAMILY
Ice Cream Social — 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. Join Heritage Frederick for a FREE sweet treat, provided by Frederick Fudge and Ice Cream! Our garden will be full of games and activities and the museum is free admission 1-3 p.m. Enter through Garden gate, accessible through parking lot between us and Winchester Hall. 410-707-1105. Outreach@FrederickHistory.org. frederickhistory.org.
Family STEAM Drop-in — 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Science, technology, math, oh my! Drop in the Thurmont Library for 45-minutes of a fun, hands-on STEM Lab program designed for kids in grades K-5 plus their caregiver. Best part of this library, is the deck! While you’re there, check out some books and read right on the rocking chairs outside! fcpl.org.
Family STEAM Drop In — 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Drop in for a hands-on STEM Lab or STEAM Lab opportunity. This program is designed for children in grades K-5 and their caregiver. 301-600-7200.
Creative Outlet: First Saturday — 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Kids and adults are
invited to drop-in and get creative together on art activities at family tables! Each session features a themed activity. Two images in one! Create a lenticular drawing, which changes when looked at from different angles. Please, no large groups. Free, donations encouraged. 301-698-0656. jclark@delaplaine.org. delaplaine.org/programs.
Stargazing at the Farm — 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Milkhouse Brewery at Stillpoint Farm, 8253 Dollyhyde Road, Mount Airy. Explore the night and see what stars are visible! This Saturday evening, join the Westminster Astronomical Society (WASI) and try your hand at stargazing with the family! WASI members will point their telescopes toward the night sky for observers of all ages to find celestial objects. Check Milkhouse Brewery’s website or socials for updates, as this event is weather-dependent and a cancellation will be announced if cloudy. 301-829-6950. milkhousebrewery.com.
GALLERY
Vault of Visions Grand Opening — noon to at Vault of Visions Art Gallery, 1 N. Market St., Frederick. At the Square Corner! Join us in celebration and to meet the artists and team at noon. Don’t miss a chance to visit Jover Fine Art Productions print shop which has relocated next door or tour the art studios. 240-315-5483. emma@vovgallery.com.
Art Matters Artist Talk: Pamela Lawton — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Solo exhibition artist Pamela Lawton will discuss the work in her exhibition. 301-698-0656. jclark@delaplaine.org. delaplaine.org/programs/.
Exhibition Openings: Pamela Lawton and Linda Robinson — 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. View new exhibitions and meet the artists! 3-5 p.m. Woodcut prints by Lawton, paintings by Robinson. 301-698-0656. jclark@delaplaine.org. delaplaine.org/programs.
MUSIC
Live Acoustic Saturday — 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Shab Row Stage, 100 N. East St., Frederick. Located behind the Frederick Coffee Co & Cafe. Enjoy live acoustic music
by local & regional acoustic performers at the cutest outdoor music venue in the mid-Atlantic region. Music happens every Saturday (weather permitting) with two shows: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. Performers interact with the crowd and will gladly accept tips.
301-639-1050. todd@toddcwalker.com.
Skyla Burrell Band — 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Adams County Winery, 251 Peach Tree Road, Orrtanna, Pa. The winery will have its award-winning wines available in addition to wine slushies, local craft beer, and snacks, including cheese and crackers and gourmet meat and cheese plates! The Terrace Bistro will be open 11 a.m.-4 p.m., serving wood-fired pizzas and pretzels! Children are always welcome with supervision. We are pet-friendly at the Farm Winery, just no pets in the Tasting Room, please.
Sky Stage Presents: Purple Flo — 7:30 p.m. to at FAC’s Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St., Frederick. An electrifying evening with Purple Flo, a Jimi Hendrix tribute band and beyond! Playing plenty of Hendrix, other classic and psych rock from the era, plus originals. Catch the Flo! Beer/wine available to purchase for 21+ with ID. Doors 7 p.m.
$10, under 12 free. skystage@frederickartscouncil.org. frederickartscouncil.org/programs/s ky-stage.
