pumpkins – Baltimore Magazine https://www.baltimoremagazine.com The Best of Baltimore Since 1907 Wed, 29 Dec 2021 12:22:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/cropped-favicon-32x32.png pumpkins – Baltimore Magazine https://www.baltimoremagazine.com 32 32 Put These Fall Family Festivals On Your Calendar https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/educationfamily/put-these-fall-family-festivals-maryland-on-your-calendar/ Mon, 01 Oct 2018 13:23:00 +0000 https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/?p=26327

It’s that perfect time of year in Baltimore. The sun is still shining while the air is turning cool and crisp. And in the evenings when you step outside it always smells like your neighbor’s burning fire pit.

With the change in season comes a bounty of fall fun, too. For families, the autumn happenings are piling up as fast as the mountain of unraked leaves in your yard. But skip the raking (or better yet, make the kids do it) and be sure you don’t miss out on any of these local activities that only come around during this gorgeous time of year.

The Barnyard at Weber’s Cider Mill Farm
Fall is the absolute best time to take a trip to Weber’s Cider Mill Farm. You can grab some delicious donuts and cider while you shop for produce or Halloween decor, but the outdoor barnyard is truly the place to be.

With its haunted house, massive slides, hay maze, and, of course, barnyard animals, kids will want to stay and play all day. Feed the goats, stuff a scarecrow, or hop on a hayride. But whatever you do to pass the time—don’t leave without a pumpkin or five.

Pumpkinfest at Irvine Nature Center
If you’re looking to get in the fall spirit, Irvine Nature Center has all the outdoor fun you can handle. It’s yearly festival which celebrates the offerings of autumn has music, food, magic shows, face painting, and more. You can get crafty painting pumpkins, hop ‘till you drop in a sack race, interact with the animals, or just relax the day away at one of Baltimore’s most scenic spots.

Great Halloween Lantern Parade and Festival in Patterson Park
It’s almost time for one of the city’s best yearly parades, produced by the Creative Alliance and Friends of Patterson Park. It happens on Saturday, October 27, and you can expect things to get spooktacular. This event comes with lanterns and costumes and candy, oh my. The festival starts at 3 p.m. and the parade lines up at 6:30. If you need assistance with your lantern-making, you can head to one of Creative Alliance’s several workshops to make sure your lantern is properly lit.

Pick Pumpkins at Gaver Farm
While it’s a bit of a hike, heading to Gaver Farm in Mount Airy this time of year is worth the trek. The pumpkin patch is now open every day to pick your own and hayrides to get you there are free. Apple picking is only open on Saturday and Sundays, so if you’re in need of a bussell for all those pies, make sure you stop by the orchard on the weekend. While you’re there, enjoy all the attractions (open until November 4) like giant slides, pedal carts, corn mazes, and more.

Honey Harvest Festival at Oregon Ridge
On October 6-7, come celebrate all things honey at the annual festival where bees are the headliners. Learn about the incredible creatures by watching honeybee hive demos. And, if you get hungry, enjoy all the food trucks have to offer, then go ahead and make some honey-flavored ice cream for dessert. The best part about this all-ages gathering (aside from the fact that you’ll take home more honey than Pooh) is that admission is totally free. How sweet is that?

Apple picking at Butler’s Orchard
Butler’s Orchard in Germantown is another sweet spot to hit up this time of year. It has some of the best harvesting around including apples galore (Stayman and Golden Delicious) for $1.99 a pound. Now that’s a lot of applesauce! There are, of course, pumpkins to pick and flowers, too. While you’re there, the kids can enjoy the fun of hayrides, pony rides, and even visiting the farm’s two miniature donkeys.

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]]> Frolic into Fall https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/events/pumpkin-patches-corn-mazes-and-beer-fests-this-fall/ Wed, 30 Sep 2015 10:04:00 +0000 http://server2.local/BIT-SPRING/baltimoremagazine.com/html/?post_type=article&p=6065

As temperatures begin to dip below 70, there’s no denying that fall is officially here, and what better way to welcome the nip in the air than by handpicking a pumpkin or cracking open a craft beer on a crisp autumn afternoon. From apple picking and beer fests to leaf peeping and farm visits, the Baltimore region boasts plenty of ways to frolic into fall.

