Issuu

2026 FREE

OCTOBER 1

72 FILM FEST marks 21 years of filmmaking this week

PASTA PILGRIMAGE: In Rome, a new tourist trap emerges: The pastamaking nonna PAGE 10

OCTOBER THRILLS AND CHILLS: What to see on Frederickarea stages this month PAGE 14

PINK AND BLUE: Middletown

man organizes 5K to spread awareness of male breast cancer PAGE 20

INSIDE THIS WEEK Eat & Drink .............................................. 4 Music ........................................................... 6 Frederick Mom ....................................... 9 Getaways ................................................ 10

PUBLISHER Geordie Wilson

Art ............................................................. 12 Theater....................................................14

EDITOR Lauren LaRocca llarocca@newspost.com

Cover story ............................................16

REVENUE DIRECTOR Connie Hastings

Classifieds ...............................................18 Calendar ................................................. 20

CALENDAR EDITOR Sue Guynn sguynn@newspost.com

ON THE COVER: 72 Film Fest is celebrating year 21 in Frederick — and again will ask filmmakers: what can you make in 72 hours?

Submit a calendar listing for your event 10 days prior to publication at newspost.com/calendar.

Courtesy 72 Film Fest

2 | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 72 HOURS

72HOURSONLINE.COM

PUT DOWN THE PHONE AND DANCE

Ecstatic Dance returns to the Y Arts Center from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 1 with a slightly unusual proposition for our hyperconnected age: What if you danced without constantly reaching for your phone? The guideline is less about confiscating devices and more about encouraging participants to stay present while moving through a mix of meditation, yoga and free-form dancing. Shoes come off, alcohol stays out and conversation takes a back seat to movement. Stephanie Owlfeather, who returns for the third installment of the series, sees it as a rare opportunity for adults to make room for play. The suggested donation is $10. The Y Arts Center is at 115 E. Church St., Frederick.

DEMETRIUS BRINGS ‘WESTX2’ TO THE STAGE

After letting “WESTx2” make its way into the world for a few months, Frederick hip-hop artist Demetrius, aka Shawn Price, is finally giving the album its full live treatment. WEST: A Live Experience will bring Price and the artists featured across the project together at Rockwell Brewery on Oct. 2 for what sounds less like a standard album show and more like a hometown celebration. The collaborative record, created with producer Session 600, has been attracting listeners well beyond Frederick, while Price says physical copies — including his first vinyl release — have also been selling. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. at 8411 Broadband Drive, Suite K, Frederick. Tickets start at $23 and are available through eventbrite.com.

OKTOBERFEST TAKES OVER THE FAIRGROUNDS

Break out the lederhosen: Frederick’s Oktoberfest returns Oct. 2 and 3 to the Frederick Fairgrounds with German food, beer, music, dancing and enough polka to make the fairgrounds feel temporarily Bavarian. Oct. 2 runs from 6 to 10 p.m., is restricted to ages 21 and older and includes a performance by The Reagan Years. Oct. 3 runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and opens the gates to all ages, with German bands and dancers, the Freddie Long Band, a kids’ zone, arts and crafts, vendors and college football on a big screen in the sports tent. The volunteer-run festival is organized by the Rotary Clubs of Carroll Creek and Southern Frederick County and has raised more than $1.3 million for community causes. Tickets are $25 on Oct. 2 and $22 for general admission Oct. 3, with reduced admission for children. Authentic dirndl or lederhosen gets you in free. See frederickoktoberfest.org for tickets and details.

ALL ABOARD FOR RAILROAD DAYS

Brunswick’s identity has been intertwined with the railroad for generations, and the city’s biggest annual celebration of that history returns from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 3 and 4. The 43rd annual Brunswick Railroad Days will fill downtown with model train displays, live music across several stages, artisans, food, a beer garden, kids’ activities and even live blacksmithing with reclaimed railroad materials. One of the perennial draws is the MARC excursion: a roughly 45- to 50-minute round trip from Brunswick through Harpers Ferry to Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia, and back. Trains depart at 1 and 3 p.m. both days, and tickets are $10. Festival admission, live music and train displays are free, and a free shuttle will run from Brunswick Elementary School. See brunswickrailroaddays.org for schedules, train tickets and a festival map.

FARM LIFE MEETS THE ART GALLERY

The “Barns and Farms of Frederick” plein-air exhibition at Artspiration Frederick gets a family-friendly companion event from noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 4. Family Day will pair the exhibition’s paintings of Frederick County’s agricultural landscape with demonstrations of both art and old-fashioned farm activities, including plein-air painting, butter churning, wheat grinding and spinning. Younger children can paint a wooden barn or farm animal to take home, while older children will have the chance to try plein-air painting themselves. Lallo’s food truck and Antietam Dairy will also be on-site. The free event is presented with the Frederick County Landmarks Foundation at Artspiration, located at 915 Toll House Ave. in Frederick.

72 HOURS | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 3

EAT & DRINK

Mezeh Mediterranean Grill offers a new take on fast-casual

BY OLIVER MACK

Special to The News-Post

Mezeh Mediterranean Grill on 7810 Wormans Mill Road is giving a new take on fast-casual Mediterranean food. The restaurant offers bowls, wraps and pitas, with a range of proteins and more than 30 available toppings. Patrons can choose between building their own meal with unlimited vegetables, sauces and dips, or picking from one of the restaurant’s signature menu offerings. Customers have six main protein options, such as chicken shawarma, shredded lamb and even baked salmon. Meal prices go as low as $8.15 for some of the junior bowls and hover around $1216 for most of the bowls and wraps. Build-your-own options can be as low as $12.75. With a modern but cozy dining room offering tables, booths and high-tops, Mezeh is a great spot for a date, a business meeting, or just a quick lunch. The menu also offers a slew of fun juices and beverages, such as watermelon pineapple dill juice, cilantro kale blueberry carrot juice and strawberry peach lemonade. Mezeh’s Frederick location opened in 2021. The chain, founded in 2012, has more than 50 locations across the East Coast, mostly in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia area. The chain prides itself on using quality ingredients, sourcing locally when possible and making all its recipes from scratch, according to its website. The Frederick location is open every day from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. 4 | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 72 HOURS

Staff photos by Oliver Mack

ABOVE and LEFT: The Mezeh Classic bowl at Frederick’s Mezeh Mediterranean Grill at 7810 Wormans Mill Road.

MEZEH MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 7810 Wormans Mill Road, Frederick Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. every day. Price: Menu items range from $8.15 for a junior bowl to $19.00 for the Sultan’s Choice bowl. Contact: 240-817-028

Links Bridge Vineyards earns six medals in Atlantic Seaboard wine competition Links Bridge Vineyards earned medals for all six wines it entered in the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association’s 2026 wine competition, taking four gold medals and two silver medals. The small vineyard and winery is located along the Monocacy River, about 15 minutes northeast of Frederick. Links Bridge grows about 11 acres of grapes encompassing 14 varieties, giving its winemakers considerable freedom when designing estate wines. The winery occasionally purchases grapes from other vineyards to experiment with varieties it does not grow. Owners Robert Thompson and Joan Cartier were especially pleased that every entry received a medal. “It was almost a perfect score,” they said. Links Bridge received gold medals for its Norton, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Right Bank Blend, a Bordeauxstyle blend. Its Sauvignon Blanc and Pileated, another Bordeaux-style blend, received silver medals. Two years ago, the winery purchased grapes from several locations to overcome shortages caused by an early warming period in April followed by a freeze. Those purchases included Norton grapes from Chrysalis Vineyards in Middleburg, Virginia. The resulting 2024 Norton was judged Best in Class. The award was especially exciting for the winery because it was only the second time Links Bridge had worked with Norton. The owners loved the first Norton varietal they produced but were not sure they could repeat the result. They consider the second attempt even better than the first. The gold medal-winning 2024 Merlot also has an unusual story. During an evening gathering in April, several tables of wine club members began with the same raw materials and experimented to create their own Merlot blends. The participating members tasted the resulting blends without knowing who had made them, then selected the best by vote. The winning blend became Links Bridge’s 2024 Merlot. The winery plans to invite its wine club members back next spring for another blending exercise. The gold medal-winning Right Bank Blend combines Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot and was notable for its fresh, fruity character. The same Petit Verdot was used to make the winery’s varietal that also received a gold medal.

Courtesy photo

Links Bridge Vineyards is in Thurmont. 72 HOURS | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 5

FREDERICK LINER NOTES

Ecstatic Dance returns, Demetrius presents WEST live BY ROY GHIM

Special to The News-Post

It’s been a minute, what with all the summer festivals and shows around Frederick. Here’s what’s on our radar this weekend and beyond. First up: Ecstatic Dance returns Oct. 1 to the Y Arts Center. But wait ... no cell phones — at an EDM-adjacent event?! It’s not quite that. (Though I did witness a no-phone policy enforced at the storied Bahnwärter Thiel techno club in Munich several months ago.) Ecstatic Dance’s stance regarding cell phones is more nuanced — think of it as a guideline rather than a strict rule. Stephanie Owlfeather, who returns for this third edition of the series that launched in May, said it’s more about being in the moment for a potentially transformational journey through dance. “The more that technology is enmeshed in our everyday work and everything ... I feel like no phone parties, where you’re asked to be more present, is going to become more and more popular.” Welsh electronic musician Kelly Lee Owens has expressed a similar sentiment, telling The Guardian that smartphones can, counterintuitively, restrict freedom in certain contexts. There are other elements that set Ecstatic Dance apart from your typical dance event. No alcohol, shoes off to feel grounded, little to no side conversation and meditation or yoga as a transition into dancing may give off hippy-dippy “be here now” vibes. However, this intrepid columnist tried it in May and July at the Y Arts Center and can report that going through the different transitions was admittedly strange, yet surrendering inhibitions and joining in was kind of a great feeling at the same time. “I’m very much for any event (to be) focused on play,” Owlfeather said. “That’s an element that’s missing from so many adult people’s lives, that it’s all ‘work work work.’ Yeah, but what about play? Ecstatic dance events are an opportunity to give yourself a space to play with what’s going on in your experience.” Ecstatic Dance will run from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Y Arts Center, 115 E. Church St., Frederick. The suggested donation is $10. On Oct. 2, One City, One Sound will present Demetrius performing the first live rendition of “WESTx2,” his latest album created with producer Session 600, in front of an audience at Rockwell Brewery. Rather than immediately touring after the album dropped in June, Demetrius, aka Shawn Price, let “WESTx2” make its 6 | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 72 HOURS

Company and, by most metrics, is a waybetter-than-your-average open mic. For one, there’s usually a house band, which solo performers who sign up can elect to use as accompaniment. Sometimes there’s a featured act. (I caught Daryltron playing a three-song mini-set in August.) While performers who sign up can be hit or miss, there’s usually more quality than not. The best part: the surprises. I caught wickedly creative experimental EDM artist Noah Chiles at the open mic, someone you might expect to find in a Brooklyn warehouse — honestly, that was fire. The final piece unique to this format is the open jam toward the end, with the house band anchoring it. Clips circulating on social media show some of these late-night jams, and they sound deliciously good. Sign-ups begin at 7:45 p.m., followed Courtesy photo by the open mic at 8 p.m. and open jam around 10:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at Cafe Nola, 4 Demetrius performs at Rockwell. E. Patrick St., Frederick. that I know root for me and cheer for me way out into the world and simmer. Not long after 72 Hours reviewed the album, the same way I cheer for them, it can’t be LOOKING AHEAD Harvest Moon/Ubiquitopia will reanything but a celebration.” it began catching on with music influturn Oct. 9 to 11 in Gore, Virginia. The Doors open at 7 p.m., with the show encers. Price said it’s now approaching a countercultural music festival has been at 8 p.m. Oct. 2 at Rockwell Brewery, milestone of 100,000 streams. going since 1985. Message @danny8411 Broadband Drive, Suite K, Fred“We’re on double digits in sales, pdot on Instagram for the exact loerick. Tickets are $23 for general adwhich for me is even more importcation. Frederick bands playing that mission, $55 with a vinyl copy of the alant,” Price said of physical copies of bum and $92 with an autographed vinyl weekend include Portside Chapel and “WESTx2,” which marked the first time Larval Organs — convenient, as they and custom T-shirt. Tickets are available he sold his work on vinyl. share the same bassist, Aidan Ryan. through eventbrite.com. Price said he was overwhelmed and Channel Zero, Frederick’s goth and Choose your own adventure Oct. 3 appreciative “for people both from here darkwave DJ night, returns from 8 p.m. and also out of town to recognize it as a with shows at Cafe Nola and Sandbox to midnight Oct. 10 at Sandbox BrewBrewhouse. dope body of work.” house. The lineup includes Dan GellerCafe Nola will crank the volume as He wasn’t kidding about the out-ofman, DJ Villainess, Zzingg and Vacant Harrisonburg band Tan & Handsome towners finding his record. “I’m getting messages from people in headlines. Sharing the bill are fellow Har- Windows. The event is free. Sunday Scaries will take over Sandthe UK, and Brazil, you know places that I risonburg neighbors Shallow Lungs, box from 2 to 7 p.m. Oct. 11, featuring definitely can’t afford to fly to right now,” Baltimore hardcore band Gist, Virginia doom/stoner rock band Spunt and Bum Austin Litz doing a live EDM set, along he said, laughing. “To be able to reach with Jjaro, Kokop3lli, Brooce and ZzFight, who played their first show at the them [with this album], the love that it’s ingg spinning vinyl. The event is free. Eagles Club in June. getting, the love that the guys on the The inaugural Roll Fest will take The show starts after 9 p.m. Oct. 3 at project has been getting, people reachCafe Nola, 4 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Cov- place from 2 to 6 p.m. Oct. 18 at Hill ing out to me about certain verses, it’s er is $5, and the show is for ages 21 and Street Park in Frederick. Content creeverything I could imagine.” ator Paige Galloway will host the comThe show will be a victory lap of sorts, older. munity roller-skating festival — which Sandbox Brewhouse, meanwhile, not just for Price but for the collaborawelcomes bands sprouting more earthy wouldn’t be a fest on wheels without tors who helped create “WESTx2.” The the tunes. Since DJ Baspy is involved, lineup includes Stitch Early, DaJohn, So- indie-to-emo sounds. Matthew Scott & we gotta mention this one for what the House Plants headlines the show, berrLijj, svrge, Ahzay, Retro/Ricole, Jase should be a fabulous day to vibe out Kevion and Boima, appearing in various with WTVR and Moon Cannon openconfigurations alongside Price through- ing. And get this: Apparently, real house on. Pour Over is scheduled for Oct. 17 out a seamless 30-song set. On the 1s plants will be among the band merch at Sky Stage. and 2s will be Baspy, who’s become a for sale. There’s also a special Halloween familiar presence in Frederick’s music The free show starts at 6:45 p.m. Oct. scene since moving to the area several 3 at Sandbox Brewhouse, 880 N. East St., show planned for Oct. 31 at Sandbox Brewhouse, complete with “haunted years ago. Suite 201, Frederick. attractions.” Stay tuned. “It’s going to be like a party in a sense, We skip ahead to Oct. 5 for open Roy Ghim is a freelance writI wouldn’t have had it any other way,” mic/open jam at Cafe Nola, expanding Price said. “I think that’s what makes it er whose work has appeared in The the notion of the constantly extended more special, that I didn’t do this on my weekend. It’s a relatively new series start- News-Post, The New York Times and own ... to be able to do it with my guys Soccer Journal magazine. ed in May by Antonio Fato of the Fato

Weinberg Center will launch centennial season with free open house

File photo by Lauren LaRocca

The Weinberg Center in downtown Frederick.