Switchfoot — 8 p.m. to at The Event Center at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, 750 Hollywood Drive, Charles Town, W.Va. Switchfoot has sold over 10 million copies worldwide of their 13 albums, racked up a string of Alternative radio hit singles. See website for ticket information. 21 and older.
Family-Friendly Wild Soda Making with Lacey Walker — 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Fox Haven Farm, Retreat & Learning Center, 3630 Poffenberger Road, Jefferson. Discover the magic of wild fermentation as you forage and craft probiotic-rich beverages infused with the flavors of the season. This handson workshop begins with a guided foraging walk, where you’ll gather fresh herbs and botanicals, deepening your connection to the land while selecting ingredients for your unique creation. Then, we’ll dive into the art of wild fermentation, exploring how to transform herbs, spices, fruits, and other foraged goods into naturally carbonated, probiotic-rich drinks. You’ll gain hands-on experience with simple fermentation techniques, learning how to harness wild yeasts and beneficial bacteria to craft refreshing, gut-friendly beverages.
Fourth of July at the Thurmont Historical Society — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Thurmont Historical Society, 11 N. Church St., Thurmont. Opening a new, temporary exhibit in honor of July 4th to share Thurmont’s military history. See some of the artifacts from our collection that highlight the military history of Thurmont and its residents. Free, but donations accepted. We will be open July 4-6th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parking is free and entrance to the museum is free, but donations are strongly encouraged! 301-271-1860. friends@thurmonthistoricalsociety.org.
Frederick Plant and Seed Swap — noon to 5 p.m. at Rockwell Brewery Riverside, 8411 Broadband Drive, Frederick. We will now be hosting Frederick Plant and Seed Swap on the first Sunday of every month. Swap plants, seeds, stories, advice — all while enjoying awesome craft beer! Chances to win prizes. Free to attend. 301-372-4880. matt@rockwellbrewery.com.
Song Circle with Frederick Acoustic Music Enterprise — 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Middletown Branch Library, 31 E. Green St., Middletown. A song circle is a gathering of folks to make music together, to sing, play, and share songs. Bring your own acoustic instrument. You can also just sing or listen. 301-600-7560.
frederick.librarycalendar.com.
Travel Talk: Vegas — 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Middletown Branch Library, 31 E. Green St., Middletown. Join Jaime Crosthwait from Terrapin Travel to learn about all the areas to explore in and around Las Vegas. From casinos to the Hoover Dam, learn all that area has to offer! 301-600-7560. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
Tour Schifferstadt Architectural Museum — 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Schifferstadt Architectural Museum, 1110 Rosemont Avenue, Frederick. Step back (way back!) in Frederick’s history to see how the pioneering Brunner family lived in the 1750s. You can do that at the Schifferstadt — Frederick’s oldest intact house, built in 1758. You can see how German engineering and home design came to Colonial America. Guided tours explain the features and tell the history of the family and their home. $8 adults, under 12 free. 301-663-3885. boycerensberger@gmail.com. fredericklandmarks.org.
One Vast Hospital - Civil War Walking Tour in Downtown Frederick — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Join NMCWM docents for a walking tour focused on the city’s role as a makeshift hospital in the final months of 1862, every Saturday and Sunday from April through September. Tickets include admission to the museum. too. Tickets are free for museum members, but you must still reserve your spot. Reservations will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis. $15. 301-695-1864. chris.reed@civilwarmed.org. www.civilwarmed.org/weekendtours. Mount Olivet Cemetery History & Mystery Tour — 7:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 515 S. Market St.,
Frederick. Discover Frederick’s past as we navigate through the labyrinth of graves, crypts and monuments of Historic Mount Olivet Cemetery. Tour includes intriguing facts about the cemetery’s origin, tombstone design, grave robbing, mass graves, plus stops at other distinctive burial plots, including Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War. Tour concludes with a visit to the Key Memorial Chapel. Reservations required. (This is not a ghost tour.) $17 for adults. 301-668-8922. info@marylandghosttours.com. marylandghosttours.com.
