On March 25, 1634, the first English settlers on ships the Ark and the Dove landed on the shores of Saint Clement’s Island, establishing the colony of Maryland. Today, a weeklong celebration honors the people who lived and worked on Maryland’s land and waterways. Annapolis-area residents and visitors can attend more than 100 events celebrating Maryland’s history, natural landscapes, and cultural heritage. While it’s been 392 years since English colonists arrived, there are thousands of years of history before that day and countless life-changing events since. For kids shocked that their parents were born in the “late-20th century,” this is a great opportunity for a history lesson!
We’ve got a list of some of these events. There are storytimes, tours, performances, hands-on activities, and so much more. For all 100+ events, check out the official Maryland Day website hosted by Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area.
Places and History
Maryland Day Weekend at London Town
What: “Friday! Join us for a FREE three-day weekend as we look at what Colonial life in Maryland was like. There will be a full roster of guided tours, family-friendly activities, and living history programs. Whether you come to walk in our beautiful spring gardens, talk with 18th-century interpreters in and around our historic buildings, or engage in hands-on learning, don’t miss out on this once-in-a-year opportunity.”
Where: Historic London Town & Gardens, 839 Londontown Road, Edgewater, MD 21037
When: Friday, March 20 to Sunday, March 22, 10 AM to 4 PM.
Who: All ages.
How Much: Free!No registration required.
Historic Annapolis Open Houses
What: Visit the William Paca House & Garden, Waterfront Warehouse, Hogshead Trades Museum, and Museum of Historic Annapolis for conversations with living historians, interactive exhibits, demonstrations, and activities.
Where: Visit their website for addresses to their properties in the Annapolis Historic District.
When: Friday, March 20, 10 AM to 3 PM. Saturday, March 21, 10 AM to 2 PM. Sunday, March 22, 10 AM to 5 PM.
Who: All ages.
How Much: Free for Historic Annapolis members. $1 for non-members. The Waterfront Warehouse is free. Guided tours of the William Paca House on Friday cost their usual admission price, while self-guided tours of the garden are $1. There will be no William Paca House tours on Sunday, but you can still visit the garden.
Watermark’s “The Everything” Walking Tour
What: “Join Mistress Mary as she leads guests through an entertaining stroll of the Historic District. You’ll get a little history, a splash of scandal, some mysterious ghost stories, and much more on this entertaining sampler of Watermark’s various walking tours.”
Where: 25 Market Space, Annapolis, MD 21401
When: Saturday, March 21, 1 to 2:30 PM
Who: Best for older kids and adults who can walk for an hour and a half.
How Much: Free. Registration recommended.
Watermark’s Maryland Day Harbor Queen Cruise
What: “[S]tep aboard the classic Harbor Queen for a narrated cruise of the Annapolis Harbor and the banks of the U.S. Naval Academy. Hear the history of the Naval Academy, Annapolis’ role as a historic seaport, the region’s waterways, and catch a glimpse of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.”
Where: The Piers at 1 Prince George Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
When: Monday, March 23, Tuesday, March 24, and Wednesday, March 25, from 4 to 4:40 PM.
Who: All ages.
How Much: $1. Register on their website.
Nature and the Environment
Get Your Hands Dirty! Public Archaeology at Kinder Farm
What: “Ever want to be an archaeologist? Now’s your chance! Join archaeologists from Anne Arundel County’s Cultural Resources Section and volunteer at an active archaeological dig as we work to learn more about the lives of the Kinder Family, German immigrants and farmers who built a house on this site in the 1890s. Volunteers will assist in screening for artifacts. Participation requires the ability to stand and walk on uneven terrain.
Where: Kinder Farm Park, 1001 Kinder Farm Park Road, Millersville, Maryland 21108
When: Friday, March 19 to Sunday, March 22
Who: This is likely best suited for older children, teens and adults. Volunteers under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
How Much: Free! Registration is required.
Celebrate Maryland Day: Oysters on the Bay!
