EAT

May 22-24: Sporty Dog Creations Memorial Day Pop-Up at Hotel Revival

101 W. Monument St. 12-9 p.m. Prices vary.

Nothing says Memorial Day Weekend like hot dogs. We know, we know. The all-American barbecue food isn’t for everyone. But LaShauna Jones and Daejonne Bennett, the mother-daughter duo behind Sporty Dog Creations, craft franks to satisfy all palates. This weekend, they’re setting up a grill in the valet lane at Hotel Revival in Mt. Vernon to offer curbside pickup and delivery of their signature vegan, hot honey chicken, jerk chicken, and classic beef hot dogs. There will also be crudos, grilled oysters, burgers, and to-go cocktails from the hotel’s rooftop bar, Topside. Through Sunday, customers who spend $20 ordering online will receive a 20 percent-off coupon to spend on any of The Sporty Dog’s pre-packaged hot dogs to grill at home.

DRINK

May 23: Whiskey Among Friends: A Fundraiser and Tasting

Zoom. 8:30 p.m.

If you’re looking for a way to show some love to the city’s hard-hit hospitality industry, donating to the Baltimore Bartenders’ Guild is a great option. And this weekend, the guild is offering a special virtual whiskey tasting for the folks who generously donate $100 or more. Funders can pick up a tasting kit, which contains selections from Bardstown Bourbon Company’s latest lineup, from either Dutch Courage in Old Goucher or Mr. Nice Guy Cocktails in Canton. Then, log on to Zoom to taste the spirits, learn about the whiskey-making process with the team from the Kentucky distillery, and raise a glass to Baltimore’s beverage community.

SEE

May 22: Tea with Myrtis: Artistically Speaking

Instagram & YouTube. 2 p.m. Free.

Gallery owner Myrtis Bedolla has been hosting recurring one-on-one salon-style conversations with artists featured in the Women Heal Through Rite and Ritual exhibit at the Mount Vernon gallery. Up next this Saturday is a virtual chat with painter Shanequa Gay. Brew your favorite tea and listen in as the two discuss Gay’s work in the exhibition, which features imaginative narratives that explore women’s roles.

HEAR

May 22: A Tribute to Bill Withers With Cris Jacobs

Facebook Live. 8 p.m. Donations encouraged.

In celebration of Union Craft Brewing’s latest release, the “Somebody to Lean On” double IPA, its brewers have organized a virtual tribute to the late musical legend whose lyrics inspired the beer’s name. Charm City’s own Cris Jacobs will perform his renditions of Bill Withers’ greatest hits on Facebook Live beginning at 8 p.m. Along with 100 percent of the profits from the new beer, a portion of Jacobs’ virtual tip jar will be donated to the Baltimore Restaurant Relief Fund. Be sure to stock up on six packs before the show starts by placing orders for delivery or curbside pickup.

DO

May 22-24: Drive-Thru Strawberry Festival at Weber’s Cider Mill Farm

2526 Proctor Lane, Parkville. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

The farmers at Weber’s in Parkville have come up with a way to enjoy the sweetness of their fourth-annual strawberry festival while maintaining social distancing measures. Kicking off this weekend from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., visitors will be able to drive through the property and safely order from a selection of the farm’s treats that make use of the current harvest, including strawberry donuts, sundaes, slushes, quarts of fresh berries, and even strawberry pancake breakfast boxes to assemble at home.

Additional reporting by Lydia Woolever.

The golf cart that whisks Del McCoury around the Allegany County Fairgrounds during DelFest, the four-day music festival he hosts each Memorial Day weekend in Cumberland, makes more pit stops than a racecar at Daytona. The legendary bluegrass singer, guitar player, and band leader can’t travel more than a few feet without being stopped by fans eager for a photo or just hoping to share a moment with the man whose what’s-not-to-love-about-life spirit permeates the musical celebration he founded in 2008. McCoury, almost always dapperly dressed in a suit, not a strand of his white hair out of place, usually obliges.  

That bond between artist and audience has made DelFest an annual pilgrimage for thousands of bluegrass lovers of all ages, from Maryland and beyond. 