FAMILY
Eloquent Adventures in Poetry Book
Signing and Selection Reading — 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Surreybrooke Gardens, 8610 Baltimore National Pike, Middletown. Dr. Fish’s poetry transforms ordinary moments into thoughtful reflections, depicting characters and everyday encounters. Enjoy the Lonely Lemons adventure in finding love, Chef Gustav’s culinary adventures, and explore the lifelong rivalry between two devilish squirrels, Rascal and Houdini, in the Chase Is On, told in story form. 301-787-5926. eloquentadventures@outlook.com.
Frederick in the Civil War - A Bus Tour of the Historic City — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Step back in time aboard a vintage 1966 double-decker bus for a fascinating one-hour journey through Downtown Frederick, exploring the city’s critical role in the Civil War and the evolution of battlefield medicine. $39, also includes admission to the museum. 301-695-1864. chris.reed@civilwarmed.org. marylanddoubledeckers.com.
FESTIVALS
Common Ground on the Hill Traditions Weeks — 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at McDaniel Campus, 2 College Hill, Westminster. Common Ground on the Hill Traditions Weeks include workshops in music, visual arts, dance, film, and more, with evening concerts, gallery talks, keynote lectures, and late-night jams. Academic credit and scholarships are available. Register at www. commongroundonthehill.org.
GALLERY
Downtown Artwalk: Ron Ames — noon to 4 p.m. at Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Take a self-guided jaunt downtown and visit local galleries! At the Delaplaine, Ron Ames will showcase photo-impressionism. 301-698-0656. jclark@delaplaine.org. delaplaine.org/programs.
MUSIC
Sunday Brunch Concert Series — noon to 1:30 p.m. at Shab Row Stage, 100 N. East St., Frederick. Enjoy live acoustic music at the cutest outdoor music venue in mid-Maryland, the Shab Row Stage. Located behind the Frederick Coffee Co & Cafe. Grab a coffee, muffin or a sandwich and listen to music from local and regional performing singer-songwriters.
Artists enjoy interacting with the crowd and appreciate tips.
301-639-1050. todd@toddcwalker.com.
176ers Dueling Pianos in the Pavilion — 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Adams County Winery, 251 Peach Tree R0ad, Orrtanna, Pa. The winery will have its award-winning wines available in addition to wine slushies, local craft beer, and snacks, including cheese and crackers and gourmet meat and cheese plates! The Terrace Bistro will be open 11 a.m.-4 p.m., serving woodfired pizzas and pretzels! Children are always welcome with supervision. We are pet-friendly at the Farm Winery, just no pets in the Tasting Room, please. 7173344631.
Sky Stage Presents: Section 20 band — 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at FAC’s Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Live music from Section 20, a full band with horns, playing all your favorite jams from Stevie Wonder to Sublime — funk, rock, jazz, and everything in between — with their own twist! Full of emerging talents, Section 20 is comprised of several students and recent graduates of the Academy of Fine Arts at Thomas Johnson High School. All-ages, pay-whatyou-can donation entry at the gate. skystage@frederickartscouncil.org. frederickartscouncil.org/programs/ sky-stage.
Summer Concert Series: USAF Full Spectrum — 7 p.m. to at the Baker Park Band Shell, North Bentz and Second streets, Frederick. Pop/rock. A 7-member, high-energy rock band made up of elite musicians from the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band. Assembled from every corner of the U.S., they proudly call Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, home. Their performances energize audiences, inspire pride in our country, and showcase the power and innovation of the U.S. Air Force. In lieu of admission, guests are encouraged to bring a nonperishable canned food item(s) for the FCAA Foodbank Program. 50/50 raffle. 301-600-2841. celebratefrederick.com.