Apple and Pumpkin Picking

10/3: MILLSTONE APPLE HARVEST FESTIVAL Stroll around the woodsy grounds of Genesee Valley while sipping signature ciders, cysers, (fermented apples and honey) and mead from Monkton-based Millstone Cellars. The second annual fall fest also highlights hayrides, eats from The Local Oyster, Jinji’s Chocolates, and HEX Ferments, and a live bluegrass lineup. 1717 Rayville Road, Parkton, 410-343-0101

10/3: ALL THINGS APPLE As its name suggests, this afternoon event invites guests of all ages to celebrate the harvest by learning new ways to cook and craft with apples. Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum, 300 Oella Ave., Catonsville, 410-887-1081

10/3: DARLINGTON APPLE FESTIVAL Harford County locals frequently flock to this annual get-together where apple-themed treats consistently reign supreme. Enjoy live music, browse the wares of local vendors, root for your favorites in the apple pie eating contest, and dig in to signature snacks like apple cake, candy apples, and the festival’s claim-to-fame ‘Apple Delight’ (a spiral sliced apple topped with warm caramel and whipped cream.) 1024 Fifth Ave., Darlington, 410-457-4189

10/10: PUMPKINFEST AT THE IRVINE NATURE CENTER Bundle up the little ones and enjoy painting pumpkins, shooting down hay bale slides, listening to live music, and petting alpacas at this community fête. 11201 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, 443-738-9200

10/10-11: MARYLAND PUMPKIN FESTIVAL With more than 30 seasonal activities, Summers Farm is a can’t-miss attraction all season long, but the Frederick mainstay throws extra fun into the mix for its annual Maryland Pumpkin Festival. In addition to pumpkin picking and corn mazes, attendees can enjoy a gourd hunt, pumpkin sculpture demonstrations, and watching candy blast out of a massive cannon. 5620 Butterfly Lane, Frederick, 301-620-9316

TO 10/31: 35th ANNUAL PUMPKIN FESTIVAL AT BUTLER’S ORCHARD Weekends through October, this Germantown orchard features classic attractions like corn mazes and pumpkin picking, while also putting a unique spin on farm fun with pony rides, an apple slingshot, and a pumpkin cannon. 22200 Davis Mill Road, Germantown, 301-972-3299

Beer Fests

10/3-10/4: FREDERICK OKTOBERFEST If you’re looking to get a little taste of Munich by way of Frederick, make your way to the Frederick Fairgrounds to chow down on bratwurst, strudel, soft pretzels, and German potato salad while sipping authentic brews. 797 E. Patrick St., Frederick, 301-663-5895

10/10: DAS BEST OKTOBERFEST The lots surrounding M&T Bank Stadium will serve as the venue for this massive beer bash that highlights German eats and drinks and beer belly competitions. For the price of admission, guests can sample more than 150 international, domestic, and local varieties of beer, wine, and schnapps. And, as an added bonus, the event will host the exclusive Baltimore Beer Week kick-off party for VIP ticketholders. 1101 Russell St., 410-261-7283

10/17: OKTOBEARFEST Live polka tunes, German-inspired eats, and plenty of beer will be featured at this highly-anticipated fall event at the Maryland Zoo. Guests can take advantage of unlimited beer sampling and all-day access to the zoo’s exhibits. 1876 Mansion House Drive, 410-396-7102

10/17-18: MARYLAND OKTOBERFEST This large-scale beer fest is taking over the Maryland State Fairgrounds with two days of German food, live entertainment, and even a wine and schnapps garden. 4-H Home Arts Building, 2200 York Road, Timonium, 410-252-0200

10/9-10/18: BALTIMORE BEER WEEK Back for its seventh year, this weeklong celebration boasts upwards of 300 events to honor Baltimore’s bounty of craft beer. The jam-packed schedule includes tap takeovers, pint nights, and happy hours at bars all over town.