The Weinberg Center for the Arts will launch its 100th anniversary season with a free Centennial Kickoff open house from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 3. The event will feature outdoor entertainment by the Clustered Spires Chorus and local singer-songwriter Susanna Laird. Inside the theater, Weinberg organist Tedde Gibson will showcase the Mighty Wurlitzer organ, offering visitors an overview of the instrument followed by musical accompaniment to the 1929 Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy silent film shorts “Liberty” and “Big Business.” Kids’ craft activities will take place on the mezzanine level, and free popcorn will be available while supplies last. Additional programming will include behind-the-scenes and oral history videos, along with door-prize drawings at the top of each hour. “This is an amazing opportunity to see the Weinberg Center in its 100th year,” said Stephanie Chaiken, executive theater manager of the Weinberg Center. “We want the community to participate in the arts in inspiring and fun ways.” Attendees are welcome to drop by anytime between noon and 4 p.m. to explore the historic theater and learn more about its centennial season. The event is free and does not re-

quire a ticket. The Weinberg will also launch its Centennial Film Series at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3 with a screening of the 1929 Marx Brothers film “The Cocoanuts.” The season-long series, sponsored by Visit Frederick, will honor the theater’s history as a movie palace with screenings of films from the past century. Set in a struggling hotel on the verge of bankruptcy, “The Cocoanuts” follows fasttalking hotel owner Mr. Hammer, whose attempts to flatter the wealthy Mrs. Potter are complicated by other guests and the romantic plans of Mrs. Potter’s daughter, Polly. Meanwhile, Harpo and Chico wreak havoc with their con-artist schemes and silent mischief. Blending vaudeville-style humor with early musical sequences and featuring songs by Irving Berlin, the film captures the transition from silent cinema to “talkies” and showcases the Marx Brothers’ comedic style. Tickets for “The Cocoanuts” are $8, with discounted $6 tickets available for students, children, military members and seniors. The Weinberg Center is at 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Tickets are available at weinbergcenter.org or by calling the box office at 301-600-2828. See weinbergcenter.org for the full 202627 season schedule.

The season

WEINBERG CENTER FOR THE ARTS

coming this fall !

72 HOURS | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 7

All kinds of

FREE

EVEN

fibery goodness! A WHOLESOME, FUN EVENT FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY

All your favorite local yarn dyers anD spinners, plus MUCH MORE! No sheep were harmed in the making of this festival.

130+ ﬁbery vendors Kids Zone from 11am-2pm Local Food Trucks Wine, beer and spirit tastings Fleece Sale & Demonstrations

Saturday, Oct. 24 • 9am-4pm

THE FREDERICK FAIRGROUNDS I 797 E. PATRICK STREET, FREDERICK SPONSORED BY:

Register by Oct. 23 for a chance to win at FrederickNewsPost.com/goto/FiberFest FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT FREDERICKFIBERFEST.COM

8 | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 72 HOURS

The Frederick Mom’s recommendations for the weekend of Oct. 2

Activities to do with the kids this weekend, courtesy of The Frederick Mom. Brookfield Pumpkins 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 2 to 4 Brookfield Pumpkins, 8302 Ramsburg Road, Thurmont Free Experience local agriculture at its best at hidden gem Brookfield Pumpkins, which charges no admission to visit the farm. Its TIFFANY MAHANEY 2026 season opens Oct. 1 and runs through Oct. 31. Take a free hayride to pick your own pumpkins, have your kids visit the furry barnyard animals, play with corn under the roofed play area and shop for fall produce and decor. Our kids’ favorite activity there is practicing milking the cute cow replica. Frederick Festival of Flight 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 3 Frederick Municipal Airport, 310 Aviation Way, Frederick Free Come out to the fourth annual Frederick Festival of Flight to experience incredible aircraft both on display and in flight this Saturday. Check out opportunities to get involved with aviation and visit businesses and organizations offering presentations on aviation topics. Come hungry because food trucks, mobile dessert vendors, coffee and shopping vendors will be on-site. To see the full event schedule, visit cityoffrederickmd.gov/1698/frederick-festival-of-flight. Event entry is free, but attendees are asked to register through eventbrite.com. Frederick Miniature Spectacular 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 3 The Grand Social Hall, 79 W. Frederick St., Walkersville $10 per person Get ready for a tiny but mighty experience at the Frederick Miniature Spectacular 2026, where small things bring big joy! Step into a world where everything is delightfully teeny tiny. Whether you’re a longtime miniaturist, a devoted collector, a dollhouse enthusiast or simply curious, there’s something for everyone to discover. Check out beautifully crafted tiny treasures and exquisite miniature decor. Browse a selection of unique, handcrafted pieces, find inspiration for your next project and uncover those perfect little treasures you didn’t even know you needed. Want to create some-

Tiffany Mahaney

Visitors take in Brunswick Railroad Days, the city’s annual celebration of its railroad heritage, in downtown Brunswick. thing of your own? Register for one of the miniature workshops and try your hand at making your own tiny masterpiece. Get tickets at eventbrite.com. Fall Fest 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 3 and 4 Rose Hill Manor Park, 1611 N. Market St., Frederick Free Join the Frederick County Farm Museum for a two-day fall festival including agricultural demonstrations, food, hayrides, crafts and more! Be sure to complete the Agriculture Olympics on Saturday with University of Maryland Extension, Frederick County. Try your hand at six agricultural challenges: tractor driving, straw bale stacking, cow milking, egg collecting, grain toss and herb hunting. Whether you’re a

seasoned farm kid, a curious first-timer or just looking for something fun to do at Fall Fest, there’s a challenge waiting for you. On Sunday, the Farm Museum will host the Kids’ Pedal Pull at 1 p.m. This is not an event to miss! Brunswick Railroad Days 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 3 and 4 Downtown Brunswick, 1 W. Potomac St., Brunswick Free admission Celebrate the charm of Brunswick and its railroad history at this two-day festival for the whole family. Walk the streets of downtown Brunswick for the city’s 43rd annual Railroad Days. Explore model train exhibits and demonstrations, arts and crafts vendors, delicious food, live music and a beer garden in Square Corner Park. Check

out the Kids Zone behind the American Legion, with inflatables, a petting zoo, pony rides and a trackless train. For $10, take a roughly 45- to 50-minute round-trip MARC train ride to Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia, through scenic Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, at 1 and 3 p.m. both days. Train tickets are available through eventbrite.com. Frederick Oktoberfest 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 3 Frederick Fairgrounds, 797 E. Patrick St., Frederick $22 general admission; $8 for ages 3 to 12; free for ages 2 and younger While Frederick’s Oktoberfest is a two-day festival, Saturday is open to all ages. Bring the whole family out to experience authentic German food, traditional German music and dancing on two stages, a sports tent with a big screen, a kids’ zone from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with plenty of arts and crafts and, of course, German-inspired beer and wine for the adults. Frederick County’s German roots are a great excuse to celebrate and help raise money to support local community causes and charities. Get tickets at frederickoktoberfest.org. SMC Fall Fest Noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 3 South Mountain Creamery, 8305 Bolivar Road, Middletown Free Come spend a fall Saturday on the farm! Fall Fest is South Mountain Creamery’s free, family-friendly festival and a favorite excuse to show off the whole working farm. Expect free hayrides, a petting zoo, rolling tours of the production plant, tractors and equipment on display, live music all day and a costume contest for kids and pets. Grab a Fall Fest Sundae at the ice cream trailer, browse the farmers market and make memories with the family. Bring a canned good or a warm coat for the SHIP donation drive while you’re there. Hispanic Heritage Festival Noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 3 Carroll Creek Linear Park, downtown Frederick Free Join our friends and neighbors at the annual Hispanic Heritage Festival this Saturday, hosted by Centro Hispano de Frederick. It’ll be a celebration of culture, lively music, dancing, traditional costumes, food and community. Shop from artisan vendors and entrepreneurs showcasing their talents along Carroll Creek, and enjoy children’s activities and community resources. Don’t miss it! 72 HOURS | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 9

GETAWAYS

In Rome, a new tourist trap emerges: The pasta-making nonna

BY NATALIE B. COMPTON The Washington Post

ROME — The woman in the window ignored the city foot traffic as she went about her work, her hair pulled back beneath a white hat. Her eyes tracked the strands of dough she rolled beneath her palms. Outside, a group of tourists paused to watch her toil, then one read the restaurant sign near the door aloud. “‘Pasta e Vino,’” the woman said. And then in English: “Perfect!” Technically, the restaurant’s full name was Come ‘na Vorta − Pasta e Vino (Roman dialect for “like it used to be” or “like in the old days,” plus Italian for “pasta and wine”), but the group didn’t need to waste time on formalities. They had decided on a place to eat. Had the tourists kept walking through the sherbet-painted alleyways of Trastevere — a popular neighborhood across the Tiber River — they would have run into even more restaurants with prominently featured pasta-makers. It’s a shtick that’s spreading across the city’s historic center, popping up near ancient ruins and charming piazzas — and reminiscent of the other made-for-Instagram hospitality trends, like pasta served out of giant cheese wheels and saute pans. Only this one feeds off the international appreciation of the Italian “nonna” (or grandmother) whose generational kitchen wisdom and folksy charm won over the internet. But the women — and they’re almost always women — working in the windows aren’t necessarily someone’s grandma. They’re part prep-cook, part marketing tool — strategically placed to entice customers online and in-person, one fresh noodle at a time. They’re also something of a Rorschach test. Some locals say the trend is more theater than tradition and a surefire way to identify a tourist trap. Participating restaurant owners — and scores of online reviewers — say it’s an indicator of quality. After all, in an era of fast fashion, fast-casual chains and AI slop, what’s realer than a bowl of handmade pasta? On a Tuesday afternoon in April, Sophie Minchilli walked her food tour through the city’s most famous farmers market in the Campo de’ Fiori. Across the cobblestone piazza, a line formed outside a restaurant where a woman rolled golden strands of pasta at a 10 | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 72 HOURS

Photos by Luigi Avantaggiato

A pasta-maker works in the window of the Rome restaurant Come ‘Na Vorta, in April.

Osteria da Fortunata’s Cacio e Pepe. A Post reporter found the dish to be decent. wooden table in the front window. “It’s literally like a zoo,” said Minchilli, who was born and raised in Rome. As tourism and a demand for all things “authentic” exploded in Italy over the last decade, Minchilli has watched the pasta window trend spread. She sees their presence as a scourge — just more chain restaurants gentrifying the neighborhoods she

a sign of an operation catering to tourists, who want a sit-down pasta lunch at 3 p.m. — a decidedly un-Italian move. A truly traditional establishment, she said, must close in the afternoon to give staff a break, restock and prepare for evening service. Another issue is the fresh pasta itself. “It is probably homemade and delicious, but it’s wrong,” Minchilli said. Digestion and tradition rule the Italian diet. Visiting Americans are often baffled by Italian culinary dictums, like no pairing fish with cheese, or no drinking big milky coffees after breakfast (a disaster for the stomach, they say). Pasta, too, has its own Amatriciana, one of the four traditional Roman established ways. Its shape, ingredients and production vary by region. pastas, served at Come ‘Na Vorta. Roman cuisine, Minchilli said, is rootloves and where she leads her tours. ed in dry pasta. Of the capital’s four icon“I’ve watched these nonna-in-the-win- ic pastas — carbonara, gricia, amatricidow pasta spots multiply like the Fiboana and cacio e pepe — only the latter is nacci sequence,” Erica Firpo, a writer and typically made with a fresh noodle, the podcast host in Rome, said in an email. square-shaped, long tonnarelli. “Almost every day, I sidestep the long Marina Cacciapuoti, founder of magqueues of customers.” azine and travel planning company ItaOne of Minchilli’s qualms is that the ly Segreta, said there’s a misconception places employing the practice tend to that fresh pasta is automatically better stay open all day and night, which can be than dry pasta.

A tourist films the pasta-maker at Osteria da Fortunata. The practice of a prominently featured pasta-maker is more theater than tradition, some locals say. “In reality, quality depends on the flour, where it comes from, and the production process,” she said in an email. “Some of Italy’s greatest pasta dishes are meant to be made with dried pasta, not fresh.” And on the contrary, “seeing someone making fresh pasta in the window is not, in itself, a sign of quality or authenticity,” Cacciapuoti continued. You will also find great restaurants around the capital that specialize in fresh pasta from other regions. But mostly, a restaurant advertising fresh pasta as traditional Roman cuisine comes off to guide and author Katie Parla, as a red flag. Making the pasta production visible to customers? Even redder. “If you think about it, it’s the most genius marketing tool,” said Parla, who has lived in Rome for more than 20 years. “They are providing staged content for the people. It looks photogenic. It mimics something that people perceive as authentic.” The concept of watching food preparation for entertainment isn’t new in Italy and otherwise. We’ve long enjoyed the showmanship of dough tossing at pizzerias and onion volcanoes lit aflame by chefs behind their Benihana grills. Sitting at a sushi master’s counter comes at a premium. “It’s better than a cooking show, because this is live theater,” said Karima Moyer-Nocchi, a food historian and author of the book, “The Epic History of Macaroni and Cheese from Ancient Rome to Modern America.” But Moyer-Nocchi said the pasta window trend goes deeper than entertainment. It’s a public display of “Italianità,” “the essence of being Italian,” she said.