Monday July 7
CLASSES
ESL High Beginner’s Conversation Classes — 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. We welcome adults who want to practice their English to a conversation class hosted by the Literacy Council of Frederick County. Students will practice their speaking and listening skills with conversations guided by an instructor from the Literacy Council of Frederick County. Please note, registration is required by the Literacy Council of Frederick County. If interested, use this link that will redirect you to a form from the Literacy Council to register: https://forms.office.com/r/6dMzT8xXD9. 18 and older. 301-600-8200. www.fcpl.org.
ETCETERA
Mondays in Mount Airy Weekly Food
Truck Event — 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Railyard, 3 N. Main St. , Mount Airy. This community event is designed to support locally owned and operated food trucks as well as the businesses along Downtown Main Street. Continues Mondays through Sept. 29. 301-829-9660.
Food Truck Mondays — 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at New Market Grange, 14 South Alley, New Market. 301-799-9168. Hollar50@myactv.net.
FAMILY
Family Storytime — 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Emmitsburg Branch Library, 300 South Seton Ave, Emmitsburg. Enjoy music, stories, and more! Designed for ages up to 5 with a caregiver. 301-600-6329. cdillman@frederickcountymd.gov. www.fcpl.org.
Baby Storytime — 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E Moser Road, Thurmont. Songs, stories and play for babies and their grownups. Designed for children up to 24 months with a caregiver. Afterwards, we offer a “stay and play” for all to enjoy. 301-600-7200. bbrannen@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
Little Adventurers — 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Emmitsburg Branch Library, 300 South Seton Ave, Emmitsburg. Children learn and explore through hands on activities using science, technology, engineering, art and math concepts at the library. Caregivers are encouraged to connect with children and participate in the activities! 301-600-6329. cdillman@frederickcountymd.gov. www.fcpl.org.
Special Summer Program: Reptile Smiles (ages 5-10) — 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Explore the radical world of reptiles with Nicole and her exotic pets! Not only will participants learn all about what makes a reptile a reptile, they will have the opportunity to pet and interact with lots of animal friends! Art teacher by day and reptile enthusiast all of the time, Nicole brings along part of her personal exotic pet collection to provide high quality education and to extend positive experiences with misunderstood critters to people of all ages! 301-600-7250.
Anime Afternoon — 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Anime Afternoon is a place to chat with other enthusiasts about your favorite anime and manga! Chat about what you’re currently reading and watching. Ages 10-17. 301-600-7200. bbrannen@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
Tuesday July 8
CLASSES
Align and Restore Yoga — 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at The Center Frederick, 28 E. Sixth St., Frederick. A slow flow gentle practice to engage the parasympathet-
ic nervous system with breath control, body scans, and ending with an extended savasana that includes the rejuvenating practice of yoga nidra (yogic sleep) on heated floors. All levels welcome. 18 and older, pre-register. $20. 301-305-0693. parkerpsyd@gmail.com. www.thecenterfrederick.com.
ETCETERA
Summer Lunch — 10 a.m. to noon at Emmitsburg Branch Library, 300 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. While supplies last, lunches are available for youth 18 and under each Tuesday (June 17 to Aug. 11). Lunches are provided by Helping Hands and Caring Hearts, a local nonprofit. 301-600-6329. www.fcpl.org.
Night at the Museum — 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Heritage Frederick , 24 E. Church St., Frederick. Get ready for a night to remember (or not, depending on how much wine you drink ) with our new series of events - Night at the Museum! From May to October, a monthly shindig featuring wine, cheese, and crackers (because priorities), plus some quality time with our staff and a sneak peek at a super special artifact that Curator Amy Hunt has pulled out just for you! It’s a VIP museum experience, minus the hefty price tag. 21 and older, pre-registration required. $20.
Outreach@FrederickHistory.org.
Curious Iguana Presents: Kate Myers, author of “Salty” — 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Give Rise Studio, 125 S. Carroll St., 101, Frederick. Put on your sunglasses for this fun summer murder mystery! This story follows two sisters who team up to uncover the real designs behind their rich employer’s shady development plans. Kate will discuss her work with local author Erika Montgomery, then answer questions and sign books. Copies of “Salty” will be available for purchase at the event. 18 and older.