What: “Join us…for a family-friendly celebration spotlighting one of Maryland’s most iconic species—the Chesapeake Bay oyster! Enjoy hands-on activities, creative crafts, and interactive exhibit experiences that bring Bay ecology and maritime heritage to life.”
Where: Annapolis Maritime Museum, 723 Second Street, Annapolis, MD 21403
When: Friday, March 20, 10 AM to 2 PM
Who: All ages.
How Much: Free!
Liber-Tea Party
What: “Dive into the history of the two Maryland Tea Parties. Participants will learn about the importance of tea culturally and economically in the context of the American Revolution. Be creative with the opportunity to make your own herbal tea blends to experience a taste of colonial culture.”
Where: Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, 1361 Wrighton Road, Lothian, MD 20711
When: Sunday, March 22, 10 to 11:30 AM.
Who: Ages 13 and older. Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
How Much: $5 per person. Registration required at https://apm.activecommunities.com/aarecparks/Home and using the Activity Net code #44309.
Maryland Day Liberty Tree Kickoff Event
What: Planting of “a seedling grown from the only surviving genetically identical Liberty Tree scion in the United States—descended from Maryland’s original 1775 Liberty Tree in Annapolis. A brief ceremony from 11 to 11:30 AM, followed by an open house reception until 2 PM on the terrace of the William Paca House & Garden with light refreshments.”
Where: William Paca House & Garden, 186 Prince George Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
When: Wednesday, March 25, 11 AM to 2 PM
Who: All ages.
How Much: Free! No registration required.
Stories and Crafts
Who Fed Maryland?
What: “Over two days, we will engage in a number of activities that will help young people discover how the people of the Chesapeake fed their communities long before European colonists arrived in 1634, how enslaved Africans transformed limited rations into nourishment, and how these histories continue to shape what we know today as ‘Maryland food!’”
Where: Chesapeake Children’s Museum, 25 Silopanna Road, Annapolis, MD 21403
When: Indigenous Foodways on Saturday, March 21, noon to 1:30 PM. African Foodways on Sunday, March 22, 1 to 3 PM. Please note: the correct times are on the Chesapeake Children’s Museum’s website.
Who: All ages.
How Much: $1 (plus $0.03 if registering online).
Dovie Thomason, Storyteller
What: “Traditional stories from Indigenous people reflect a culture intertwined with the natural environment. Find out how food traditions are shared through folktales!”
Where: Chesapeake Children’s Museum, 25 Silopanna Road, Annapolis, MD 21403
When: Saturday, March 21, 1:30 to 2:30 PM
Who: All ages.
How Much: $1 (plus $0.03 if registering online).
Stories and Art in the Galleries
What: “This month we’re reading ‘Good Night Maryland’ by Adam Gamble and Mark Jasper. After the story, kids will make their very own crab.”
Where: Chesapeake Arts Center, 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, Maryland 21225
When: Saturday, March 21, 10:30 to 11:30 AM
Who: Stories and activities are geared toward ages 2 to 6. All ages are welcome, but caregivers must be present.
How Much: Free!Registration is required. Register for each child individually.
Free Family Workshop: Maryland Themed Coasters
What: “Create your own Maryland coasters using Maryland icons and color in an all-ages art workshop.”
Where: Chesapeake Arts Center, 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, Maryland 21225
When: Saturday, March 21, 12:30 to 2:30 PM
Who: All ages are welcome, but caregivers must be present.
How Much: Free!Registration is required. Register for each child individually
Made in Maryland! Afternoon Craft Session
What: “This hands-on session invites young artists to explore Maryland’s history, symbols, and natural beauty through themed crafts. Attendees will learn about Maryland’s heritage while expressing their imagination.”
Where: Deale Library, 5940 Deale-Churchton Road, Deale, MD 20751
When: Wednesday, March 25, 3:30 to 4:30 PM
Who: Geared toward ages 6 to 10. All ages welcome.
How Much: Free!