Many people arrive Thursday, when the performances begin, and don’t leave until Monday, after the final late-night concert has ended. In between, local and national acts play tunes that span the bluegrass spectrum, with some country, rock, folk, and Americana mixed in. And musicians often sit in with one another, creating indelible, one-off performances. 

This year, Phish frontman Trey Anastasio will headline with his own band. Joining him on the bill—and possibly onstage—are Dierks Bentley, Béla Fleck and Chris Thile, Gov’t Mule, and the Steep Canyon Rangers, among others.

“I think the festival, with Del as the patriarch, honors diversity, celebrates innovation, and honors tradition,” says musician Joe Craven, who will emcee his ninth DelFest this year. “He creates a metaphor for how this country can be unified through music.”

The DelFest drive is a fairly straight shot from Baltimore via interstates 70 and 68. Though the scenery is beautiful, there aren’t many attractions to break up the two- to three-hour jaunt. But once you arrive in Cumberland, a small city of about 20,000 in Western Maryland’s panhandle, there are a few diversions that warrant a gander. Nearby Rocky Gap State Park (12900 Lakeshore Dr., Flintstone, 240-357-4404) features a nature center, miles of trails, and the 243-acre Lake Habeeb, plus all the amenities of the Rocky Gap Casino Resort: an 18-hole golf course, a full-service spa, and four restaurants. In Cumberland proper, George Washington’s Headquarters (38 Greene St.), a one-room cabin built circa 1755, demands a quick visit. If you have more than a minute to spare, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (13 Canal St., 800-TRAIN50), a historic railroad running between Cumberland and Frostburg, mixes mountain scenery and history. For outdoorsy types, the C&O Canal (13 Canal St., 301-722-8226) and Great Allegheny Passage trail (gaptrail.org) provide breathtaking natural splendor. 

For lodgings, the area offers just about every chain hotel known to man. For convenience and economy, it’s hard to beat Rodeway Inn (12310 Winchester Road SW, Lavale, 301-729-6700), which offers free Wi-Fi and is less than a 10-minute drive from the fairgrounds. For more creature comforts—and a central location in Cumberland’s historic downtown—try The Bruce House Inn (201 Fayette St., 301-777-8860) or Cumberland Inn & Spa (120 Greene St., 240-362-7111). Both book up fast for DelFest, but you might get lucky if there’s a cancellation.

But most attendees forgo all that and flock to the fairgrounds, which are nestled along the banks of the Potomac River. Multi-day passes include on-site camping privileges (but not parking), so people pitch tents near ball fields, along the railroad tracks, and in the woods near the water. Campers and RVs fill the lots near the grandstand. Grills are fired up, jam sessions erupt, dancing commences, inner tubes are inflated and plopped in the Potomac, and DelFest becomes home for the long holiday weekend.

Camping locations can get rowdy—this is a festival, after all—so attendees with youngsters generally opt for the Family Camp area, which is closer to the main stage and quieter late at night. Glampers can choose The Show Sherpa—a large cabin-style tent will be ready for you upon arrival. The rentals, which start at $425 for two people, also include cots, camping chairs, a lantern, and amenities like free coffee in the morning, a daily bag of ice, and a full camp kitchen. The only downside is that you are still largely at the mercy of Mother Nature. (Concertgoers are still talking about the epic hailstorm that bore down on the festival in 2009.) 

Festival organizers do go to great lengths to ensure that most needs can be met at the fairgrounds. Dozens of vendors offer an array of cuisines, including barbecue, vegetarian, and Chinese. More than 20 merchants line the back perimeter of the main stage area for an Art and Craft Fair that features clothing, jewelry, musical instruments, and other handmade items from around the world. Movement Playshops offer classes like yoga in multiple locations on the grounds, and the Kidzone (Fri.–Sun. 9-11:30 a.m., 1-7 p.m.) is packed with activities like face painting and scavenger hunts. 

No matter how people choose to experience DelFest, music is the tie that binds. Songs emanate nearly nonstop from two outdoor stages and one smaller indoor venue.  Main Stage acts play until midnight and then bands take tunes inside the Music Hall for intimate (separately ticketed) late-night shows. Music is also omnipresent in the parking lots and at the campsites, where impromptu jam sessions welcome musicians of all skill levels. 