Pasta is prepared fresh at a Rome restaurant. Some take issue with the focus on fresh pasta since Roman cuisine is rooted in dry pasta. Historically, Moyer-Nocchi said, pasta was seen as a luxury for special occasions. It’s a laborious product made with ingredients “that don’t cost much now but cost a lot then,” she said. “Having it on your table meant having the time and the money to be making pasta.” Fast forward to today, and fresh pasta is once again considered a luxury. Most spaghetti eaters are not routinely making it from scratch — not even the contemporary Italian, who is as busy with the demands of modern life as their foreign

counterpart, and not even the grandmas. It fuels stereotypes and misconceptions: “You’re old, you’re a woman, you are Italian, and somehow you’ve got all of this stuff in your DNA,” Moyer-Nocchi said. “Well, just like women anywhere, there are women who don’t like to cook, who aren’t capable of cooking. My [Italian] mother-in-law is just awful.” Over time, pasta-making has shifted from a kitchen chore to a symbol of Italian heritage — as romantic and impractical as singing gondoliers in Venice. And

the restaurants performing that heritage tradition for their customers: “They’re selling Italy — the Italy that people long for,” Moyer-Nocchi said. “Even Italians love that idea, and it sells a lot of products to them.” In the shadow of the Pantheon, a line formed in the Piazza della Rotonda. People were waiting for a table at Osteria da Fortunata, a chain of restaurants that serves the “flavors of authentic Roman cuisine,” its website says. Fortunata’s guests dining alfresco had a postcard view of the basilica and the bustling piazza, where teenagers canoodled on the edge of a fountain. Staff in white dress shirts and black aprons — some wearing ear pieces like secret service agents — carried out glazed terra-cotta plates of tangled pasta. At the front of the dining room behind a large picture window, a woman wearing a name tag that read “Tamo” formed fat strands of dough at a wooden table. Osteria da Fortunata and Come ‘na Vorta − Pasta e Vino are the two restaurant groups leading Rome’s pasta window trend, “and we are both from the same family,” said Marcello Bettozzi, who owns the latter with his father and three brothers. Bettozzi meant that literally. His aunt’s side of the family is behind Osteria da Fortunata, which has five locations in Rome, three in Milan one in Bologna and an outpost in Miami. Come ‘na Vorta has seven locations in Rome, two in Milan and plans to expand to Spain and England. Both companies trace their origin to a great-grandmother who they say opened a fiaschetteria, which was like a wine bar, in Rome in the 1920s. Her daughter, Iris Palombi, then carried on her traditions and transformed the small establishment into a “proper restaurant,” Bettozzi said. In the 2000s, the family opened more locations, taking inspiration from pizzerias where customers could watch pizzaiolos shape dough and had staff start rolling pasta in the dining room. Soon the practice became “like a trademark,” Bettozzi said. Around this time, Bettozzi said the family split the restaurant into two brands. Both companies say they serve authentic Roman specialties made with organic ingredients, and both prominently feature a cook in the window. Bettozzi stands behind the practice, even though he insists that “it’s marketing, of course,” but it’s not a gimmick. “I think it is really important to show what we do, because people you know sometimes [people] underestimate the value of our job — it’s just pasta, it’s just cooking, you know, it is easy,” he said. “We work seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days … and this finally shows a bit more what is behind [the scenes].” (Osteria da Fortunata did not return multiple requests for an interview.) 72 HOURS | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 11

”Passport to Patriotism: 250 Years of Diplomacy” — through Oct. 18, Art Museum of the Americas, 201 18th St. NW, Washington, D.C. In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, exhibit brings together works by more than 30 contemporary American artists celebrating patriotism, national identity, military service, diplomacy and the American Dream. It marks the first time the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Art in Embassies — which has shared American art with the world for over six decades — has presented a major public exhibition in the nation’s capital. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. https://art.state.gov/ freedom-250. “Art is Universal” — through Oct. 22 at Blanche Ames Gallery, 4880 Elmer Derr Road, Frederick. An art exhibit by members of TAG/The Artists Gallery: Liz LaGarde, Karen Peacock and Christine Stovall. 301-473-7680, gallery@frederickuu.org, frederickuu.org/gallery. ”Seasonal Rhythms in Provence” — through Nov. 1, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Watercolor paintings by Marcia Mason, focusing on the Provence region of France and its natural landscape. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 301698-0656 or delaplaine.org. ”Cultivate” — through Nov. 1, Delaplaine Arts Centre, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Ceramic sculptures by Samantha Nachias, a reflection on the natural world as an ever-changing playground for the mind to wander and escape from the inevitability of chaos that living in human society seemingly brings. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 301698-0656 or delaplaine.org. ”Contemporary Innovations” — through Nov. 1, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. A collection of recent work by Montreal artist James Gardner, this exhibition continues his task of reinterpreting religious imagery through the lens of Western esotericism. Looking to the iconography of martyrdoms and the depictions of saints, Gardner’s recent work traces the historical iterations and mutations of these images while attempting to link their symbolism with myth and personal resonances. Through the activity of painting, common or even mundane images continually evolve to help in processes that reclaim the “symbolic imaginal” and animate new forms of knowledge and experience. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org. ”Persistence” — through Nov. 1, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Linoleum prints by Rhonda Smith. Cutting these images of the historic farmland of Antietam National Battlefield is the artist’s way of cultivating a fertile line of remembrance to forge a memory of place. Places hold the history of what came before only as long as we care to acknowledge the power of place within our national discourse. Acknowledging the past is the only way to fully embrace “all men are created equal” as a national identity and destiny. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 301698-0656 or delaplaine.org. 12 | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 72 HOURS

”The Crib Exhibition” — through Nov. 1, Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Works in a variety of media. In this unique exhibition, artists were invited to submit proposals focusing on the topic of mental health and mental health risk by utilizing premade cribs from local artist Jim Roberts. The result is 15 artists’ unique perspectives expounded upon by the same object. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. 301-698-0656 or delaplaine.org. ”Country Musings” — through Nov. 3, Inn Boonsboro, 1 N. Main St., Boonsboro. Step into the world of local artist Joseph Case and immerse yourself in his enchanting “Country Musings.” Joe has cherished a “deep appreciation for beauty and a drive to create it” since childhood, and his artwork vividly reflects this passion. Hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. 301-432-0090, giftsinnboonsboro. com. ”Better Homes & Gardens” — Oct. 3-31, Eastside Artists’ Gallery, 313 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Featuring the work of Vicki Clarkson and Beth Stinson, explores the themes of impermanence, transformation, and the meaning of home reflected in gardens, buildings, or the layered textures of landscape. Saturday and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. eastsideartistsgallery.com. ”Kitchen Art: Where Folks Gather” — Oct. 3-Nov. 1, Wine and Art Series Links Bridge Vineyards, 8830 Old Links Bridge Road, Thurmont. The kitchen has always been a place to gather, eat and socialize. It embodies the character and identity of the family that lives there. The preparation and cooking of food is one of the great creative rituals that binds families and friends with rich memories. Yet, the kitchen is perhaps the most ignored room in the house when it comes to filling the walls with paintings. This exhibit is all about providing that inspiration to get people to expand their creativity beyond cooking and embrace kitchen art. Artists: Pauline Rakis and Galina Kolosovskaya. Weekends 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. or by appointment. 301-602-5733 or inksbridgevineyards@gmail.com. ”There are places I’ll remember” — Nov. 7-29, Wine and Art Series at Links Bridge Vineyards, 8830 Old Links Bridge Road, Thurmont. Take a moment from your busy world of to-do lists and visit the places that Mary Moores has been. This exhibit captures not just places the artist has visited but also, very powerfully, the emotion she felt while being there. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends or by appointment. 301-602-5733 or inksbridgevineyards@gmail.com. ”The Birds — Large and Small” — Dec. 5-13, Wine and Art Series at Links Bridge Vineyards, Courtesy photo 8830 Old Links Bridge Road, Thurmont. A combined exhibit of bird sculptures by Dale “Cultivate” is on view Sept. 5 to Nov. 1 at the Delaplaine Arts Buffington and Ellen Frazier. These two artists Center. Ceramic sculptures by Samantha Nachlas are a reflection approach the subject of birds very differently. Buffington carves life-sized sculptures of his on the natural world as an ever-changing playground for the favorite waterfowl. Fraizer creates bird sculptures mind to wander and escape from the inevitability of chaos out of piano keys. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. that living in human society seemingly brings. Shown here, weekends or by appointment. 301-602-5733 or inksbridgevineyards@gmail.com. “Somewhere Between,” by Samantha Nachlas.

Frederick Arts Council offers commemorative artwork for 50th anniversary

The Frederick Arts Council is offering the public an opportunity to own original artwork from its temporary public art installation, “Black-Eyed Susans: Celebrating Fifty Years of Creativity in Bloom,” in celebration of the organization’s 50th anniversary. Three original pieces inspired by the project are available individually Lantigua or as part of the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Kit, which celebrates the council’s history while supporting its creative future. The public art installation features handcrafted metal Black-Eyed Susan flowers designed by artist Lusmerlin Lantigua. Maryland’s state flower serves as a central symbol throughout the project, representing growth, renewal,

justice and the continued cultivation of creativity within the community. The public can choose from an individual metal Black-Eyed Susan, symbolizing roots, groundedness, growth and rejuvenation; a wispy yellow cloud, representing hope, dreams and transcendence; or a beeswax card inspired by the “Black-Eyed Susan & Beeswax Room,” symbolizing nurturing, healing and the connections created through pollination. The 50th Anniversary Commemorative Kit includes all three artworks, a packet of Black-Eyed Susan seeds and a commemorative sticker. Together, the collection reflects how the Frederick arts community has grown and the future it continues to envision. “Each piece represents the growth, connection and creative spirit that have shaped Frederick County’s arts community for the past five decades,” said Louise Kennelly, executive director of the Frederick Arts Council.

forward the project’s themes of growth, connection and creative renewal. The Black-Eyed Susan flowers will be available for pickup after the public art installation concludes in December at the Frederick Arts Council offices, 115 E. Church St., Frederick. Individual pieces and the complete commemorative kit are available to order at frederickartscouncil.org. According to the council, public art enriches communities and transforms Lusmerlin shared spaces into meaningful places that inspire connection. The organization Metal black-eyed Susans created by artist envisions a Frederick where public Lusmerlin Lantigua are displayed as part of art connects residents and visitors, the Frederick Arts Council’s 50th anniversary expresses an authentic sense of place, drives economic prosperity through celebration. creativity and advances a culturally Purchases support the Frederick inclusive and empowered future. Arts Council and its efforts to foster a For more information about the thriving arts community throughout Frederick Arts Council and its public art Frederick County. By bringing part master plan, visit frederickartscouncil.org, of the installation into their personal email info@frederickartscouncil.org or spaces, community members can carry call 301-662-4190.

Mitchell Art Museum exhibitions explore freedom, trust Two exhibitions exploring questions of freedom, trust and surveillance are on view through Dec. 6 at the Elizabeth Myers Mitchell Art Museum at St. John’s College in Annapolis. Artist Miguel Braceli’s “Unburial,” an installation inspired by the Annapolis Liberty Tree and conceived for America250, fills the museum’s main gallery, while “Surveilled or Seen: Sinew of Trust in the Video of Marina Abramovic and Lynda Benglis” presents two historic video works in the museum’s VIDEODROME media space.

not only as a symbol of a lost form of political freedom, but also as an opportunity to imagine how other forms of freedom might take root.

SURVEILLED OR SEEN In the museum’s VIDEODROME media space, “Surveilled or Seen: Sinew of Trust in the Video of Marina Abramovic and Lynda Benglis” brings together historic videos by two pioneering artists. The exhibition centers on questions about the difference between being looked at and being witnessed, and between being invasively surveilled and deeply seen. MIGUEL BRACELI: UNBURIAL Abramovic’s “Rest Energy” from 1980 Braceli has created a temporary puband Benglis’ “Monitor” from 1999 exlic sculpture and multisensory installaCourtesy photo/ plore what it costs to trust others and tion commemorating the 1999 removwhat happens when social cynicism al of the Annapolis Liberty Tree from the Miguel Braceli’s “Here Lies A Flag,” a 2021 performance created in collaboration with New Rotransforms the desire to trust into a defront lawn of St. John’s College. The mas- chelle High School students in New York. sire to control. sive, 400-year-old tulip poplar was the The exhibition considers whether relast surviving Liberty Tree in the United mourns the loss of the Liberty Tree while think about their rightful place in the linquishing control is necessary to be States. American story today, we have to consid- opening a conversation about how naloved and suggests that love can be unThe Annapolis Sons of Liberty, which er what the symbol might mean to us to- ture can inhabit ideas of freedom. derstood as choosing not to monitor included four eventual signers of the Live flowers emerge from the walls, day. This begs asking, ‘Who is free?’ and Declaration of Independence, held sewhile the multisensory landscape invites someone fearfully, but to witness them ‘What do we want to be free for?’” cret meetings at the tree prior to the For the exhibition, Braceli marked the visitors to listen, reflect and participate in vulnerably. Both exhibitions are free and wheelAmerican Revolution. Criticizing the original site of the Annapolis Liberty Tree “whisper conversations.” chair accessible. The Elizabeth Myers monarchy was a criminal offense at the Through the living metaphor of the with a circle of wildflowers. The tempotime, requiring the meetings to be held rary commemorative sculpture will retulip poplar tree, Braceli draws connec- Mitchell Art Museum is at 60 College tions between natural processes such as Ave., Annapolis. Fall hours are 10 a.m. discreetly. main until the flowers wilt and die. growth, interdependence, regeneration, to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, SaturInside the museum, he transformed “Liberty Trees were powerful symresilience and transformation and the vi- day and Sunday and 2 to 7:30 p.m. Frithe gallery into a secluded twilight garbols,” said museum director Peter Nessual language of nation-state iconogra- day. See sjc.edu/mitchell for more inden of flags, symbols and animated bett. “For many, they represented the phy. The exhibition considers the tree formation. human will to self-determination. As we murals, creating an environment that 72 HOURS | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 13