240-575-4496.
curiousiguanaevents@gmail.com.
A Refersher Course on the American Revolution. “From Subject to Citizen: What Americans Need to Know about Their Revolution” author talk and book signing with Nancy Spannus. — 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 E. Patrick St., Frederick. “From Subject to Citizen” is a challenge to Americans to understand the deeper causes and nature of the American Revolution. Public historian Nancy Spannaus addresses the matter in three sections: The Growing Revolt against the British Empire, the Declaration, and the Fight for the Constitution. Each comprises challenges to certain popular understandings of these events by republishing articles from her blog, AmericanSystemNow, both short and long. In her conclusion she draws on the insights of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass to identify the essential qualities a citizen needs to preserve our republic.
Literature Night + Open Mic readings — 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at FAC’s Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Member and invited guest readers by a variety of writer-group hosts, plus an open mic segment every second Tuesday May through October. No need to sign up to read your work. 301-662-4196. skystage@frederickartscouncil.org. frederickartscouncil.org/programs/ sky-stage.
FAMILY
Preschool Storytime — 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Songs, stories, and fun for preschoolers and their grownups. Designed for ages 3-5 with a caregiver. 301-600-7200. bbrannen@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
Get Ready for Kindergarten — 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Have fun exploring literacy, STEM, and art through play-based activities that integrate essential school skills. Designed for ages 3-5 with a caregiver. 301-600-7200. bbrannen@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
Bear Cubs at Dancing Bear! — 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Dancing Bear Toys and Games, 15 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Bear Cubs is returning in the month of June & July! Enjoy a morning of engaging activities and wonder at Dancing Bear Toys and Games at 11 a.m. each Tuesday through July 29 with new adventures each week! Activities include story times, interactive songs, and more. This event is free and open to the public. No registration is required. Intended for children under the age of 2.
301-631-9300. info@dbeartoys.com.
Summer Explorers: Pixar Playhouse (ages 5-10) — 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. In recognition of Pixar’s new release, “Elio,” join us for a celebration of all things Pixar! We will have a variety of games, crafts, and trivia related to Pixar movies. This program is for children in kindergarten through 5th grades. 301-600-7250.
Go Team Therapy Dogs — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Emmitsburg Branch Library, 300 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. Bring the entire family and learn about Go Team Therapy Dogs. Learn about the job of a therapy dog and what is required for a dog to become a member of Go Team and, of course, meet some of the handlers and their dogs. This nonprofit brings comfort and joy through the healing power of therapy dogs. Their mission is to provide emotional support and companionship to those in need. 301-600-6329. www.fcpl.org.
Night Owls — 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Storytime, pajama style! Enjoy movement, music and stories with the whole family. PJ’s optional! Designed for kids, with a caregiver.301-600-7200. bbrannen@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
GALLERY
Denny Clarke: Marine Scenes — 11 a.m. to 7:05 p.m. at Washington County Arts Council, 34 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Opening reception 5-7 p.m. July 3. Artist talk 2-4 p.m. July 5. 301-791-3132. gallerymanager@washingtoncountyarts. com. www.washingtoncountyarts.com/july-2025.
Wednesday July 9
CLASSES
Intro to Tarot for Self-Reflection — 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Edward F. Fry Memorial Library at Point of Rocks, 1635 Ballenger Creek Pike, Point of Rocks. Learn about the meaning of tarot and how it can enrich your journey of self-reflection. Presented by Mary Mannix, FCPL Librarian & Maryland Room manager. Ideal for adults and teens. 301-874-4560. scwells@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com. ETCETERA
Visit with the Maryland Dairy Princess: An Adult Adaptive Program — 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Join us for a presentation about different breeds of cows and how milk gets from the cow to the store, and more. We will make some ice cream to take home and have photo opportunities with our Dairy Princess. This program is designed for adults with developmental disabilities and their caregivers. 18 and older.
301-600-8200. www.fcpl.org.