“Sometimes jams go for two, three, four hours, and people come and go,” says Strawhand, a mandolin player. “There’s some rock-solid, amazing musicians, and there are people just strumming along and singing. Young people, old people. Everyone.”

If you want to impress, musicianship can be honed the Sunday through Wednesday prior to DelFest at DelFest Academy. Tickets are $400 and buy you instruction for guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, bass, and, new this year, dobro. Hosted by The Travelin’ McCourys (Del’s sons’ band), the sessions target individual needs and leave ample time for one-on-one interaction.

Presiding over the whole event is McCoury, 78, who grew up in York, Pennsylvania, where he learned to strum the guitar from his older brother, G.C. In his early 20s, he frequently played small clubs in Baltimore—then a hotbed of bluegrass—and developed an impressive enough reputation that Bill Monroe, often called the father of bluegrass, asked him to join his band. 

After a year with Monroe, McCoury set off on other musical adventures and got married. He worked in logging to support his family, which includes sons Ronnie, now his mandolin player, and Rob, who’s on banjo. It wasn’t until 1992, when Del moved to Nashville, that he became one of bluegrass’ most beloved ambassadors. In 2003 he joined the Grand Ole Opry, and in 2010 he received a lifetime achievement award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Along the way, he performed at nearly every bluegrass festival around the country, but never thought of establishing his own until the idea was suggested by his manager. Sites in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and elsewhere in Maryland were considered, but “the first place we went was the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland,” says McCoury. “I said, ‘We’ll never find a prettier location to have a festival.’ It’s really flat there, but you look across the river at West Virginia and it’s straight up. I said, ‘As far as I’m concerned, we don’t have to look any further.’”

They didn’t, and in 2008, DelFest was born. It quickly gained a national reputation as a festival embraced by both traditional bluegrass enthusiasts and those with more progressive tastes. It also has paid dividends for local charities and nonprofits. The DelFest Foundation has contributed $300,000 to a number of organizations, including the Western Maryland Food Bank and Allegany County Habitat for Humanity. 

“DelFest has become a part of the community,” says Brian Grim, a diehard festivalgoer, lifelong Cumberland resident, and, for the past six years, the city’s mayor. “It just has a really positive vibe that makes people feel welcome.”

That’s delightfully evident in the makeup of the crowd, which includes toddlers in diapers, grandpas wearing overalls, and many makes and models in between. They partake in various levels of partying. Friendships form in the rarely short beer lines (suds from craft breweries like Victory, Devils Backbone, and SweetWater are sold along with big boys like Stella Artois), and clouds of pungent smoke waft through the air—but remarkably, there never seems to be any friction between the factions. 

“It’s everybody’s happy place,” says Little. “Everybody’s having the best weekend ever. Kids are happy, parents are happy. It’s fun being around people when they’re happy.”

The man who makes this all possible has a passion for music that is infectious. Despite Del’s age (“I feel like I’m 17,” he says, chuckling), he will play sets every night but Saturday, and usually joins each major act for at least one number. To conclude its final show at last year’s festival, The Del McCoury Band chose “White House Blues,” a tune about presidents William McKinley and Teddy Roosevelt. The song, like the man who sung it that night, is old but still so very relevant today. After it ended, a cheer rang out from the crowd, one that has evolved specifically to honor the patriarch of this festival. 

“Del yeah!”

The consistently mild weather of May means that it’s time to move the party outside, whether that’s a Hampden backyard hideaway, a Federal Hill roof deck, or a picnic at Sherwood Gardens. We’ve found three wines to help you spring outside and take full advantage of this beautiful time of year.

L’Antica Quercia Matiu Prosecco Superiore
$20, Potomac Selections

Sparkling wine is a woefully overlooked category; one needn’t spend Champagne money to access the festive atmosphere a bottle of bubbly begets. Prosecco is the national aperitif of Italy. This one delights with its elegant texture, dry character, and refreshing finish. Serve it on its own or pair with hors d’oeuvres.