10/24: BALTIMORE CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL The Brewer’s Association of Maryland is hosting this inaugural craft beer event, where more than 30 local breweries will pour their signature selections for guests to sample. Throw on some shades and take in the picturesque views of Canton Waterfront Park while sipping seasonal beers and digging in to eats from food truck favorites like Kooper’s Chowhound, The Smoking Swine, and Gypsy Queen Café. 3001 Boston St., 410-396-7931

10/17: CHESAPEAKE REAL ALE FESTIVAL Fifteen craft breweries from across the region are bringing their best booze to this party at Pratt Street Ale House. Pull up a barstool and sample beers from favorites like Union Craft Brewing, Southern Tier Brewing Company, and Handsome Beer Co., while nibbling on tasty hors d’oeuvres. 206 W. Pratt St., 410-244-8900

11/14: CARROLL COUNTY CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL If cold beer and pit beef sandwiches sound like a match made in heaven, this event at the Carroll County Agricultural Center is a must-try. Sip samples from more than 30 brew houses, get down to live music, and enjoy a top-notch list of fall food offerings. 706 Agriculture Center Drive, Westminster, 410-848-6704

Family Fun

10/3-10/4: HONEY HARVEST FESTIVAL Pumpkins and apples might steal the show at most fall festivals, but this sweet soiree puts an emphasis on the bounty of the bees. Stroll around the Oregon Ridge Nature Center to watch open hive demonstrations, learn how to create your own mead and honey ice cream, and browse the work of local craft vendors. 13555 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville, 410-887-1815

10/18: HARBOR HARVEST This Inner Harbor fun fest offers tons of activities for kids to make the most of the season. Decorate pumpkins and cookies, visit the petting zoo to catch a glimpse of furry friends up close, and watch live performances by kid-friendly musical groups. West Shore Park, 401 Light Street, 410-752-8632

TO 11/8: CLARK’S ELIOAK FARM With a giant pumpkin patch, “Enchanted Dinosaur Forest,” hayrides, live animals, and guided tours of the grounds, this longtime Ellicott City attraction offers something for everyone. 10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, 410-730-4039

TO 11/1: WEBER’S CIDER MILL FALL HARVEST DAYS Through October, this Parkville farm features fall activities on a daily basis. Gather some friends and run around the straw maze, grab a seat on a hayride, stuff a scarecrow, or shoot down the farm’s new hillside slide. Food and drink offerings include Webers’ signature apple-cider donuts and cider slush. 2526 Proctor Lane, Parkville, 410-668-4488

Leaf Peeping

10/7-11: AUTUMN GLORY FESTIVAL Celebrate the spirit of the season with this huge community celebration that is habitually held in Garrett County. Now in its 48th year, the five-day-long itinerary features a farmer’s market, fine arts exhibits, a car show, daily crafts, and even an ice cream eating contest to close out the festival’s run. 15 Visitors Center Drive, McHenry, 301-387-6171

10/10-11: CATOCTIN COLORFEST This juried arts fest celebrates its 52nd season this year, featuring hundreds of art exhibits, demonstrations, and live music performances in the beautiful Catoctin Mountains. Thurmont, 301-271-7533

ONGOING: POTAPSCO VALLEY STATE PARK Nothing says fall like feeling the leaves crunch underneath your feet, so trek across one of the many trails at this bucolic park to get a good look at colorful foliage. 8020 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, 410-461-5005

Corn Mazes

Getting lost in a crazy corn maze is one of the most iconic seasonal activities of all, so grab some friends and spend an afternoon navigating your way around the parting paths at these local farms.

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]]> Autumn Glory https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/travel/fall-festivals-roundup/ Mon, 14 Sep 2015 08:00:00 +0000 http://server2.local/BIT-SPRING/baltimoremagazine.com/html/?post_type=article&p=6144

Autumn Glory

It's the most wonderful time of the year for wine gatherings, birding events, and other fall festivals.

By Marty LeGrand

SPONSORED BY TALBOT COUNTY TOURISM

SPONSORED BY TALBOT COUNTY TOURISM

Bountiful harvests and beautiful foliage. Indian summers and All Hallows’ Eve. There’s so much to celebrate this time of year that, on any given weekend between now and November, you can’t swing a scarecrow without hitting a fall festival. Festivals let us give thanks for everything we hold seasonally dear: pumpkins, apples, oysters, wines, Oktoberfest, Halloween, and Renaissance rituals. We’ve come up with 20 weekend-worthy fests that represent the spectrum of autumnal events. So hit the road and partake in one of these pilgrimages.