THEATER

What to see on Frederick-area stages this month

t’s October, and fall is in the air. The weather may be cooling, but the stage is heating up as the holiday season gets into full swing. In the abundance of offerings, the work of this column gets a little trickier. To explain, here’s a peek behind the curtain at my approach to this column, which readers can hopefully come to rely on for useful insights on where to go for live, local performing arts. The short of it is this: I can’t JOSEPH PETERSON mention everything. This is a column, after all, not merely a block of listings. As is the privilege of the writer, my own perspectives and even preferences will influence what I highlight. Rest assured, my “preference” is largely the product of my consideration of you, dear reader, and what I think Frederick audiences generally might enjoy. I can’t escape the influence of my own taste, of course, nor would I want to. But my aim remains to curate a consistent list of high-quality theatrical experiences that make audiences think, laugh, escape, cathartically weep, challenge conventions and quicken the beating of the heart. All the things that good theater can do, in other words, and the reason we love it. Let’s get into it. SING FOR THE AMERICAN WORKER “Working” is one of those shows where the characters take their song in the spotlight to share their story, breaking the fourth wall to speak and sing di-

ect’s annual retelling of Oscar Wilde’s “The Canterville Ghost” has seen many iterations over the years, sometimes a dramatic reading, other times a scriptin-hand, semi-improv production. This year, it’s a fully staged production. Next year, a podcast? (ha ha ha). Whatever the delivery, it remains a beloved tradition that’s fun for the whole family. Clocking in at an efficient 45 minutes, it’s a highly digestible bit of comical spook as only Wilde can conceive. Directed by creative director Christine Mosere, the production is described by the theater this way: “The Canterville Ghost bursts with imagination, fun and storytelling creativity, mixing laugh-out-loud adventure with touching reflection on the human condition.” Performances run Oct. 17 to 31, primarily at the ESPloft, 16 E. Patrick St., second floor, Frederick, with an Oct. 22 performance at Hidden Hills Farm and Vineyard and an Oct. 31 performance at Frederick Senior Centre. All tickets are pay-what-you-can, and performance Courtesy of Frederick Magic Theater & Lounge times vary. See esptheatre.org for the full schedule and reservations. The Frederick Magic Theater & Lounge in downtown Frederick will host two performances of the

Houdini Seance on Oct. 31.

rectly to the audience. It’s a similar approach to the popular Tony-winning musical “Come From Away,” where the characters’ songs piece together a larger tapestry. “Working” is a musical documentary told in vignettes along a theme. Based on a landmark book of oral history by Studs Terkel, the show highlights the struggles and dreams of real-life American workers and features songs by James Taylor, Lin-Manuel Miranda and others. A hidden gem in regional the-

ater that is still remarkably relevant, OVT’s production is my must-see event this month. Performances run Oct. 9 to 18 at Other Voices Theatre, 244B S. Jefferson St., Frederick. General admission is $28. Evening performances begin at 8 p.m. See othervoicestheatre.org for other times and tickets. A LIGHT DOSE OF A VICTORIAN GHOST Endangered Species theatre Proj-

Town Run Theater Company will open season with ‘We Will Not Be Silent’ Town Run Theater Company will open its 2026-27 season with David Meyers’ “We Will Not Be Silent,” running Oct. 2 to 11 at the Shepherdstown Opera House. Set in Munich in February 1943, the play centers on 21-year-old Sophie Scholl, who was arrested with her brother Hans after distributing antiNazi leaflets as members of the White Rose resistance group. The play dramatizes Sophie’s interrogation after her arrest. As a 14 | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 72 HOURS

AN EVENING WITH C.S. LEWIS In the midst of all the excitement over Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s “The Magician’s Nephew,” the Weinberg Center’s LIVE! Series is hosting an evening with the author. Or rather, a portrayal of him in this one-man show that critics have called “A Master Class!” The premise: It’s 1963 and the beloved author hosts an audience of American writers in his Oxford home, where he reflects on his writing life, falling in love, his friendship with J.R.R. Tolkien and how

“We Will Not Be Silent” had its world premiere at the Contemporary American Theater Festival in Shepherdstown in 2017. Performances will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 2, 3, 9 and 10 and 3 p.m. Oct. 4 and 11 at the Shepherdstown Opera House, 131 teenager, Scholl had joined the League In another passage, she reflects on W. German St., Shepherdstown, West of German Girls, the female branch her changing beliefs: of the Hitler Youth, before growing “I wanted to make a difference in the Virginia. The Oct. 2 performance is payincreasingly critical of the Nazi regime world, too. But then I saw what Hitler re- what-you-can. Students, teachers and and eventually joining the White Rose ally was. Intolerance. Cruelty. The lack of school administrators can receive a disresistance. independent thought. Of debate. Of art, count with the code EDU2627. Tickets are available at operahouselive.com. Faced with interrogation and the literature, philosophy. So I left. But you The Town Run Theater Company’s threat of execution, the play’s Sophie is knew, all of you, and you did nothing.” 2026-27 season will continue with Ken offered a way out: name other members Town Run Theater Company reLudwig’s “The Gods of Comedy” Jan. 22 of the resistance. ceived special permission from Meyers to 31. “Just because you repeat a lie, to stage a revised version of the play, In the comedy, young classics prodoesn’t make it true,” Sophie says in the marking the debut production of the refessors Daphne and Ralph discover a play. written script.

his journey led him unexpectedly to a deep and personal faith. “An Evening with C.S. Lewis” will play at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Tickets are $55. See weinbergcenter.org for tickets.

gically vague, but I admit, I’m quite intrigued. Performances are at 7 p.m. Oct. 29 and 30 at New Spire Arts, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Tickets are $8. See weinbergcenter.org for tickets.

copy of a lost ancient Greek tragedy that could transform their academic careers. When the copy disappears, Daphne cries out to the gods of ancient Greece for help — and the gods actually appear. The professors and their divine helpers must find a way to recover their discovery before a major college fundraiser. Adam Szymkowicz’s “Kodachrome” will follow April 16 to 25. Set in the small town of Colchester, the play follows town photographer Suzanne as she guides the audience through the lives of her neighbors, capturing glimpses of romance, loss and everyday life. The production is staged without a traditional fourth wall, with Suzanne creating a photographic journal as the story unfolds.

The season will conclude with Mary Watters’ “If We Shadows Have Offended” June 18 to 27. Set in Washington, D.C., in 1937, the play follows six out-of-work vaudeville performers who join the Federal Theatre Project during the Great Depression. Their assignment is to follow a New York director mounting a production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” but the project is threatened when federal funding is cut amid accusations of communist influence in the theater. Written by Shepherdstown playwright Mary Watters, “If We Shadows Have Offended” combines physical comedy and vaudeville with a story about friendship, survival and the Federal Theatre Project.

A SEANCE FOR THE GREAT HOUDINI In what is guaranteed to be the most intimate theatrical setting in town, the Frederick Magic Theater & Lounge is hosting a seance, and you’re invited. As is famed magician Harry Houdini. A genuine around-the-table participatory experience, the Houdini Seance invites attendees to “step beyond the veil for a spine-chilling evening of mystery, history, and the supernatural.” Drawing inspiration from the early 20th-century cultural obsession with mediums and mesmerism, spiritualism and the space between, this production aims for an authentic re-creation of the legendary dark seances of the 1920s. Will Harry Houdini escape the clutches of the grave and make it back to his dearly beloved Bess? Follow comedic magician and mind-reading escape artist Jeff Madsen to find out. Only 12 patrons per session, unless Mr. AN “INCOMPREHENSIBLE Houdini himself decides to make it 13. EVENT” HAS OCCURRED Two performances will take place The students in the Theatre Focus at at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Oct. 31 at Frederick Frederick County Public Schools’ AcadMagic Theater & Lounge, 19 N. Court emy for the Fine Arts are getting experSt., Suite 100, Frederick. Tickets start at imental with their fall production. It’s al$45. See frederickmagic.com for tickmost hard to even make sense of it from ets. the promotional material, given its esoThis is just a sample of what’s playteric framing (it doesn’t appear to have a ing on stages in the Frederick area title) and the meta premise in which evthis month. There’s more to see in this eryone in an audience at a school play quad-state area of Maryland’s Blue Ridge falls unconscious save one. Billed as “an hills than one might think, making this a incomprehensible event” that is investimonth to stay delightfully busy with all gated through a series of performed inthe spooky and cozy fall vibes your heart terviews “with witnesses, loved ones, first desires. See you in the audience! responders and the investigators pursuJoseph Peterson can usually be ing the case,” the strange event begins to found reading the weathered plaques unfold ... and then unravel. of obscure monuments he sees while The event description calls the prowandering the city. He counts public liduction “unnerving, exhilarating and braries, public lands and places where wildly inventive.” Performed by students local community is fostered among his in grades 10 to 12, it’s going for stratefavorite kinds of places. VINTAGE HORROR: “THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI” The 1920 German silent film “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” is a groundbreaking work full of atmospheric unease and is considered an Expressionist masterpiece of horror. What’s not to love? Before you ask, I know a film isn’t live performance, but at the Weinberg, these silent film classics are brought to incredible life with a live performance by organist Tedde Gibson, who rises out of the pit on the theater’s Mighty Wurlitzer (which turns 100 this year), ready to play along with all the panache of a silent-film accompanist. Catch the film at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Tickets are $15. See weinbergcenter.org for tickets.

FOR MORE ART NEWS, VISIT

FREDERICKARTSCOUNCIL.ORG 72 HOURS | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 15

72 Film Fest marks 21 years of filmmaking this week

The Launch Party in 2025 at 7th Sister in downtown Frederick drew a huge crowd. BY J.D. VALDEPENAS Special to The News-Post

ood day, filmmakers. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to go to 7th Sister and attend the 72 Fest Launch Party. There, you will be given a theme, criteria and a set of instructions. You will have 72 hours to write, shoot and edit an original short film before the premiere screenings. This message will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck.

16 | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 72 HOURS

Filmmakers who didn’t feel like this mission was too impossible (did everyone enjoy the “Mission: Impossible” reference?) have participated in Frederick-based 72 Film Fest, now produced by arts nonprofit SilverVox. The premise is straightforward: Teams of filmmakers have 72 hours to write, film and edit a short film based on an annual theme. Criteria and further instructions are not revealed until the launch party to ensure that all participants begin on equal footing. “No matter what experience level you are, making a film in a weekend has unique challenges and the more you do that particular type of filmmaking the better you understand how to manage time and resources,” said SilverVox interim executive director and 72 Film Fest co-founder Clark Kline. This year’s launch party will take place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 1 at 7th Sister in Frederick. Screenings will take place at the Weinberg Center for the Arts two weeks later on Oct. 16 and 17. Finalists and award nominees will screen at 7 p.m. Oct. 17, followed by the awards ceremony. Founded in 2006, the festival was created as an interactive event for

filmmakers of all levels, with a unique artistic challenge designed to push their creative boundaries. The imposed time limit, combined with the need to incorporate a theme and adhere to criteria, cultivates a high-pressure, chaotically creative space that pulls artists out of their comfort zones. “The best part of any [72 Fest] is that first hour or so after we get the prompt. The brainstorming session is in full swing; our minds are full of questions. The finished film is one big puzzle to solve, and we’re just starting to find the corner pieces. It’s exhilarating!” said members of three-person team Salt Incident, Curtis and Thomas Nishimoto and Jack Strayton. “The criteria is the thing that excites us and makes us dread the most. We will have some rough ideas before the festival, tonal quality or setting in mind, but the criteria usually kill that right out the gate. So, we keep an open mind and just try to go with the flow,” added Sam Raborg of Screenburn Productions. Organizers select a theme based on several factors, including current events, themes from their personal lives and milestones the festival has reached. But it is when the 72 Fest crew gathers

in a topi acco real “ som loca said T

a room and shares ideas surrounding ics they are passionate about that, ording to organizer Ryan Kurtz, “the l magic begins.” “We always want to deliver mething symbolic that inspires the al community to be creative,” Kurtz d. Teams range in skill level from

Courtesy photo

From left, Mikael Johnson and Doug Powell host the 72 Film Fest Launch Party in 2025 at 7th Sister in downtown Frederick. past, they have entered the Atlanta 48Hour Film Project, the Orlando 36-Hour Film Challenge and 29 Days Later Film 72 Film Fest will kick off with a launch party Project. They have also won Best Pro from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 1 at 7th Sister, 228 and Best of the Fest awards for past 72 N. Market St., Frederick, with the 72-hour Fest entries. filmmaking period beginning at 9 p.m. “Our first goal is to get some idea Frederick premieres will begin at 6:30 p.m. of what we are making. Within the first few hours we do a quick brainstorm Oct. 16 at the Weinberg Center for the with the team to let the writer start Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Saturday writing. We determine which actors programming begins at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 17, will be needed, what locations will be with additional screenings at 3 and 7 p.m. necessary, and identify any important and the awards ceremony following the costume or set pieces we want to have 7 p.m. finalist screening. Screening tickets so we can start acquiring, building, are $15, or $12 for students. Frederick comand sewing. However, these things petition registration is currently sold out. can and do certainly change as the See 72fest.com for registration, schedules script is formed. After we have a pretty and festival information. Screening tickets good idea of what we want to film, we are available at weinbergcenter.org. all go get some sleep,” said Star Wipe member and Bottle Media producer Karen Pennington. 6-Tier Productions has participated seasoned professionals to amateurs to for five years. The team has been students. This year, several teams are nominated for several awards but returning to 72 Fest with their game has yet to receive its first win. Team plans ready for launch party night. members have stayed up as late as Members of Star Wipe Films have 4 a.m. working to get a script finished been together since their middle school by Friday night. This could be their year. years in the 1990s. No stranger to time“The most difficult part of creating based film festivals, the group annually a film in 72 hours is overcoming selfparticipates in various film races. In the doubt and physical exhaustion. Running

IF YOU GO

on minimal sleep during a tight timeline can test your confidence, but relying on our team’s strong foundation and shared drive helps us push through to create something great,” the team added. The festival also provides a valuable opportunity for aspiring filmmakers to work together and showcase a final product to a panel of industry professionals. Ultimately, the goal is to encourage creatives to experiment with the medium of filmmaking. Rather than strictly adhering to the criteria, judges want to see how well teams can innovate when they have limited creative control. “Growing up in Frederick, it felt like the film industry was a million miles away, so I feel really grateful to be a part of the festival and get a chance to share the professional insights I’ve learned from the amazing folks I’ve worked with in the industry and pass it along to Frederick’s filmmaking community,” said editing judge and professional filmmaker Adam Lemnah. J.D. Valdepenas is a recent graduate of Pace University. Along with writing about arts, culture and entertainment, she studied classical and medieval literature and Shakespearean drama. 72 HOURS | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 17

Local Mentions CASH BINGO

Sponsored by

Frederick Fairgrounds 797 E PATRICK ST. FREDERICK

FRIDAY • OCT. 2 6pm–10pm • 21+ Event

PROFESSIONAL GROUNDS MANAGEMENT

• Weekly Mowing • Landscaping & Mulching • Tree & Shrub Planting • Leaf Removal • Spring/ Fall Clean-ups Call us Today!