Line Dancing Night — 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Bentztown, 6 S. Bentz St., Frederick. Every Wednesday. Led by Sharon Grimet of Sharon’s School of Dance, this fun and easygoing class is perfect for dancers of all skill levels.
$10, includes your first beer, soda or rail cocktail. 301-301-8430. info@bentztown.com.
FAMILY
Toddler Storytime — 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Designed with beginning mobility in mind, join us for movement, songs, stories and more that will guide caregivers toward early learning and literacy for toddlers. 301-600-7200. bbrannen@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
Junior Gardeners — 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Emmitsburg Branch Library, 300 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. Is your child interested in learning how to care for a garden? Look no further! Join a fun morning of exploring, creating and learning how to care for plants and gardens. For ages up to 12. 301-600-6329. MDeHart@frederickcountymd.gov. www.fcpl.org.
FESTIVALS
Mount Airy Farmers Market — 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Watkins Park , 615 Center St., Mount Airy. The opportunity to shop, buy and support local farms and businesses. Through Sept. 24. 301-829-1424. ggallucciwhite@mountairymd.gov. www.mountairymd.gov.
GALLERY
Denny Clarke: Marine Scenes — 11 a.m. to 7:05 p.m. at Washington County Arts Council, 34 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Opening reception 5-7 p.m. July 3. Artist talk 2-4 p.m. July 5. 301-791-3132. gallerymanager@washingtoncountyarts. com.
www.washingtoncountyarts.com/july2025.
MUSIC
“Bach’s Lunch” Recital — noon to 2 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church, 106 W. Church St., Frederick. Each Wednesday in July, all are welcome to attend a series of free music recitals followed by a simple boxed lunch. It is an opportunity for those who work or live downtown to come and hear beautiful music in a beautiful space. jratcliffe@allsaintsmd.org. allsaintsmd.org.
Concerts on the Promenade — 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Westview Promenade, Buckeystown Pike and Crestwood Boulevard, Frederick. Fast Eddie & The Slow Pokes, blues and swing. www.shopwestview.com.
THEATER
The Comedy Pigs Open Auditions — 7:30 p.m. to 9:35 p.m. at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, Frank Greene Space (Stage 2), 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. The Comedy Pigs, gearing up for its 33rd season, is Frederick area’s premier and longest-running short form improv troupe will be auditioning new members. The primary audition will consist of playing a series of short-form improv games with various members of the Pigs. Omniscience is not required as current pigs will teach auditionees the games. Headshots and resumes are welcome but not required. 18 and older. 301-694-4744. thecomedypigs@gmail.com. www.facebook.com/comedypigs.
Thursday July 10
CLASSES
Senior Cafe: The place to come for coffee, conversation, friendship and fun events! Cake Decorating — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Stephanie Mendiola from Brickblock Cakes will offer a hands-on demonstration of cake decorating techniques. Ages 18 and older. 301-600-8200. www.fcpl.org.
ETCETERA
Tween/Teen Leadership Camp (Ages 11-18) — 10:30 a.m. to noon at Emmitsburg Branch Library, 300 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. Shawn Snyder from Animal Control is the speaker. Teens will also make dog toys and treats to donate to the Animal Control Shelter. Join us every Thursday this summer for a Tween/Teen Leadership Camp and earn Community Service hours each week. 301-600-6329. www.fcpl.org.
Tween/Teen Leadership Camp (Ages 11-18) — 10:30 a.m. to noon at Emmitsburg Branch Library, 300 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. Join us every Thursday this summer for a Tween/Teen Leadership Camp and earn Community Service hours each week. Come join the fun! 301-600-6329. www.fcpl.org.
Teen Design Your Dream Space — 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Learn how to read blueprints, and design your dream space, going from paper to a 3D activity that you can take home with the Frederick County Building Industry Association.