Sampling the goods at the Virginia Wine Festival. – Courtesy Across-The-Way Productions

GRAPE EXPECTATIONS Virginia Wine Festival September 12-13 Great Meadow, The Plains, VA

The 411: Toast the nation’s fifth biggest wine state by sampling vintages from several dozen top Virginia winemakers. Admission fees buy all-day tastings, seminars to sharpen your palate, and a souvenir wine glass. Impress your oenophile friends by learning how to keep a wine scorecard like a tasting judge in one of several specialized classes. And spring for private food and wine pairings where an expert will explain why a Barboursville Merlot is perfect with chicken Marsala while you savor both. Tickets cost $20-105 (or $15-90 in advance). Drink to This: Tour nearby vineyards—Pearmund Cellars ( 6190 Georgetown Rd., Broad Run, VA, 540-347-3475) and Linden Vineyards (3708 Harrels Corner Rd., Linden, VA, 540-364-1997)—whose wines have cracked the exclusive list at the five-star Inn at Little Washington. Good Taste: Restaurants love to highlight their vintner neighbors. The Airlie Room (6809 Airlie Rd., Warrenton, VA, 540-347-1300), the in-house restaurant at Airlie, a historic hotel/conference center, features frequent winemaker dinners with grapes sourced by local vineyards. And don’t miss wine tasting, Wednesday through Sunday, 2 to 5 p.m., with the sommelier at the acclaimed Ashby Inn (692 Federal St., Paris, VA, 540-592-3900). Take a Load Off: Once your wine glass is empty, drink in the Virginia countryside and spend the night at Georgian Revival-style Airlie, whose founder strove to create a haven for socio-political deep thinkers. (Earth Day had its beginnings here.)

Food vendors at Sunfest in Ocean City. – Courtesy Town Of Ocean City

FUN IN THE SUN Sunfest September 24-27 Inlet Parking Lot, Ocean City

The 411: Alas, summer isn’t endless in Ocean City, so send it off with a bang at Sunfest, the resort town’s carnival-esque harbinger of fall. Roam the sea of tents at the boardwalk’s southern tip, while browsing nearly 200 artisans’ booths, noshing on crab cakes, oyster fritters, and deep-fried Oreos, and listening to live bands, including nightly headline performers. (The festival is free, but concert tickets will set you back between $15 and $60.) Meanwhile, fluttering overhead, behold master kite fliers’ colorful creations at the Sunfest Kite Festival. Better Shop Around: The holidays loom, so gift shop for glass jewelry, beach-themed paintings, custom handbags, and other crafts. Good Taste: Relish reasonably priced, Eastern Shore-sourced surf-and-turf dishes (rockfish tacos or short ribs braised in coffee and locally brewed Burley Oak stout) at Blacksmith (104 Pitts St., Berlin, 410-973-2102). If weather permits, dine on the garden patio at this new farm-to-table restaurant, a quick jaunt from the Sunfest grounds. Take a Load Off: Stay within walking distance of Sunfest at Atlantic House ( 501 N. Baltimore Ave., Ocean City, 410-289-2333), a just-off-the-beach B&B, which offers scrumptious full breakfasts (think crème brûlée French toast), homemade snacks, off-street parking, and a front porch made for relaxing.

A HIGHLAND FLING Celtic Classic September 25-27 Downtown Bethlehem, PA

The 411: With its brick sidewalks and Moravian architecture, Bethlehem’s historic district doesn’t exactly conjure the Scottish Highlands. But for one weekend, kilted clans gather here to toss cabers, dance jigs, play bagpipes, and enlighten newcomers on the finer points of Celtic beverages. Watch muscled competitors vie for the U.S. National Highland Athletic Championships. Delight in Celtic music, dance, food, whiskey, and beer. Join the culinary competition by flexing your intestinal fortitude at the haggis-eating contest. (Entry fee is $10.) Contest rules: The first one to devour one pound of the organ-meat pudding wins. (No ketchup allowed.) Drink to This: Learn to tap a perfect pint of Guinness. (Tickets: $10.) Good Taste: McCarthy’s Red Stag Pub (534 Main St., Bethlehem, PA, 610-861-7631) adds special dishes to its Scotch-Irish menu for the Classic. Head there for breakfast (served until 4 p.m.) and scarf down authentic fare like Scotch eggs, Irish bacon, and Irish boxty, a crepe-like potato pancake filled with scrambled eggs, cheese, and a banger. Take a Load Off: You can’t get any closer to the festivities than Historic Hotel Bethlehem (437 Main St., Bethlehem, PA, 800-607-2384), an elegantly restored 1920s-era building overlooking the festival’s Main Street stage.