(Presale tickets end 8/31)

The Reagan Years Presale: $20 Entry / At the Gate: $25

1-888-873-3018

www.mdtreeexperts.com Free Estimates Satisfaction Guaranteed!

WE PURCHASE ESTATES

Large or small. House calls made seven days a week. Buying furniture, art, glassware, pottery, decorative arts, jewelry, gold, silver, coins, etc. High-end vintage preferred. Call Tom, anytime, day or night. All calls returned. 301-654-8678.

SATURDAY • OCT. 3

11am–10pm (Presale ticket prices ends 8/31) Freddy Long Band Presale: $15 / At the Gate: $20 Ages 3–12: $6 / 2 & under: Free! Full German Dress: Free Entry German & Local Beers • German Food Food Trucks • Commemorative Steins • Vendors

.C OM

frederickoktoberfest.org 72 HOURS | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 19

Thursday Oct. 1 CLASSES

Senior Cafe: Support and Resources for Caregivers — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. The Division of Aging can help you navigate the resources and support available when caring for a loved one. They can connect you with assistance for medical, financial, nutritional, and other needs to help make caregiving easier and ensure your loved one receives the support they need. 21 and older. 301-600-8200. www.fcpl.org. ESL High Beginner’s/Low Intermediate Conversation Classes — 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 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. Registration is required by the LCFC. 18 and older. 301-600-8200. www.fcpl.org.

ETCETERA 2026 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. Take a deep dive into various topics that have defined Frederick’s history, as we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and our County’s role in the Revolution. Featuring brand new exhibits: “Cultivating Independence: Frederick in the Revolution,” “Witnessing Revolution,” “All Saints Street: Avenue to the History of Frederick

FALL FESTIVAL

For more info: 301-304-3031 summersfarm.com 7503 Hollow Road, Middletown, MD 21769 20 | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 72 HOURS

and Its African American Community,” “Growing Gold: A History of Frederick’s Goldfish Industry,” and returning favorites: “Etchison Connections,” “Timeless Toys,” “24 E. Church Street,” “Decorative Arts. See our all new and renovated exhibits, March 7 through Dec. 12! $10 adults, $5 seniors and students. Outreach@FrederickHistory.org. frederickhistory.org. Duplicate Bridge Pairs Games — noon to 4 p.m. at Church of the Transfiguration Memorial Hall, 6909 Maryland Ave., Braddock Heights. Looking for a competitive mind sport? Frederick Bridge Club’s ACBL sanctioned duplicate games allow you to hone your skills and meet other bridge enthusiasts. All are welcome. We host Pairs Games ($8) weekly on Monday (299 Limit and Open) and Thursday (Open). If you need a partner or want to brush up your skills, contact Membership Chair, Maria, at frederick@bridgewebsemail.com or check out our website. $8. frederick@bridgewebsemail.com. www.bridgewebs.com/frederick/home. html.

Board Game Night — 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Sandbox Brewhouse, 880 N. East St., #201, Frederick. Board Game Night is every Thursday evening. Learn a new game from local board game enthusiast Michael Southers and stay to play. The games are provided, and Michael’s easy going style makes games approachable to new players for the evening. 301-664-2618. hello@sandboxbrewhouse. com. www.sandboxbrewhouse.com/calendar.

Mike Kuster — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Tenth Ward Distilling Company, 55 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Mike Kuster is returning to Tenth Ward Distilling Company for a great night of country/Americana music in 2026! Hand-

With over 45+ activities, come to Summers Farm and experience our America’s 250th themed corn maze, farm animals, jumping pillows, farm-fresh food, local beer and wine, and wagon rides. The festival is open on select days from Sept. 26 through November 1.

crafted cocktails, a laid-back atmosphere, and live original music from IMN Songwriter of the Year Mike Kuster, featuring songs like “Corn Fed” and other crowd favorites. 301-662-3355. mike@mikekuster.net. mikekuster.net/tour.

FAMILY Hatchlings: From Bump to Bookworm — 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Emmitsburg Branch Library, 300 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg. An early literacy program that empowers parents by providing informal instruction about child development while giving them a repertoire of songs and rhymes to share with their babies to provide a strong foundation for success. Intended for expectant parents and infants. 301-600-6329. fcpl.org.

FESTIVALS 30th Annual Fall Festival at Summers Farm — 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Summers Farm, 7503 Hollow Road, Middletown. Celebrating our 30th year and bringing all your favorite fall activities along with NEW additions to be discovered. Enjoy 45+ attractions including pig races, pumpkin patch, corn maze, petting zoo, live music and entertainment, local beer and wine, and new this year — Bubble Barn, games & more! $14.95. 301-304-3031. info@summersfarm. com. www.summersfarm.com/fall-festival. Gaver Farm Fall Fun Festival — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Gaver Farm, 5501 Detrick Road, Mount Airy. 7-acre corn maze, giant slides, ropes courses and zip line. Visit the farm animals, free hayride, and catch the lively chicken show, fun photo centers, and pick the perfect pumpkin from 45 varieties.

Fall food favorites including apple cider donuts, cider slushies and the farm market. See website for current ticket prices and details. 301-865-3515. office@gaverfarm.com. gaverfarm.com.

MUSIC

Bluegrass Music on the Deck with Deej Kessinger — 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. The multi-instrumental, old-time musician will be performing songs from his new album, “Treat Yourself to the Best.” 301-600-7200. dcrum@frederickcountymd. gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com.

RECREATION Register NOW for Upward Sports Basketball 2026-2027 Season — at Brook Hill United Methodist Church, 8946 Indian Springs Road, Frederick. A recreational basketball league for kindergarten through 6th grade children. The focus is to develop the self-esteem of each participant while teaching respect for authority, sportsmanship, character and basketball skills. No previous playing experience is necessary! Upward Sports limits time commitments to one practice and one game per week. $100. 301-662-1727. aharris@bhumc.org. registration.upward.org/UPW91262.

THEATER

“Dracula, A Feminist Revenge Fantasy, Really” — 7:30 p.m. at McDaniel College, 2 College Hill, Westminster. McDaniel College’s Theatre Arts department presents Kate Hamill’s darkly comic reimagining of the classic Bram Stoker novel about survival, systemic power, and ultimate revenge. Note: The show contains adult material and is intended for mature audiences.

Founding Memberships Now Open!!

$10-$12. 410-857-2448 . www.mcdaniel.edu/theatre-events.

“Into the Woods” — 7:30 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. MET brings fairy tales in all their guts and glory to our blackbox stage for an intimate take on this contemporary classic. “Into the Woods” tells familiar stories from all your fairy tale favorites, only to remind its audience what happens after the story is told ... and all the consequences that follow. $20-55. 301-694-4744. contact@marylandensemble.org. ci.ovationtix.com/35900/production/1278595.

Friday Oct. 2 CLASSES

Protect Your Money [Online Class] — 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will provide a brief overview of the mission of the SEC and some of the free resources that can help you build wealth and avoid scams. The briefing will discuss the impact of investment scams and some of the tactics fraudsters use to exploit investors. You will also learn about common frauds like imposter scams and relationship investment scams that can begin with seemingly accidental texts or social media contacts and can lead to devastating losses and repeat victimization. 301-846-2561. ILR@frederick.edu. tinyurl.com/Money31313.

ETCETERA Open Coworking Day — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Cowork Frederick, 120 E. Patrick St., Frederick. It’s hard to explain the feeling of a community. You have to experience it. Come see if we’re the right coworking community for you. The first Friday of every month we stock the break room with breakfast fare, open our doors at 8 a.m., and welcome people like you to give us a try. $5. 301-732-5165. heycowork@coworkfrederick.com. coworkfrederick.com/open-coworking-day/#. Fellowship Fridays — 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Veterans Service Center, 1750 Monocacy Blvd., Suite A, Frederick. Fridays through Dec. 25. A free hot breakfast each Friday which includes eggs, bacon, sausage, French toast, breads, muffins, fruit, juices, and Black Rifle Coffee Company coffee. Breakfast is open to all Active Duty, National Guard, Reservists, Veterans, Military Retirees, Law Enforcement, First Responders, and their families. Breakfast is followed by a non-denominational Bible study at 10:30 a.m. Attendance is not required to enjoy a warm breakfast with others who have served. info@veteranservicescenter.org. veteranservicescenter.org/events/.

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 the staff and volunteers who curated our 2026 exhibits as they explore our various

galleries. 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/events/.

Black Hog BBQ & Steadfast Annual BBQ Fundraiser — 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at McClintock Distilling, 35 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Enjoy a fantastic night out and get ready to boogie to lots of live rockin’ R&B dance music. Support Steadfast, Standing Firm Against Youth Homelessness, as we feature the “Best of Frederick” award-winning culinary skills of Mike Tauraso, owner of Black Hog BBQ, and the legendary sounds of Jr. Cline & The Recliners. $110. info@steadfastmd.org. manning.bigdealsmedia.net/ item/75645/1-ticket.

Murder, Mayhem & Mystery Ghost Tours — 5 p.m. at Mount Airy Museum, 1 N. Main St., Mount Airy. Also at 7 p.m. A walking tour through town’s haunted past and hear ghostly tales from beyond the grave! The Tour, composed of 10 Stops, winds through the rail yard, up the hill to the elementary school, then back down to the old fire house on South Main St. The one-mile walk is moderately strenuous, not wheelchair accessible, up and down hills, over curbs, and around obstacles in the sidewalk. A flashlight is recommended but not mandatory. All are welcome but the Tour is not geared to young children. Pre-registration. Benefits the town historical society. $20. tinyurl.com/ynptkdcw.

ghosttours.com. www.MarylandGhostTours.com.

FAMILY Visit Brookfield Pumpkins — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Brookfield Pumpkins, 8302 Ramsburg Road, Thurmont. Experience local agriculture at its best, where hidden gem Brookfield Pumpkins charges zero admission to visit their farm. Season open through Oct. 31. Take a hayride to pick your own pumpkins, visit their furry barnyard animals, milk a cute cardboard cow, play in the corn pit under their roofed play area where you can also shop for great fall produce and decor. 301-898-3527. brookfieldpumpkins.com. Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company Annual Open House — 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Mount Airy Vol. Fire Co. Fire Station, 702 N. Main St., Mount Airy . Join the MAVFC for our Annual Open House. There will be educational demonstrations, apparatus displays, refreshments, goody bags for kids, and fire prevention and safety information. 301-829-0100. www.mavfc.org.

FESTIVALS

A Vincent Price Movie Nite: The International Edgar Allan Poe Festival — 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The M&T Bank Exchange Theatre at France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, 401 W. Fayette St., Baltimore. Poe Fest International’s Movie Nite and Raven Reception, featuring the world premiere of a new

documentary, “Vincent Price: What Keeps Us Alive,” on the legendary actor whose unforgettable performances helped define Poe on screen for generations. Movie Nite includes on-stage Poe performances, live Q&A with the filmmakers, and a special return appearance by Hollywood royalty, Victoria Price, author, speaker and daughter of Vincent Price, whose work continues to celebrate and preserve her father’s extraordinary legacy. $29 to $59. contact@poefestinternational. org. poefestinternational.com/movie-night.

FILM Movie Knight — 7 p.m. at Vox House at 7th Sister, 228 N. Market St., Frederick. Falling Squares presents Movie Knight, a local filmmaker showcase featuring short films from around the DMV area and beyond every first Friday of the month. Enjoy food and beverages available for purchase and brought to your seat. Take part in discussions with our Q&A segments after each short film and join the growing community of creatives. Limited seating, RSVP required. Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts around 7:30 p.m. fallingsquares@gmail.com. linktr.ee/movieknight.

GALLERY Countryside Artisans Fall Studio Tour — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Countryside Artisans Fall Studio Tour, . Continues Oct. 3 and 4. A self-guided weekend celebrating local

McDaniel College Athletics Hall of Fame Celebration — 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at McDaniel College, 2 College Hill, Westminster. McDaniel College’s Alumni Association honors alumni athletes who personify the college’s tradition of excellence with the Athletics Hall of Fame awards. Visit www.mcdaniel. edu/homecoming to purchase tickets or for more information. $70. 410-848-7000. www.mcdaniel.edu/homecoming. Jamie Kaye First Fridays — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Sandbox Brewhouse, 880 N. East St. #201, Frederick. Jamie is an incredibly talented local sensation who has played at venues all over Frederick and the surrounding area. She’ll be at Sandbox playing her high-energy, all-star set including current and classic hits, sprinkled in originals, AND a little birdie told us she takes song requests ... 301-664-2618. hello@sandboxbrewhouse. com. www.sandboxbrewhouse.com/calendar. Ghost Tours of Historic Frederick — 7:15 p.m. to 8:45 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 adult. 301-668-8922. info@maryland-

72 HOURS | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 21

artists and makers. Visit nearly 20 working artist studios across Montgomery County and the surrounding area. Meet the artists, view original work, and enjoy live demonstrations. Select stops include a winery, brewery, and tea room, offering a relaxed way to experience the region’s creative community. Details online. 248-683-9678. d.ellen.letourneau@gmail. com. countrysideartisans.com.

MUSIC Candlelight Concert: Bobby Jo Valentine — 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Grace United Church of Christ, 25 E. Second St., Frederick. Valentine is an ward-winning, modern folk singer, storyteller, poet. A freewill offering will be accepted. Enter the church via the alley on the right side of the building. 301-662-3312. music@grucc.com. Sky Stage Swing Dance — 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at FAC’s Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Swing dance nights hosted by Revolution Modern Dance’s Amanda Comi and colleagues will start with a brief lesson for beginners at 7pm followed by social dancing until 10pm to jazz, blues, and soul music. Occurs every first Friday May through October. $5-10 suggested donation. 301-662-4196. skystage@frederickartscouncil.org. frederickartscouncil.org/programs/skystage/.

PERFORMER Kat Timpf: Comedian, Writer and TV Personality — 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. Best known as a co-host of the top late-night show “Gutfeld!” She spent six years as a columnist for National Review and has served as a contributor to outlets ranging from The Washington Times to Barstool Sports — after first breaking into the working world by cleaning bathrooms at Boston Market. A two-time New York Times bestselling author, Kat is known for her fearless humor, sharp insights, and ability to joke about anything — especially herself. 18 and older. $50 and up. 301-790-2000. boxoffice@ mdtheatre.org. www.mdtheatre.org/kat-timpf-2026.

watch the live video feed at fredcosports. com. 301-639-4323. mbetteridge@wthuradio. com.