Teen Time: Singing Class with Renee’s Music (ages 11-18) — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Love to sing or want to develop your vocal skills? Join us for a fun and engaging program designed to introduce the fundamentals of singing in a relaxed yet structured setting. Explore key techniques such as proper singing posture, breath control, and vowel shaping to help improve vocal tone and confidence. Perfect for teens, this program welcomes both beginners and those looking to refine their skills. Come sing, learn, and have fun! This program is for teens in 6th through 12th grades.
301-600-7250.
July Girls Nite Out — 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Vintage, 8 W. Main St., New Market. Join Sass Magazine to celebrate the newest issue while mixing and mingling with other smart and savvy women! You’ll get a chance to meet the ladies who bring you Sass Magazine, shop some awesome popup vendors, check out our merch table, and more! Light fare included. Cash bar. 21 and older. RSVP required. $25. 301-992-1594. info@sassmagazine.com. sassmagazine.com/event/july-girls-niteout-2025.
Paws 2 Read with Go Team Therapy Dogs — 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Join Go Team Therapy Dogs to improve your reading confidence and make a new friend when you read aloud to a therapy dog. All ages. 301-600-8200. www.fcpl.org.
Curious Iguana Presents: The Spiritual Wisdom of Trees with Beth Norcross & Leah Rampy — 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at
The C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 E. Patrick St., Frederick. The authors will discuss their latest book, “Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees.” Drawing on their collective knowledge of spirituality, ecology, and forestry, Beth and Leah reveal the profound impact trees can have on our lives. After discussing their work, Beth and Leah will answer questions and sign books. Copies of “Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees” will be available for purchase at the event. 21 and older. 240-575-4496. curiousiguanaevents@gmail.com. curiousiguana.com/event/beth-norcrossand-leah-rampy.
FAMILY
Summerfest Family Theatre: Groovy
Nate — 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at Baker Park Bandshell, Bentz and Second streets, Frederick. Children’s entertainer and Teaching Artist, who creates fun and educational shows using funky grooves, exotic musical instruments, and comedy — a la Sesame Street meets Parliament/Funkadelic. He is also a GRAMMY-nominated artist with The 1 Tribe Collective. In lieu of admission, bring a nonperishable canned food item for the Foodbank Program. 301-600-2841. celebratefrederick.com.
Musical Storytime — 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Music, movement, stories and more. 301-600-7200. bbrannen@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.
Storytime in the Heritage Garden — 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. Enter our enchanted garden for a special storytime and activity! Held on the second Thursday of every month, little learners will have the opportunity to hear a story and make their own related craft, as well as explore the beauty and sweet details of our Heritage Garden. Books and authors will be announced the month of the program. In the event of inclement weather, Storytime will be moved inside. Please RSVP! Outreach@FrederickHistory.org.
Book Party in the Garden: Ashley DeCapua — 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at Emmitsburg Branch Library, 300 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. Join us in the library garden and meet Frederick County children’s author Ashley DeCapua! She’ll read her book “I Woofn’t Do That,” talk about her writing journey, and answer questions about writing! There’ll be a craft themed to the book, which attendees can take home. For ages up to 5, elementary, all ages. 301-600-6329. MDeHart@frederickcountymd.gov. www.fcpl.org.
Tween Time: Singing Class with Renee’s Music (ages 8-13) — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Brunswick Branch Library, 915 N. Maple Ave., Brunswick. Love to sing or want to develop your vocal skills? Join us for a fun and engaging program designed to introduce the fundamentals of singing in a relaxed yet structured setting. Explore key techniques such as proper singing posture,
breath control, and vowel shaping to help improve vocal tone and confidence. Perfect for teens, this program welcomes both beginners and those looking to refine their skills. Come sing, learn, and have fun! This program is for tweens in 3rd through 8th grades. 301-600-7250.
MUSIC
Alive@Five: Oasis Island Sounds — 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Carroll Creek Amphitheater, Frederick. Craft beverages and food available by local breweries, distilleries and food trucks. 21 and older, with ID. $6. 301-698-8118. downtownfrederick.org. Live Jazz at the Cocktail Lab — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Tenth Ward Distilling Co., 55 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Get swanky with us every Thursday night for live jazz and your favorite craft cocktails. 21 and older. 301-360-5888. monica@tenthwarddistilling.com. tenthwarddistilling.com.