– C. Wiley

Crowning Glory

A Maryland Ren Fest fan meets—and marries—a king.

Twenty-five years ago, Sascha Nelson attended her first renaissance fair, a small gathering of revelers in Ohio. But it wasn’t until she attended the Maryland Renaissance Festival in Crownsville that she was truly hooked. “Maryland has one of the top fairs in the country,” says Nelson, “and the first time I attended, I was blown away. It wasn’t like anything I’d ever seen.”

Ever since, Nelson has become a devotee of the so-called “Ren Fest,” and she now attends every weekend, late August through October, when the fair is in full swing. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that last fall, she married Fred Nelson, who plays King Henry VIII. After meeting him at the fair in 2008, the two friended each other on Facebook. “We had an Internet friendship first,” explains Nelson, “but when we talked face-to-face, we realized that there was a real spark. I remember feeling like, ‘Wow, I found my other half.’” Married life in Columbia seems to suit them well. At the end of her husband’s day of donning a 40-pound gem-encrusted coat in the sweltering sun, Sascha says, “I take him home and rub his feet.” And Fred, an award-winning videographer by day, returns her loving kindness. “I get treated like beyond a queen,” Sascha says. “He brings me coffee in bed every morning.” And he always gives her the royal treatment. “I collect aprons and he bought me one that says, ‘Queen of Everything,’” Sascha says. “He’s the king of Maryland Renaissance Festival, but I rule the house.” Quips Fred, “I never have to fear losing myself in the role. I know who’s in charge at home.”—Jane Marion

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LEAF OUT Autumn Leaf Festival September 26-October 4 Downtown Clarion, PA

The 411: Watch a mega-parade, tap your toes to talented fiddlers and flat pickers, and join 300,000 foliage worshippers in a small college town that becomes the Pasadena of Pennsylvania for nine days. Bows and fingers fly September 26 at the Pennsylvania State Old Time Fiddlers’ Contest. Grab a choice spot along Main Street for the festival’s centerpiece, the 62-year-old Tournament of Leaves Parade (October 3), featuring 100-plus bands, drill teams, and floats. In addition, enjoy the renowned crafters/farmers’ market, carnival rides, dancing, and delectable dishes. Better Shop Around: Shop the crafters show for handmade home furnishings. Down Right Primitives (625 Oakridge Rd., New Bethlehem, PA, 814-221-5968) sells mirrors, benches, and other furniture cleverly repurposed from old doors, windows, shutters, and headboards. Good Taste: Join the throngs at Daddy’s Main Street ( 513 Main St., Clarion, PA, 814-223-4687) for grass-fed-beef burgers, fresh-cut shoestring fries, and wings (mild to “Demon’s Breath”). Take a Load Off: Book a Jacuzzi suite or stylishly rustic cabin at Gateway Lodge (14870 Route 36, Cooksburg, PA, 814-744-8017), a wood-beamed B&B nestled in an old-growth forest 20 minutes from Clarion. Hike the famous Cook Forest. Soothe sore quads at The Woods Spa, and then dine on game grub (venison strip loin with juniper rub) at the lodge restaurant/wine bar.