THEATER

Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” — 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theater, 05 Willowtree Plaza #A1, Frederick. Mainstage Musical - Dinner & Show. The grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced “Fronk-en-steen”) inherits his family’s estate in Transylvania. With the help of a hunchbacked sidekick, Igor (pronounced “Eye-gore”), and a leggy lab assistant, Inga (pronounced normally), Frederick finds himself in the mad scientist shoes of his ancestors. “It’s alive!” he exclaims as he brings to life a creature to rival his grandfather’s. Eventually, of course, the monster escapes and hilarity continuously abounds. RSVP required. $75. 301-662-6600. boxoffice@wayoffbroadway.com. www.wayoffbroadway.com/. “Into the Woods” — 7:30 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. MET brings fairy tales in all their guts and glory to our blackbox stage for an intimate take on this contemporary classic. “Into the Woods” tells familiar stories from all your fairy tale favorites, only to remind its audience what happens after the story is told ... and all the consequences that follow. $20-55. 301-694-4744. contact@marylandensemble.org. ci.ovationtix.com/35900/production/1278595.

Saturday Oct. 3 CLASSES

Photographic Composition — 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Frederick Community College, 7932 Opposumtown Pike, Frederick. The course will explore the foundational building blocks for quality photographic composition. The visual grammatical rules for arranging content within the camera’s viewfinder are well known and can be applied within minutes of learning them. $39.00. 301-624-2727. PersonalEnrichment@frederick.edu. tinyurl.com/Photocomp31390.

Saturday Goat Yoga at the Farm — 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Goat for the Soul, 10209 Oakdale at Urbana high school football — Fountain School Road, Union Bridge. Join 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Urbana High School, us at the Farm for goats, yoga, and fun! All 3471 Campus Drive, Ijamsville. Two high ages welcome! powered Frederick County football teams $27. 240-405-2208. christy@gvalleye.com. meet under the Friday night lights for a goatforthesoul.com/. classic. If you can’t make it to the game, Growing Mushrooms with Jared Urchek you can listen on the radio at 1450AM or

22 | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 72 HOURS

— 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Fox Haven Organic Farm & Learning Center, 3630 Poffenberger Road, Jefferson. You too can grow mushrooms at home. It’s easier than you think! We’ll will walk you through their process of growing mushrooms step-by-step. Plus, you’ll receive spawn to start growing your own mushrooms at home. $35-$55. foxhavenfarm.org.

The Harlem Renaissance — 2 p.m. to 3 a.m. at Walkersville Branch Library, 2 S. Glade Road, Walkersville. Join Vivian Fisher from the State Library Resource Center at Pratt Library for a lively discussion on the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural and social movement in the 1920s and 1930s defined by an outpouring of African American literature, theater, music and art. Discuss the origins of the historically significant time period and explore some of the many influential visual artists, poets, writers, and musicians. Gain reading, viewing, and listening recommendations and learn about the variety of resources on the Harlem Renaissance held in the library’s collection. 18 and older. 301-600-8200. www.fcpl.org. Forage Your Own Gin with McClintock Distilling — 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Fox Haven Organic Farm & Learning Center, 4855 Broad Run Road, Jefferson. Make your own herb-infused gin! In this immersive experience, you’ll be transported through the history and art of distilling. Then get hands-on to create your very own recipe! A local distiller from McClintock will introduce the art of gin-making through the centuries. You will have the opportunity to sample many styles of craft gins and spirits. Afterward, we’ll walk the herb garden to harvest fresh herbs and botanicals to create your very own gin to take home and enjoy. Ticket does NOT include a bottle of organic vodka needed to complete your herbal infusion jar. Bottles will be available, but sold separately for $30. Must be 21 or over to participate. $65. foxhavenfarm.org.

unique, handcrafted pieces, find inspiration for your next project, and uncover those perfect little treasures you didn’t even know you needed! Want to create something of your own? Register for one of their miniature workshops and try your hand at making your own tiny masterpiece. Get tickets online. $10 person. tinyurl.com/mpcj9574. Project Linus 10,000 Blanket Celebration — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Middletown United Methodist, 7108 Fern Court, Middletown. The community is invited to come learn, celebrate, and share in our remarkable milestone: 10,000 homemade blankets distributed to ill, traumatized and children in need throughout Frederick County! Celebrate this special achievement and learn about our Chapter of Project Linus. 301-943-8248. Plfredcounty@gmail.com. projectlinusfrederickmd.org.

Game Day Open House — 10 a.m. at McDaniel College, 2 College Hill, Westminster. Experience McDaniel College’s Homecoming while learning more about what it means to be a Green Terror student-athlete. 800-638-5005. www.mcdaniel.edu/visit-events. Frederick Farmers Market (new location!) — 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Westside Regional Park, 632 Contender Way, Frederick. frederickfarmersmarket.com.

Civil War Walking Tour — 10:30 a.m. to noon at Heritage Frederick, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. Explore what it was like to live in Frederick during the Civil War. Stories include the last Confederate invasion of the North, the ransom of Frederick, and the Battle of Monocacy. Tour starts at the Museum of Frederick County History, 24 E. Church St. Reservations required. $5 to $12. 410-707-1105. Outreach@FrederickHistory.org. www.cognitoforms.com/HeritageFrederick1/WalkingTourTicketReservation.

Centennial Kickoff — noon to 4 p.m. at Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. Join us for our anniversary McDaniel College Homecoming — at season kickoff! No ticket required! We’re McDaniel College, 2 College Hill, Westmin- opening our doors for a free open house ster. McDaniel College alumni, families, and event filled with live entertainment, silent friends are invited to cheer on the Green film shorts, family-friendly activities, door Terror during home athletic contests for prizes, and more. Explore Frederick’s men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey unique historic theater, connect with the and football, while participating in McDancommunity, and discover all the exciting iel’s unique tailgating tradition. Learn more experiences the upcoming season has in at www.mcdaniel.edu/homecoming (note: store. Whether you’re a longtime patron registration is required for some alumor discovering the Weinberg for the first ni-specific events). time, there will be something for everyone 410-848-7000. to enjoy! www.mcdaniel.edu/homecoming. 301-600-2868. dyoung@cityoffrederickmd. gov. Myersville Farmers Market — 9 a.m. to noon at Municipal Parking Lot, 301 Main St., weinbergcenter.org/shows/centennial-kickoff/. Myersville. This market shares in the celebration of local products, fresh foods, and Goat Cuddles at the Farm — 2 p.m. to 2:30 community. Saturdays through Oct. 31. p.m. at Goat for the Soul, 10209 Fountain School Road, Union Bridge. Laugh, relax, myersvillefarmersmarket.com. Frederick Miniature Spectacular — 10 a.m. de-stress while cuddling and interacting with the goats. Bring a towel or blanket and to 3 p.m. at The Grand Social Hall, 79 W. Frederick St., Walkersville. Step into a world sit with the goats ... cuddle, pet, watch them where everything is delightfully teenie tiny! play. $15 for a 30-minute session. Purchase tickets at www.goatforthesoul.com. All Whether you’re a longtime miniaturist, a ages. devoted collector, a dollhouse enthusiast, $15. 240-405-2208. christy@gvalleye.com. or simply curious, there’s something for everyone to discover. Browse a selection of goatforthesoul.com/.

ETCETERA

72 HOURS | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 23

Middletown man organizes 5K to spread awareness of male breast cancer

BY TIM COOK

LOCAL RACES

Special to The News-Post

Two years ago, Mark Smullen dressed up for his nephew’s wedding in a dark, formal suit — and, for the first time, wore suspenders instead of his usual belt. “I’ve never worn suspenders in my life,” he explained. “I’ve always been a belt guy.” Those suspenders may have saved his life. As he moved, one of the straps rubbed against his chest, irritating a small, firm lump under his right nipple that he had never noticed before. “It just felt something was a little off,” he recalled. “So it kind of made me [think], ‘Like what’s going on there?’” Back home in Middletown, Smullen — now 64 — turned to the internet to find out what the lump might mean. “I did what you’re not supposed to do, and I got my medical degree online — became a WebMD doctor,” he joked. The advice he found suggested it’s normal for men in their 60s to develop a few harmless lumps, tags and bulges. “Kind of basically, don’t worry about it.” He kept an eye on it anyway and, about a month later, mentioned it during a routine visit with his family doctor. That set off a rapid sequence of exams, scans and a biopsy — and, within 60 days, a diagnosis: invasive ductal carcinoma, a cancer that begins in the milk ducts and can spread into surrounding breast tissue. Today, Smullen is cancer-free. The fortunate outcome followed a rush through exams, tests, scans and a biopsy to identify the nature and extent of the cancer, and mastectomy surgery to remove it. His doctors moved aggressively to speed through his testing and treatment, Smullen said. “The blessing for me was that I didn’t have to do the radiation and chemo beforehand” — just mastectomy surgery to remove the tumor. Smullen’s case is rare, but it points to a broader blind spot: Most men don’t think of breast cancer as something that can happen to them. Male breast cancer accounts for less than 1% of all U.S. breast cancer cases, according to the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute. About 2,670 men 24 | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 72 HOURS

Local races running for the cure Lace up your running shoes. Four weekend 5K footraces will take place in October in Frederick County to support breast cancer research, advocacy and patient care. Saturday, Oct. 3 — The Pink and Blue 5K Run/ Walk for Breast Cancer. The inaugural event at Remsberg Park in Middletown begins with a survivors walk at 8 a.m., followed by the timed 5K at 8:15 a.m. and untimed 5K at 8:30 a.m. Race-day bib pickup starts at 6:30 a.m. For information, visit runsignup. com/race/md/middletown/pinkandblue5k. Sunday, Oct. 11 — New Market STRONG Run/ Walk and Festival. Held in New Market, the event honors Karen Durbin, a longtime town clerk who died after a fight with breast cancer, and includes family activities. The race starts at 9 a.m.; same-day registration begins at 8 a.m. For information, visit runsignup. com/race/md/newmarket/newmarket5kfighterrun. Saturday, Oct. 17 — Gateway to the Cure Covered Bridge 5K. The event runs from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Eyler Road Park in Thurmont. For information, visit thurmontmainstreet. com/events/gateway-to-the-cure-coveredbridge-5k. Sunday, Oct. 18 — Pink Ribbon 5K. Held at Hood College in Frederick, the race begins at 8 a.m.; same-day registration starts an hour beforehand. For information, visit pinkribbonfrederick.org. A bigger issue, Smullen said, is delayed detection. Unlike women, men generally don’t undergo routine mammogram screening, so tumors are typically found after symptoms appear. “If a woman discovers a are expected to be diagnosed with “Straight up, I wasn’t taking care of lump in her breast, she’s pretty much invasive breast cancer this year, myself,” he said. “So there are things going to get the mammogram — resulting in roughly 530 deaths. you can do to help minimize the risk.” if she’s not getting one every year About one in 755 men will develop The risk of breast cancer in men anyhow,” Smullen said. “With men, it breast cancer during his lifetime, increases with age, with the average just doesn’t happen that way.” compared with about one in eight age at diagnosis between 60 and 70. Men also may overlook early women. Genetics can also play a major symptoms — including a painless Men also have a lower five-year role in breast cancer risk, Smullen lump or a change in the shape of a relative survival rate overall. The rate learned. Inherited mutations in nipple — and put off seeing a doctor. is about 92% for women, compared the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes In Smullen’s case, the delay was with 84% for men, according to the can increase breast cancer risk in short enough that the cancer hadn’t American Cancer Society, which men, and genetic testing may be spread to his lymph nodes or chest projects 42,140 women and 530 men recommended based on a person’s wall. “It hadn’t invaded my chest wall will die of breast cancer this year. medical and family history. or anything, and the fact that there Smullen also reflected on risk Smullen’s BRCA test returned was no spread to the lymph nodes factors he could control. He’d gained negative, meaning it did not identify gave me a very good prognosis,” he about 60 pounds in the years before a BRCA mutation linked to increased said. Doctors told him the tumor had his diagnosis and become less active. breast cancer risk. Tim Cook

Mark Smullen, a male breast cancer survivor, holds a shirt and wears a medal that participants will receive in the inaugural Pink and Blue 5K Run/Walk for Breast Cancer on Oct. 3 at Remsberg Park in Middletown. The event will raise money for breast cancer research, advocacy and patient care.

Frederick author pens type1 diabetes children’s book Forty years after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 7, Frederick resident Laura C. Gee has published her first book, “Sage Being Brave,” a chapter book for ages 8 to 10 about an 8-year-old girl learning how to live her everyday life after a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis. Gee was diagnosed Aug. 15, 1986. As the 40th anniversary approached, she decided to mark the milestone with a story for kids growing up with Type 1 diabetes today. “I didn’t want to write a book that taught kids about diabetes,” Gee said. “I wanted to write a story about a kid who happened to have it.” “Sage Being Brave” follows 8-yearold Sage, who loves soccer, riding her bike, building blanket forts with her best friend Lucy and spending time with her rabbit, Pumpkin. Then one ordinary day, she’s diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Suddenly, there are numbers to check, insulin to take and things to think about that Sage never had to think about before. School feels different. Soccer feels different. Even a sleepover with her best friend feels more complicated. But Sage still goes to school. She plays soccer. She goes to birthday parties and sleepovers. She laughs with her friends. Sometimes diabetes interrupts. Sometimes it barely gets a thought. That balance came from Gee’s own memories of growing up with Type 1 diabetes. “I remember wanting to just be a kid,” Gee said. “That’s what I wanted for Sage, too. Sometimes she handles diabetes like it’s no big deal. Sometimes she’s scared or frustrated or just doesn’t want to think about it. And sometimes she’s too busy

likely grown large enough to feel only two or three months before he found it. “It was very rapid-growing cancer,” he said. “They were saying that it was good that I came in after discovering it in only a month.” That timing, Smullen said, is the whole lesson his story offers: Catching cancer early is what determines survival, for men and women alike. “A good lesson for everybody is, just don’t put it off,” he said. “If you find something kind of squirrelly or uncertain, address it right away.” Once an avid runner who completed half marathons, Smullen

The 62 nd Annual playing soccer or laughing with her friends to give it much thought at all.” Gee’s connection to diabetes has also shaped her professional life. She began her career in biomedical research because she wanted to give something back to the field she credits with saving her life. She later moved into communications, where she works today. Four decades after her own childhood diagnosis, writing “Sage Being Brave” gave Gee a different way to give something back. “I can’t go back and hand sevenyear-old me a book like this,” Gee said. “But I can write one for a kid who needs it now.” “Sage Being Brave” was released Sept. 1 and is available in paperback through Amazon. Learn more at lauracgee.com.

organized a 5K race and walk in Middletown to raise money for the Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund and the Male Breast Cancer Global Alliance — and to spread the word that men get breast cancer too. The Pink and Blue 5K Run/Walk for Breast Cancer on Oct. 3 at Remsberg Park carries the slogan “Pink and Blue, Because Men Get It Too!” “It’s awareness,” Smullen said. “If there’s one person that doesn’t have to walk the same journey, or walk a more difficult journey, or, God forbid, be part of that mortality thing just because they didn’t know — then my job’s done. It’s worth it.”