Iona Sauvignon Blanc 2014
$18, Cape Starz

Sauvignon Blanc could be the official white wine grape of Spring, and this South African example highlights why—cool, clean, crisp, yet blooming with attractively light lemon and herbal notes. Grilled shrimp, chicken salad, or cheese plates are all natural companions for this one.

St. Cosme Cotes du Rhône 2013
$16, The Country Vintner

Here’s a Cotes du Rhône that swaps the heady intensity of the Grenache grape for the cool zing and peppery spice of Syrah. It’s a delicious bottle of wine, with bright, fleshy cherry tones and some grip on the finish. What to serve? Burgers, of course, or any grilled meat, but also hearty transitional dishes like lentils.

Though three days at home sounds quite relaxing, you won’t want to spend this long weekend cooped up at home. Whether you’re looking to honor those who served our country, jam out to some tunes at an outdoor festival, or take the kids out to a ballgame, we have you covered this Memorial Day.

TRADITIONAL:

MAY 23, 25: NAVY MEMORIAL EVENTS
United States Navy Memorial, Naval Heritage Center, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. Sat. 11 a.m., Mon. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. 202-737-2300. The U.S. Navy Memorial hosts wreath-laying ceremonies with Rolling Thunder, the Fleet Reserve Association, and the Navy Band and Ceremonial Guard. Veterans will also share personal stories and writings as part of the Veterans Writing Project.

MAY 23-25: CHESAPEAKE BEACH STARS & STRIPES FESTIVAL
Chesapeake Beach Veterans’ Memorial Park, 8200 Bayside Rd., Chesapeake Beach. Times vary. Free. 410-257-2230. This weekend-long celebration begins with an opening ceremony featuring keynote speaker Maryland First Lady Yumi Hogan, followed by music from The Hubcaps, an oldies nostalgia band, and a family fun day on Sunday.

MAY 25: MEMORIAL DAY
Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, 200 E. Padonia Rd., Timonium. 10 a.m. Free. 410-666-0490. Commemorate America’s fallen heroes with keynote speaker Col. Tom Manion, music by the 229th Maryland Army National Guard Band, and a 21-gun salute.

MAY 25: ANNAPOLIS MEMORIAL DAY PARADE
Amos Garrett Blvd., Annapolis. 10 a.m. Free. 410-263-7996. Historic Annapolis’ annual patriotic parade marches around Church Circle and down Main Street, with a memorial ceremony in Susan Campbell Park.

FAMILY:

MAY 22-24: CHESTERTOWN TEA PARTY FESTIVAL
Downtown Chestertown, locations, times, and prices vary. 410-778-0416. Explore the history of this 1774 Eastern Shore tea ban with a weekend block party, colonial re-enactments, races, a parade, and walking tours in this tiny, waterfront town. Don’t miss classic Chesapeake Bay street food, with crab cakes, clam strips, and funnel cakes, as well as a beer stand near the town dock.

MAY 23: GUARDING THE RAILROAD
B&O Railroad Museum, 901 W. Pratt St. 12 p.m. Free-$18. 410-752-2490. Head to the B&O and learn about the importance of railroads during the Civil War. Kids can also try on uniforms and equipment that soldiers would have worn, including leather gear, haversack, and canteens.

MAY 23: PARTY ON THE POINT
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, 213 N. Talbot St., St. Michaels. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free-$15. 410-745-2916. Join the maritime museum in celebrating 50 years on the bay, with a new exhibition, boat rides, live music, and family activities for all ages.

May 24: EDGAR ALLEN POE HOUSE & MUSEUM REOPENING
203 N. Amity St.. Sat. & Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free-$5. 410-396-7932. This macabre museum reopens for the season and pays homage to Baltimore’s iconic author and poet. Located where Poe wrote some of his early works, like “MS. Found in a Bottle,” “Morella,” and “Serenade,” the house will be closed nevermore—or at least not until December.

MAY 25: ORIOLES MEMORIAL DAY GAME
Oriole Park at Camden Yards, 333 W. Camden St. 1:35 p.m. $10-56. 888-848-2473. Support the O’s as they take on the Houston Astros, but be sure to get there early, as the first 20,000 fans snag a star-spangled Orioles barbeque apron. We can’t think of a better way to spend a Monday off than a game at Camden Yards and then some home grilling in your new apron. Perhaps you can be the next Boog Powell.