HOW ’BOUT THEM APPLES? National Apple Harvest Festival October 3-4 and 10-11 South Mountain Fairgrounds, Biglerville, PA

The 411: Journey to the heart of orchard country for this two-weekend extravaganza celebrating all “apple-achian” traditions. Indulge your appetite for homemade applesauce, dumplings, pancakes, pies, even apple pizza, as you wander past kettles of bubbling apple butter and an old-fashioned cider press. Bid on prize-winning pies at the baking auction. Watch antique John Deeres do-si-do at the tractor square dances. Other offerings include live traditional music and a steam-powered shingle mill. Tickets cost $9-10, including parking and shuttle service, plus orchard tours. Drink to this: Need we remind you you’re in Appleland? Take home a bag or two and a jug of cider from festival vendors. Savor the country comforts of a weekend at Hickory Bridge Farm B&B (96 Hickory Bridge Rd., Orrtanna, PA, 717-642-5261), an 18th-century farmhouse-turned-inn famous for its rib-sticking, family-style dinners. Secure a cozy creek-side cottage, a deluxe farmhouse room, or ensconce the whole family in a farmhouse suite.

Making music at the Autumn Glory Festival. – Courtesy Garrett County Chamber of Commerce

SEASON'S GREETINGS Autumn Glory Festival October 7-11 Oakland and Garrett County

The 411: The auburn slopes of the Alleghenies provide the color for this five-day event, featuring parades, crafts, quilt shows, and antiques sales, as well as turkey dinners, mountain music, clogging, marching bands, classic cars, and a kind of pumpkin X Games. Cheer on numbered, rapids-running pumpkins in a race for prize money at the Great Pumpkin Festival. Don’t miss the state banjo and fiddle championships or a concert on the Great Highland Pipes. And for an extra indulgence, download maps (visitdeepcreek.com) for 25- and 60-mile self-guided foliage driving tours. Better Shop Around: Shop for hand-made quilts, Amish-built furniture, Longaberger baskets, and vintage jewelry at the weekend shows in and around Oakland, the festival’s hub. Good Taste: Dine on New York strip in a peppercorn-cognac demi-glace at Cornish Manor (830 Memorial Dr., Oakland, 301-334-6499), a hillside Victorian restaurant boasting sensational views and memorable desserts. (Tuck into the bread pudding with caramel-walnut sauce.) Take a Load Off: Pamper yourself at Lake Pointe Inn (174 Lake Pointe Dr., McHenry, 301-387-0111), a luxury arts-and-crafts-style B&B perched on a quiet cove of Deep Creek Lake. The romantic, treetop level Savage Room, overlooking the lake, is a guest favorite.

Bavarian folk dancers perform at the Richmond Oktoberfest. – Courtesy Oktoberfest of Richmond

SUDS UP Richmond Oktoberfest October 16-17 Richmond International Raceway, Richmond, VA

The 411: Visit Bavaria by way of I-95 South to attend Richmond Oktoberfest, the Old Dominion’s homage to Munich’s 200-year-old bier-palooza. Find a seat at the communal tables in the cavernous indoor beer garden and sample German and domestic lagers, pilsners, and seasonal brews, along with bratwurst, roast pork, sauerkraut, potato pancakes, and Bavarian pastries. Polka, waltz, and shake your hintern to The Continentals, an award-winning polka band. Then rest a spell and watch the Bavarian folk dancers—all for a mere $15 a day. Drink to This: Spring $12 for the commemorative Oktoberfest beer stein. This year’s model depicts the handsome medieval Eltz Castle. Good Taste: You’ll be carbo-loading all evening, so grab brunch and you’ll be good to go ’til then. Tame your morning hunger with the Mallorca, a grilled, powdered sugar-dusted sandwich with cheddar cheese, country ham, and a fried egg at Saison Market (23 W. Marshall St., Richmond, VA, 804-269-3982), the casual counterpart to a Latin-influenced gastropub. Take a Load Off: Walk to the Thomas Jefferson-designed state capitol, Tobacco Row restaurants, Canal Walk, and other downtown attractions from The Berkeley Hotel (1200 E. Cary St., Richmond, VA, 804-780-1300), boutique lodgings in the city’s historic Shockoe Slip district.