Friday July 11
ETCETERA
Guided Exhibit Tours — 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. Experience the Museum of Frederick County History through a guided tour. Join either archivist Jody Brumage or curator Amy Hunt as they explore the exhibits. Each tour is a unique experience based on the interests of the group and what special things staff wants to highlight that week. Descriptions of each week’s tour can be found on the Heritage Frederick website, which includes accessibility notes. Tours are included with admission. $5, $10. Outreach@FrederickHistory.org. frederickhistory.org/event-calendar.
Murder Mystery and Speed Dating — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Steinhardt Brewing Company, 340 E. Patrick St., Frederick. This is Speed Dating with the twist of solving Whodunnit at the same time! You must be single ages 30-45 for this event. This is a blast! But watch out. You might die laughing. Bwhahahahaha. $45. 410-549-2722. murdermysterycompany@gmail.com. bit.ly/matchmadeinmurdertix.
Ghost Tours of Historic Frederick — 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Brewer’s Alley Restaurant and Brewery, 124 N. Market St., Frederick. Take a remarkable journey through Frederick’s gruesome and bloody past. Nearly 300 years of war, executions and revenge. True documented stories of the “paranormal” with “Maryland’s Oldest Operating Ghost Tour!” Reservations recommended. $17 for adults. 301-668-8922. info@MarylandGhostTours.com. marylandghosttours.com.
FAMILY
Ice Block Sledding — 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Watkins Park, 615 Center St., Mount Airy. After two rain cancellations, we are hoping this third time for Ice Block Sledding is the charm! There will be several
giant blocks of ice that participants can ride down a hill by the softball field. Be sure to bring a towel to sit on while sledding. Each sled rider participates at their own risk. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be cancelled with notifications on the Town’s social media channels. 301-829-1424. nhernandez@mountairymd.gov. www.mountairymd.gov.
FESTIVALS
Common Ground on the Hill Traditions Weeks — 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at McDaniel Campus, 2 College Hill, Westminster. Common Ground on the Hill Traditions Weeks include workshops in music, visual arts, dance, film, and more, with evening concerts, gallery talks, keynote lectures, and late-night jams. Academic credit and scholarships are available. Register at www.commongroundonthehill.org.
FILM
Moonlight Movies at the Mansion — 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Kentlands Mansion, 320 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg. Summer evenings are made for family fun — so bring your blankets, your kids and your love for movies on the second Friday through September, enjoy a different family-friendly film under the stars. See website for film schedule. 301-258-6425. kentlands@gaithersburgmd.gov. gburg.md/4deheUp.
GALLERY
Art at NOON: Experimental Performance / Professional Play — noon to 1 p.m. at Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Join us onsite or by Zoom. Valerie George’s discussion of performance art, experimental performances, and video installations that embrace humor, homage and the exploration of mortality. Valerie is an artist whose work over the past 20 years has reflected holistically on art and life through installations, site-specific works, video, performance, sound, and other boundary-pushing as well as traditional mediums. She will join us via Zoom. Attend in person to enjoy a free coffee tasting from Dublin Roasters. 301-698-0656. jclark@delaplaine.org. delaplaine.org/programs.
MUSIC
F.A.M.E. Open Mic at Sky Stage — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at FAC’s Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St., Frederick. FAME (Frederick Acoustic Music Enterprise) hosts every 2nd Friday from May-October, with extended hours from previous seasons to allow for more sign-ups! Come to listen, play or both. Whether you are a pro or a novice, this is a welcoming environment for you to collaborate, build your skills, and get to know local artists. Free to enter. Sign up with FAME prior to the event to participate as a performer (you don’t have to sign up to watch). Donations appreciated. 301-662-4190. skystage@frederickartscouncil.org. frederickacoustic.org.