FUN:

May 21-31: BALTIMORE ROCK OPERA SOCIETY
Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. Times vary. $15, 410-276-1651. Baltimore Rock Opera Society (BROS) and Creative Alliance join forces for two epic weekends of rock music and great performances. The Rock Opera 6-Pack will showcase six original shows over the course of two weeks, but there are two shows we’re looking forward to in particular: Revival, a show filled with faith and gospel music and RATS!, dedicated to our beloved rodents.

MAY 23-24: BREW AT THE ZOO
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1876 Mansion House Dr. 1-7 p.m. $25-65. 410-396-7102. Spend your weekend at the zoo and indulge in unlimited beer samplings from a number of local breweries, including classics like The Brewer’s Art and newcomers like Monument City Brewing, with live music, food, craft vendors, and wine for the beer-averse. Tickets also include a commemorative glass and all day admission to the zoo.

MAY 23-24: GOOD LIFE FEASTIVAL
Boordy Vineyards, 12820 Long Green Pike, Hydes. 12-5 p.m. Free-$10. 410-592-5015. Tucked away in the countryside of Hydes, Boordy Vineyards is throwing festival full of wine tastings, local food, and bluegrass music. Escape the heat with an ice cream scoop from Keyes Creamery and enjoy the beautiful landscape.

MAY 24: SOWEBO ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL
1100 Hollins St. 12-8 p.m. Free. 410-566-8368. The annual Hollins Market neighborhood is celebrating Southwest Baltimore with its annual festival of music, art, and eats. Hear local bands, like Alexander Peters and the Roosters, Bumpin Uglies, Tim Kaye, and Sister Ex. Admire or purchase art, like pottery and photography. And don’t miss out on the food, with BBQ, Thai, and dessert, to name a few.

MAY 21-24: DELFEST
Allegany County Fairgrounds, 11400 Moss Ave., Cumberland. Thurs. 4:30 p.m.-Mon. 12 p.m. $25-195.50. Want to branch out from the city this Memorial Day Weekend, but hate beach traffic? Head the other way to Cumberland for DelFest, the four-day bluegrass festival in the woods of Western Maryland that features big-name headliners like Old Crow Medicine Show and The Del McCoury Band, as well as other awesome acts like Jason Isbell and Trampled By Turtles. Take advantage of the arts and craft fair, food and drink vendors, and kids play area, too.

May 21-24: MARYLAND DEATHFEST
Locations and times vary. $25-175. Maryland’s premiere metal festival boasts more than 80 bands performing at three different venues including Rams Head Live, Soundstage, and the Edison Lot. This intense music fest fuses metal, thrash, doom, grindcore, hardcore, and black metal bands from around the world (like Primordial from Dublin), as well as just down the street (like Iron Man).

ATHLETIC:

MAY 23: THE COLOR RUN SHINE TOUR 5K
Camden Yards, 333 W. Camden St. 9 a.m. & 12 p.m. $50-55. 855-662-6567. The Color Run steps it up a notch with this year’s all-new “Shine Tour,” where you’ll not only be paint-bombed, but doused in glitter while running the streets of Baltimore. They’re also partnering with The Cool Kids Campaign, which works to help pediatric oncology patients and their families in any way they can, academically, socially, and emotionally.

MAY 23: MEMORIAL DAY MURPH CHALLNEGE
The Maryland Athletic Club and Wellness Center Harbor East, 655 S. President St. 12 p.m. Free. 410-625-5000. This national military-inspired challenge is an annual fundraiser for the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation, which awards scholarships to students who uphold the fallen Navy SEAL’s legacy. Starting with a one-mile run, participants must complete 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 200 squats, and another one-mile run, all in less than 50 minutes.

MAY 24: 20th ANNUAL MCVET 5K AND 10K
War Memorial Plaza, 101 N. Gay St. 7:30 a.m. $25-35. 410-576-9626. Participate in a 5K or 10K, which begins at the War Memorial Building and winds through the city with a spectacular view of the downtown skyline. The race benefits the Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training, which supports homeless and in-need veterans, and will be followed by an awards ceremony with medals, trophies, cash prizes, and music.