Catoctin Colorfest

Nationally Recognized Juried Arts & Crafts Show

OCTOBER 10 & 11, 2026 9:00am - 5:00pm

THURMONT, MD Thurmont Community Park (Frederick Road)

FREE ADMISSION 301-271-7533 • www.colorfest.org Ample Parking & Shuttle Bus Service Available

Entertainment Daily

72 HOURS | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 25

Iron & Ink Music Festival — 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Rockwell Brewery, 8411 Broadband Drive, Frederick. A full day of live music, tattoos, vendors, merch and metalcore! 8 bands, including Baltimore favorites Dead Eyes, tattoo artists, available for all-day ink, vendors and band merch for plenty of shopping. Craft brews and good food! Doors open at noon, the music kicks off at 2 p.m. $20 through Sept. 26, $30 after that date. 240-575-9755. info@rockwellbrewery.com. www.kapplerpresents.com.

Meet Bob & Freddie. When it comes to local businesses, businesspeople and organizations in Frederick, they know best. Here is a personal interview with a 2025 Best of the Best winner or finalist about why they love what they do, helping those they serve and working in Frederick.

Holtzople Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical Services 2025 WINNER FOR BEST HEATING & AIR COMPANY RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICAL COMPANY

16424 Old Frederick Road Emmitsburg, MD 21727 301-898-3494 holtzople.com WHEN DID YOUR BUSINESS OPEN? We opened Holtzople Heating & Air Conditioning in 2002 right here in Frederick County. From the beginning, our goal has been to provide top-quality service with a personal touch, and being part of this community has made that possible. Since then, we’ve grown steadily and expanded our expertise, adding electrical services in 2024 to better serve our customers’ needs. Today, we are proud to be Holtzople Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical Services. WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART? We’re proud to be a family-owned and locally operated business serving our community with integrity and care. Our team is committed to delivering more than just HVAC and electrical services – we

provide peace of mind, comfort, and longterm reliability. Our promise is simple: 100% customer satisfaction on every job, big or small. We live by our belief that: “Quality is not expensive, it’s priceless.” When you choose Holtzople, you’re choosing a company that values craftsmanship, customer relationships, and doing things the right way. We don’t just meet expectations – we exceed them, every time. WHAT MAKES FREDERICK A GREAT PLACE TO DO BUSINESS? Frederick County is a community that values quality and supports local businesses – exactly what we’re all about at Holtzople. Being family-owned and locally operated, we’ve built strong relationships here with customers who appreciate reliable, honest service. The county’s skilled workforce and businessfriendly environment have helped us grow and continue doing what we love – serving our neighbors with top-tier HVAC and electrical services. We’re proud to call Frederick County home.

“Roots & Stones: An Afternoon in the Cemetery” — 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Friends of Halfway African American Cemetery, 11027 Clinton Ave., Halfway. Fun and casual event featuring light refreshments, tour of the cemetery, silent auction and more. Nearly 400 Black Hagerstonians were laid to rest in the cemetery between 1897 and 1932. Restoration began in 2020 and continues today. Tickets are $25 each, sponsorships $100 and up. Tickets available at halfwaycemetery@gmail.com. Rain date Oct. 4. 240-385-7124. halfwaycemetery@gmail. com. Kindred Hills Hayride and Haunted Trail — 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Kindred Hills, 8421 Ball Road, Frederick. The madness starts with a brief hayride into the darkness, then you’ll walk along a dimly lit trail through the woods that will lead you past haunted remnants of a previous time until you find your way back to the safety of the modern day. Website for details regarding dates and times, and to purchase tickets. $30. 240-446-1689. wmjengel@comcast. net. kindredhills.com.

FAMILY

Frederick Book Arts Center Wayzgoose Open House — 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Frederick Book Arts Center, 127 S. Carroll St., Frederick. You read that right, Wayzgoose! What was once held by a master printer or printshop in celebration of their workers now looks like a community celebration of printing. This will be FBAC’s first Wayzgoose and we want to invite you to help us celebrate it. See website for line up of activities. 301-228-9816. contact@frederickbookarts. org. www.facebook.com/share/19dBKJSwbS/.

Fall Hayrides in the Park with Campfire and S’mores! — 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cunningham Falls State Park, 14724 William Houck Drive, Thurmont. Enjoy the fall foliage “lakeside” while you relax on a hayride through the park. Pick up your hayride voucher and s’mores packet at the Houck Nature Center. $5 suggested donation per person, children in car seats free. friendsofcunninghamgambrill.org.

Curious Iguana Presents: Local Children’s Author Melinda Beatty! — 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Celebrate our Murder & Mayhem Walking Tours — 7 very own bookseller and local author Mep.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Heritage Frederick, linda Beatty. Join us for storytime with Mel, 24 E. Church St., Frederick. Delve into the where she will read her new book, “What true crime stories that haunt the streets of Is a Pirate?” Following the reading, enjoy a Frederick. From burglaries and brawls to fun craft with the author! Mel will also be bootlegging and bedaubing (vandalism), available to sign books. Copies of “What Is Frederick’s history is full of all things maa Pirate?” will be available for purchase at cabre — and we’re here to share them with you! This tour discusses violence and crime the event. 301-695-2500. curiousiguanaevents@ and is recommended for visitors age 12+. gmail.com. Pre-registration required. $12 adults, $10 ages 60+, $8 ages up to 12. curiousiguana.com/event/melinda-beat410-707-1105. Outreach@FrederickHistory. ty-pirate/. org. Redeye Rodeo — 12:30 p.m. at Montgomwww.cognitoforms.com/HeritageFrederery County Fairgrounds, 501 Perry Parkway, ick1/MurderMayhemWalkingTourTickets. Gaithersburg. Also at 5:30 p.m. Watch talented cowboys and cowgirls take center Ghost Tours of Historic Frederick — stage for an action-packed event — barrell 7:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. at Brewer’s Alley racing, team roping, breakaway roping, Restaurant and Brewery, 124 N. Market bronc riding, bull riding, food vendors, St., Frederick. Take a remarkable journey beer and more. Onsite parking $20 gate, through Frederick’s gruesome and bloody $21.10 online. past. Nearly 300 years of war, executions $20.04 online ages 12 and older, $11.80 and revenge. True documented stories of online ages 11 and under, under age 2 the “paranormal” with “Maryland’s Oldest free. Operating Ghost Tour!” Reservations recmcgfair.com. ommended. $17 adult. 301-668-8922. info@marylandFirst Saturday Craft — 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at ghosttours.com. Dancing Bear Toys and Games, 15 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Join your friends at the Bear www.MarylandGhostTours.com. for a free craft to celebrate First Saturday The Black Cat Ball — 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Westminster Hall & Burying Ground, using some of our favorite art supplies. Parent supervision is required. 519 W. Fayette St., Baltimore. The Official 301-631-9300. info@dbeartoys.com. Party of the International Edgar Allan Poe dbeartoys.com/events/. Festival & Awards. This year’s ball is Montresor’s Masquerade, a “Cask of Amontillado”-themed evening of masks, music,

26 | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 72 HOURS

wine tastings, and subterranean secrets at historic Westminster Hall. Dress in carnival finery, Victorian mourning, masked splendor, or your most decadent Poe-inspired attire. 21 and older. $149 to $199 – Wine & culinary stations. VIP performance in Catacombs.. contact@ poefestinternational.org. poefestinternational.com/the-black-catball.

“Moon Festival Alice” — 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W.

Patrick St., Frederick. MET’s Fun Co. presents a MET original. A curious child falls down a rabbit hole during a Mid-Autumn Festival celebration and enters a magical world inspired by Asian folklore, festivals and modern Asian American life. Presented in partnership with The Asian American Center of Frederick. $17-$20. 301-694-4744. contact@marylandensemble.org. marylandensemble.org. Solar Viewing & Night Sky — 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Cunningham Falls State Park, 14039 Catoctin Hollow Road, Thurmont. Night sky viewing 9 to 11 p.m. With the Westminster Astronomical Society invites the public to two telescopic events! First, Solar Viewing will meet at South Beach parking lot at Cunningham Falls State Park (14274 William Houck Dr., Thurmont) to explore Earth’s closest star — the Sun. A few hours into the evening is the second event from 9 to 11 p.m. called Night Sky where visitors can meet at the Dam Overlook parking lot (14372 Catoctin Hollow Rd., Thurmont) to view constellations and planets. Events are weather dependent; check westminsterastro.org for updates.

Teen and Adults Game Buffet — 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Thurmont Regional Library, 76 E. Moser Road, Thurmont. Drop in for a casual evening of board games, card games, and good company. Choose from a variety of games or bring a favorite from home. Whether you’re a seasoned strategist or just looking for a fun way to spend the evening, everyone is welcome to play. 301-600-7200. bbrannen@frederickcoun-

tymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com/event/teenand-adults-game-buffet-219851.

Explore Frederick City’s Oldest House — 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Schifferstadt Architectural Museum, 1110 Rosemont Ave., Frederick. Travel back to colonial Frederick. Built in 1758 by German settlers, this sturdy stone farmhouse offers a glimpse of early American life before the American Revolution. Walk through thick-walled but spacious rooms, hear stories of early immigrants, and see how a Frederick County farm family lived more than two and a half centuries ago. $8 over age 15. 301-663-3885. info@fredericklandmarks.org. fredericklandmarks.org.

Creative Outlet First Saturday — 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Kids and their adults are invited to drop-in and get creative together in our family open studio to create an artist-inspired project: Design a mask perfectly spooky (or funny) for Halloween! Free, donations encouraged. 301-698-0656. jclark@delaplaine.org. delaplaine.org.

FESTIVALS National Apple Harvest Festival — 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at South Mountain Fairgrounds, 615 Narrows Road, Biglerville, Pa. Continues Oct. 4, 10 and 11. Family-friendly activities, hundreds of arts, crafts and specialty vendors, live music and entertainment, agriculture exhibits, food and apples!

$15 ages 12 and older, $13 seniors and military with ID, under age 12 free. appleharvest.com.

Frederick Festival of Flight — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Frederick Municipal Airport, 310 Aviation Way, Frederick. Experience aircraft both on display and in flight! Check out opportunities on how to get involved with aviation. See the businesses and organizations at the Aviation Education Tent for presentations on aviation topics. Come hungry because food trucks, mobile dessert trailers, coffee tents, and shopping vendors will be on-site. Entry is free. To see the full event breakdown, visit the website. cityoffrederickmd.gov/1698/Frederick-Festival-of-Flight.

Fall Fest — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Rose Hill Manor, 1611 N. Market St., Frederick. Continues Oct. 4. Join the Frederick County Farm Museum for a fall festival including agricultural demonstrations, food, hayrides, crafts and more! Be sure to complete the Agriculture Olympics on Saturday with the University of Maryland Extension Office of Frederick County. On Sunday the Farm Museum will host the Kids’ Pedal Pull at 1 p.m. bit.ly/FCPRFallFest. Brunswick Railroad Days — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Downtown at, 1 W. Potomac St., Brunswick. Continues Oct. 4. Celebrate the charm of Brunswick and its railroad history. Explore model train exhibits and demos in Legion Hall, arts and crafts vendors, food, live music and a beer garden in Square Corner Park. Check out the Kids Zone (located behind the American Legion) with

inflatable bouncy houses, a petting zoo, balloon artist, pony rides, and a trackless train. For a fee, take a 45-minute round-trip MARC train ride to the Shenandoah Junction through scenic Harpers Ferry, W.Va., at 1 and 3 p.m. on both days. Train tickets and more info at brunswickrailroaddays.org. Taste of Bethesda — 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Woodmont Triangle. , Norfolk, St. Elmo, Cordell, and Del Ray Avenues, Bethesda. Bethesda’s renowned food and music festival, a delightful fusion of delicious cuisine and vibrant entertainment. Four stages of live musical performances and a dedicated children’s area with facepainting, and arts and crafts. Free to attend, and food tickets are 5 tickets for $10. intern@bethesda.org. www.bethesda.org/taste-of-bethesda/. SMC Fall Fest — noon to 5 p.m. at South Mountain Creamery, 8305 Bolivar Road, Middletown. Expect fun, free hayrides, a petting zoo, rolling tours of the production plant, tractors and equipment on display, live music all day, and a costume contest for kids and pets. Grab a Fall Fest Sundae at the ice cream trailer, browse the farmers market, and make memories with the family. Bring a canned good or a warm coat for our SHIP donation drive while you’re there. 844-762-6455. southmountaincreamery.com.

Hispanic Heritage Festival — noon to 5 p.m. at Carroll Creek Linear Park, Frederick. Hosted by Centro Hispano de Frederick, a celebration of culture, lively music, dancing, typical costumes, traditional food and

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Food + bev partners and friends of Alive @ Five PRESENTING

The season

LEVEL ONE

LEVEL TWO

LEVEL THREE

IN-KIND

WEINBERG CENTER FOR THE ARTS

72 HOURS | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 27

community. Shop from artisan vendors and entrepreneurs who want to showcase their talent on the Creek! Children’s activities and exhibitions of resources and employers. frederickhispanicheritagefestival.org.

Frederick Oktoberfest — 11 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Frederick Fairgrounds, 797 E. Patrick St., Frederick. While Frederick’s Oktoberfest is a two-day festival, this second day, on Saturday, is for all ages. Bring the whole family out to experience authentic German food, traditional German music and dancing at two stages, a sports tent with a big screen, a kids’ zone from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with plenty of arts and crafts, and of course, German-inspired beer and wine for the adults. Frederick County’s German roots is a great excuse to celebrate and help raise money to support multiple local charities. Get your tickets at frederickoktoberfest.org. $22 general, $8 ages 3-12. frederickoktoberfest.org.