Arts and Culture
HER Maryland: Stories that Inspire
What: This “exhibition brings to life the extraordinary stories of Maryland’s women icons through a vibrant celebration of art and history. From pioneers and trailblazers to artists, leaders, and changemakers, each work illuminates the vision, strength, and creativity that have shaped Maryland’s culture. This exhibition honors their legacies, sparks reflection, and inspires.”
Where: Chesapeake Arts Center, 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, Maryland 21225
When: Gallery hours are Monday to Thursday, 10 AM to 8 PM; Saturday to Sunday, 10 AM to 2 PM. The Center is closed on Fridays.
Who: All ages are welcome, but caregivers must be present.
How Much: Free!
Revolutionary Maryland: Freedom of the Press, Then and Now
What: This “traveling exhibition explores the evolution of one of our most important American freedoms from its earliest incarnation in the Maryland Colony to its role in contemporary society.”
Where: Chesapeake Arts Center, 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, Maryland 21225
When: Gallery hours are Monday to Thursday, 10 AM to 8 PM, Saturday to Sunday, 10 AM to 2 PM. The Center is closed on Fridays.
Who: All ages.
How Much: Free!
Q&A & Artists Workshop with The Artist Oliver James and Kunta Kinte Celebrations at Chesapeake Arts Center
What: “Join us for a Q&A with The Artist Oliver James and Cynthia Guillen from Kunta Kinte Celebrations on March 25 from noon to 12:30 PM in our Patricia Barland Gallery. Art workshop with The Artist Oliver James to follow from 12:30 to 1:30 PM.”
Where: 194 Hammonds Lane, Brooklyn Park, MD 21225
When: Wednesday, March 25, noon to 2 PM
Who: Geared toward adults, but children are welcome with an adult.
How Much: Free! Registration required.
Maryland Herstory
What: “Spend your afternoon at Discoveries learning about and engaging in activities centered around women from Maryland who have made an impact in history.”
Where: Discoveries: the Library at the Mall, 2550 Annapolis Mall Road, Annapolis, MD 21401
When: Saturday, March 21, 2 to 3 PM
Who: Geared toward ages 6 to 10. All ages welcome.
How Much: Free!
Celebration and Commemoration
Northern Anne Arundel Cultural and Preservation Society’s Maryland Day Festival
What: “Community churches and organizations with ties to NACPS will present brief presentations on their histories and will provide information on parishioners who attended Rosenwald Schools and Wiley H. Bates High School in Annapolis, MD. We will reflect on the differences in education between segregation and integration.”
Where: Lloyd Keaser Community Center, 5757 Belle Grove Road, Baltimore, MD 21225
When: Friday, March 20, 10 AM to 4 PM
Who: All ages.
How Much: Free!
Maryland State Birthday Bash!
What: “Help us celebrate our state’s 250th birthday with activities and crafts! Stay for a Maryland trivia bingo game and a piece of birthday cake.”
Where: Busch Annapolis Library, 1410 West Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
When: Saturday, March 21, 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Who: Geared toward ages 6 to 10. All ages welcome.
How Much: Free!
Roots Fest: A Maryland Day Kickback celebrating African American History
What: “Join us for a Maryland Day “Kickback” celebrating African American History in the Chesapeake Crossroads Area. Enjoy live music, learn about and try your hand at genealogical research, and be inspired by arts and crafts activities and enjoy food vendors. This informal, low-key social gathering will be held at the Oaks Bed & Breakfast venue on Green Street in downtown Annapolis. It will bring together old and new friends alike to relax, unwind, and socialize while exploring African American roots and our local heritage.”
Where: The Oaks Bed and Breakfast, 172 Green Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
When: Saturday, March 21, 5 to 9 PM
Who: All ages.
How Much: Free!
Remember: these are only a few of the events…if we listed all of them, you wouldn’t finish reading until March 26! So please go to MarylandDay.org to see what else there is to do, see, and learn! These activities help tourists, new residents, and multigenerational Maryland families explore the state’s history. Let’s join our community in remembering the past, so we can share these stories with future generations.
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