Facing off at the National Oyster Shucking Championship. – Courtesy Rotary Club of Lexington Park

A REAL PEARL St. Mary’s County Oyster Festival October 17-18 St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds, Leonardtown

The 411: After every round of the National Oyster Shucking Championship—the marquee event of this singular celebration—scores of bivalves must be disposed of. That’s where you come in. As each shuck-off ends, spectators line up to devour the spoils. In addition to giveaways, you can buy the oysters raw, grilled, scalded, stewed, deep-fried, beer-chased, or po’ boyed. And if oysters don’t float your boat, consider another St. Mary’s specialty—ham stuffed with spiced greens, and then rolled into a savory, sliceable treat. The festival’s $5 entrance fee is a total bargain. Take a Load Off: Inspired by all that showy shucking? Invest in a stylish oyster knife. Carolina Shuckers, a festival vendor, sells elegant, hand-forged knives fashioned from reclaimed railroad spikes. Good Taste: Chow down on rockfish dinners and house-made desserts like a local at Kevin’s Corner Kafe ( 41565 Park Ave., Leonardtown, 301-997-1260), an out-of-the-way, order-at-the-counter eatery run by a former waterman. Take a Load Off: About 30 minutes southeast of the festival—and a world away—find comfort and Colonial grandeur at Woodlawn (16040 Woodlawn Dr., Ridge, 301-872-0555), a 1798 Potomac River manor house turned B&B. Set on 180 acres, the historic house and five cottages offer luxury and nature aplenty.

EYE ON THE BIRDIE Cape May Fall Festival October 23-25 Cape May, NJ

The 411: Lifelong birders and curious novices flock to southern Jersey in the fall to see migrating hawks, eagles, seabirds, and scarcer species like the fork-tailed flycatchers sighted here last year. Join trained observers as they count raptors—sometimes thousands a day—at the Cape May Hawk Watch. Festival admission includes guided walks at birding hot spots, indoor workshops (bird identification, avian photography), and talks by top ornithologists and authors. Cost is $65 per day for the festival ($35 additional for field trips by bus and boat); admission is free to the concurrent Bird Show (Cape May Convention Hall, 714 Beach Ave., Cape May, NJ, 609-884-9563). Better Shop Around: Consider upgrading your gear. Bird Show vendors offer binoculars, spotting scopes, and other equipment. Good Taste: Whatever’s in season—bluefish, butternut squash, Swiss chard—you’ll find on the chalkboard menu at Louisa’s (104 Jackson St., Cape May, NJ, 609-884-5882), a farm-to-table cafe known for fresh fish dishes. Its new chocolate shop speaks to dessert possibilities. Take a Load Off: An upscale motel in a refurbished cottage, The Star (29 Perry St., Cape May, NJ, 800-297-3779) is as cheery inside as its goldfinch-yellow exterior. Choose from standard rooms, efficiencies, or carriage house suites, all decorated in a retro-motel-meets-beach-resort style.

Flying broomsticks at the Sea Witch Halloween & Fiddlers’ Festival. – Courtesy Rehoboth Beach- Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce

ALL DRESSED UP Sea Witch Halloween & Fiddlers’Festival October 23-25 Downtown Rehoboth Beach, DE

The 411: Think the beach is boring after Labor Day? Think again. This spirited festival is a shoulder-season romp rife with Potteresque imagination and kooky contests. The hijinks include competitive broom tossing, a dress-up 5K, and two- and four-legged best-costume parades (past canine entries included pooches dressed as flying monkeys and “Boston Tea Party,” a large, Boston terrier-filled teacup). Watch a parade down Rehoboth Avenue led by the huge Sea Witch balloon while deciphering clues on a “witch hunt” for this hidden harpy. Also enjoy musical acts, including swing, indie-rock, and tribute bands at the bandstand, plus fiddlers and bluegrass groups at the state fiddlers’ festival (Convention Hall). Good Taste: Rehoboth restaurant folks adore Halloween, but none more than those at Blue Moon ( 35 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE, 302-227-6515). A local institution, Blue Moon blends acclaimed cuisine with outrageous entertainment. On Saturday nights, impersonators evoke Elton, Aretha, and other legendary crooners. Take a Load Off: Register, park, stay put. Book a cushy room at The Bellmoor Inn & Spa (6 Christian St., Rehoboth Beach, DE, 302-227-5800) and you’re blocks from Sea Witch events. Rates include daily hot breakfast buffet, free parking, and the quietude of a charming brick-paved courtyard.

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