FILM Mozart’s Così fan tutte: Live broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera — 1 p.m. at Westview Regal Cinema , 5243 Buckeystown Pike , Frederick. The Met Live in HD season continues with Mozart’s satirical comedy of fickle young love, one of the composer’s most sublime creations. Phelim McDermott’s “colorful, inventive” (The New York Times) staging, inspired by Coney Island in the 1950s, sets the uproarious story at a boardwalk amusement park, where the two pairs of lovers at the heart of the tale find themselves on one emotional — and literal — thrill ride after another. “Inspired!” The 2025 documentary on Frederick — 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Hood College - Whitaker Commons Auditorium, 401 Rosemont Ave., Frederick. A one-hour documentary that covers the deliberate actions Frederick’s leaders took to reach the present day. Frederick’s rich history fits into a larger American context, showing how national and world events impacted the community, and vice versa. It traces Frederick’s history from pre-European days through the 2023 In the Streets festival. Doors open at 5:30. pottsg@hood.edu.

CENTENNIAL FILM Series: “The Cocoanuts” (1929) — 7:30 p.m. at Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 W. Patrick St., Frederick. “The Cocoanuts” is a staple of early soundera comedy. Set in a struggling Florida hotel during a real estate boom, the film follows Groucho Marx as the fast-talking hotel owner Mr. Hammer who’s attempting to sell swampland properties while managing a steady stream of eccentric guests. Chaos quickly ensues as Chico Marx’s con-artist schemes and Harpo Marx’s silent mischief disrupt every deal and conversation. $6-$8. 301-600-2868. dyoung@cityoffrederickmd.gov. weinbergcenter.org/shows/the-cocoanuts-1929/.

GALLERY Art Matters Artist Talk: James Gardner — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at The Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Contemporary Innovations Artist James Gardner

28 | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 72 HOURS

will share the work in his exhibition and his creative practice. 301-698-0656. jclark@delaplaine.org. delaplaine.org.

“Every Body” A Frederick Figure Drawing Exhibition — 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Blue Elephant, 4 W. Fifth St., Frederick. Presenting works created live during our Friday sessions. Drawings will range from gestures to long poses. Also, a special session during the show, so you can draw, too! facebook.com/FrederickFigureDrawing.

MUSIC F.A.M.E. Singer-Songwriter Showcase — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at FAC’s Sky Stage, 59 S. Carroll St., Frederick. Member-musicians of the Frederick Acoustic Music Enterprise are featured in this series on selected second or third Sundays monthly through October. Features acoustic soloists, duos or bands. Pay-what-you-can donations accepted at the door. 301-662-4196. skystage@frederickartscouncil.org. frederickartscouncil.org/programs/skystage/. Gut, Wind and Wire: Ancient Airs and Dances — 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Arts Barn, 311 Kent Square Road, Gaithersburg. Gut, Wind, and Wire is an instrumental trio formed by founding members of the internationally acclaimed early music ensemble The Baltimore Consort. The ensemble features Ronn McFarlane on lute (Gut), Mindy Rosenfeld on wooden flutes, fifes, and pipes (Wind), and Mark Cudek on cittern (Wire), bass viol, and percussion. Their performances draw from Renaissance music of the British Isles and the European Continent, along with early and traditional Celtic music. Centering on the popular music of those eras, the trio illuminates the deep roots of today’s folk traditions. Their programs also include original compositions by Grammy nominated lutenist Ronn McFarlane. $35, $25 Student (18 and Under). 301-2586394. Suzanne.Takahashi@gaithersburgmd. gov. tinyurl.com/34ewy6au.

Gravity Social Race & Fall Fest — noon to 8 p.m. at Old Harmony Farm, 4125 Coxey Brown Road, Myersville. Something different to check out: How about a Dual Slalom Bike Race! Family-friendly, free to spectate, and features head-to-head mountain bike racing for all ages and skills — plus local food trucks, live music, bonfires and overnight camping available. With over 150 racers to cheer on, from kid striders to

pros! Cheer on exciting fun races like open enduro, e-bikes and unicycles. Lots of food, coffee and dessert trucks plus beer from Olde Mother Brewing. BYO blankets and chairs. The first race begins at noon! gravitysocial.org.

THEATER Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” — 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Way Off Broadway Dinner Theater, 05 Willowtree Plaza #A1, Frederick. Mainstage Musical - Dinner & Show. The grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced “Fronk-en-steen”) inherits his family’s estate in Transylvania. With the help of a hunchbacked sidekick, Igor (pronounced “Eye-gore”), and a leggy lab assistant, Inga (pronounced normally), Frederick finds himself in the mad scientist shoes of his ancestors. “It’s alive!” he exclaims as he brings to life a creature to rival his grandfather’s. Eventually, of course, the monster escapes and hilarity continuously abounds. RSVP required. $75. 301-662-6600. boxoffice@wayoffbroadway.com. www.wayoffbroadway.com/. “Into the Woods” — 7:30 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. MET brings fairy tales in all their guts and glory to our blackbox stage for an intimate take on this contemporary classic. “Into the Woods” tells familiar stories from all your fairy tale favorites, only to remind its audience what happens after the story is told ... and all the consequences that follow. $20-55. 301-694-4744. contact@marylandensemble.org. ci.ovationtix.com/35900/production/1278595.

roots of traditional herbalism in this handson class centered around burdock stock. In this workshop, we’ll explore how to identify and work with burdock root, learn about its history in herbal and traditional food systems, and prepare a rich, mineral-filled burdock stock together. $35-$45. foxhavenfarm.org.

Herbal Allies: Making Elecampane Honey — 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fox Haven Organic Farm & Learning Center, 3630 Poffenberger Road, Jefferson. Celebrate the earthy sweetness and traditional healing qualities of elecampane in this hands-on herbal class. In this workshop, participants will learn how to prepare the root, gently infuse it into honey, and use this traditional preparation as a soothing addition to teas, seasonal wellness routines, and homemade remedies. $35-$45. foxhavenfarm.org.

ETCETERA

The Frederick City Market — 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Parking lot , 622 N. Market St., Frederick. Farmers and Artisans market. Real Food, Real Farmers and Local Artisans. A Frederick favorite since 2011! 240-291-8254. Info@frederickcitymarket. com. www.frederickcitymarket.com.

Water to Shine: Pathfinder Farm Distillery — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Brunswick Family Campground , 40 Canal Road , Brunswick. Enjoy a 5.5-mile broad and scenic section of the Potomac River. This mellow section of the river allows for relaxation, sunbathing and wildlife viewing. Great blue herons, egrets, and the return of the bald eagle make this a kayak or canoe trip to remember! Finish the afternoon at Pathfinder Farm Distillery in Boonsboro, where you’ll relax in this friendly haven, savoring your choice of six of their current crafted spirits, while tasting from a charcuterie platter. 18 and older, must be 21 or older for wine tasting. Reservations required. $103. 301-834-9950. river@rivertrail.com. www.rivertrail.com/paddling/water-to-spirits-pathfinder/.

Duplicate Bridge Team Games — noon to 4 p.m. at YMCA of Frederick County , 1000 N. The Comedy Pigs! — 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Market St., Frederick. Bridge is also a team event! Frederick Bridge Club offers the only at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. PatACBL sanctioned team games in the area rick St., Frederick. Established in 1993, The on the first and third Sundays of the month. Comedy Pigs are the region’s longest-runPlease contact the director, Jim Cartlidge, at ning improv troupe and a cornerstone 301-606-2894, or at jacartlidge@comcast. of MET’s comedy legacy. Audiences can net to reserve a table for your team or to join expect a fast-paced lineup of short-form a team. improv games packed with big laughs and $10. 301-606-2894. jacartlidge@comcast.net. unpredictable twists — because with The www.bridgewebs.com/frederick/home. Comedy Pigs, no two shows are ever the html. same! $17. 301-694-4744. contact@marylandenWalkersville Volunteer Rescue Compasemble.org. ny - Club 24 Fundraiser — 2 p.m. to 5:30 tinyurl.com/3672kzhu. p.m. at Walkers Overlook, 8939 Woodsboro Pike, Walkersville. Your Club 24 ticket includes 20 weeks of drawings, all-youcan-eat buffet with unlimited beer and Sunday Oct. 4 wine, ticketholder can bring one guest for CLASSES an additional $15, one $1,000 grand-prize drawing, one $500 drawing, other cash and Herbal Allies: Making Burdock Stock — door prizes. 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Fox Haven Organic $35. 301-748-5217. Info@wvrc24.com. Farm & Learning Center, 3630 Poffenberger www.wvrc24.com. Road, Jefferson. Celebrate the nourishing

Visit the Middletown Welcome Center Stop Here before you Explore! mainstreetmiddletown.org

How Can We Make You Smile?

Auto Repair Services Towing & Recovery MD State Inspections 19 E. Green St., Middletown 301-371-5080 fountaindaleautocenter.com TRUSTED AUTO REPAIR SINCE 1968

OPEN YEAR ROUND A2A2 Dairy Products Milk, Cheese, and Butter

Call Us for All Your Plumbing Needs! • Garbage Disposals • Showers and Tubs • Faucets • Well Water Systems • Constant Pressure Systems • Drain Cleaning/Sewer Camera

• Sump Pump Systems • Water Conditioning Systems/Water Softeners • Water and Sewer Line Services • Water Heaters/ Tankless

and so much more....

Pork, Chicken, and Beef Products 10+ Ice Cream Flavors

3935 Bussard Rd • Middletown, MD 21769

301-371-4395 How can we make you smile? TM

putmanplumbing.com

Turn everyday shopping into

SMALL TOWN SUPPORT

72 HOURS | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 29

Green Burials Program, with Michael Judd — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at C. Burr Artz Library, 110 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Are you curious about Home Funeral and Green Burial practices/options in Maryland? Join Michael as he invites you to consider choices for end-of-life care, home funeral, home burial, and green burial practices. Michael will share information, resources, and personal experiences as he honors the wise traditions of natural burial and the relevance of these choices for us today. Take a virtual tour of the Morris Orchard, Frederick County’s first natural burial site which is centered in a chestnut orchard in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. espangler@frederickcountymd.gov. frederick.librarycalendar.com/event/greenburials-michael-judd-213855. SPARK: Annual Prism Awards Gala — 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Thorpewood, 12805-A Mink Farm Road, Thurmont. Celebrating the LGBTQ+ advocates and allies who brighten our world. Fundraising event for The Frederick Center. 21 and older, RSVP. $150. 301-383-8787. TFC@ thefrederickcenter.org. thefrederickcenter.org/events/prismgala/#tickets.

Mount Olivet Cemetery History And Mystery Tour — 6 p.m. to 7:30 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.

“Serial Killers” with Dr. Scott Bonn — 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown. In this thrilling 90-minute show, Dr. Bonn reveals the insatiable, psychological hungers that drive the likes of Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer to kill repeatedly with impunity and no remorse. He explains why the majority of serial killers are either psychopaths or sociopaths, how the two differ, and he reveals that every serial killer is compelled to murder by a unique fantasy need. He also explains how/why serial killers are able to successfully avoid apprehension, blend into a crowd and become invisible. $29 and up. 301-790-2000. boxoffice@ mdtheatre.org. www.mdtheatre.org/serial-killers.

FAMILY “Moon Festival Alice” — 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. MET’s Fun Co. presents a MET original. A curious child falls down a rabbit hole during a MidAutumn Festival celebration and enters a magical world inspired by Asian folklore, festivals and modern Asian American life.

Presented in partnership with The Asian American Center of Frederick. $17-$20. 301-694-4744. contact@ marylandensemble.org. marylandensemble.org.

Kid Creator Fall Market — noon to 4 p.m. at Dancing Bear Toys and Games, 15 E. Patrick St., Frederick. Every Sunday in October, pop into Dancing Bear Toys and Games to experience our Fall Market! We are very excited to create this opportunity for kid creators to sell their creations and give the community a chance to support young entrepreneurs + business owners! Each Sunday you’ll find one kid creator selling their creations during time slots. 301-631-9300. info@dbeartoys.com. dbeartoys.com/event/fall-market-2026/.

Intergenerational Wild Food Walk + Kids Free Play with Alecks Moss — 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Fox Haven Organic Farm & Learning Center, 3630 Poffenberger Road, Jefferson. Join us for a relaxed, family-friendly wild food walk where we’ll explore the landscape and discover edible plants growing right around us. Donations suggested.

foxhavenfarm.org.

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. “Moon Festival Alice” — 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Maryland Ensemble Theatre, 31 W. Patrick St., Frederick. MET’s Fun Co. presents a MET original. A curious child falls down a rabbit hole during a Mid-Autumn Festival celebration and enters a magical world inspired by Asian folklore, festivals and modern Asian American life. Presented in partnership with The Asian American Center of Frederick. $17-$20. 301-694-4744. contact@marylandensemble.org. marylandensemble.org. Kyle’s Crusaders Walk to Conquer Childhood Cancer — 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Old National Pike District Park, 12406 Old National Pike, Mount Airy. Join Kyle’s Crusaders in the fight against childhood cancer. This annual walk is held in memory of Kyle Addington, honoring his legacy by raising critical funds for pediatric cancer research — a field that receives less than 4% of federal funding. Join the walk or make a donation. $25 suggested donation per participant. 301-471-7455. kylescrusaders99@gmail. com. www.kylescrusaders.com.

SHIPLEY’S TV Sales & Service 301-663-1799

shipleysinc@verizon.net Monday -Friday 9-5 • Saturday 9-1 45 Waverly Dr, Frederick, MD (Next to Frederick Motor Co)

REPAIRING IS RECYCLING • New TV Sales/Repair • Repair All TV Brands up to 55 inches • Scanners Sell/Repair/Free Programming

VINTAGE AUDIO REPAIR

Serving the Community for 128 years 30 | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 72 HOURS

Your dream wedding starts here. SUNDAY, NOV. 8 12:00PM The Frederick Fairgrounds

THE

SAVE DATE DISCOVER WHY FREDERICK COUNTY IS THE PERFECT PLACE TO SAY “I DO”

EVENT IS FREE WHEN YOU REGISTER ($10 AT DOOR) FREDERICKNEWSPOST.COM/WEDDINGS

NEW

WEDDING FORUM

Get real-world advice to help make planning your big day! More details to come. 72 HOURS | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 31

Shop. Dine. Explore.

October 3 UNTIL 9PM

Join us for First Saturday downtown! You’ll find local shopping, dining, gallery openings, and special events. Whether you’ve lived here for years or you’re a first-time visitor, First Saturday is a great way to discover something new about our beautiful downtown. Keep the fun going at Sunday Artwalk, October 4 from 12-4 p.m., a self-guided gallery tour. Learn more at downtownfrederick.org/artwalk.

32 | Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 | 72 HOURS

downtownfrederick.org