Salisbury, MD – The City of Salisbury is ready to welcome hundreds of musicians, dancers and artists for the second annual Maryland Folk Festival.
The Maryland Folk Festival is set for Friday-Sunday, Sept. 20-22, in Downtown Salisbury. Admission is free.
Hours are Friday, Sept. 20, from 6-9:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21, from noon-9:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 22, from noon-6 p.m. Heart & Sole Performing Arts will lead a parade to the opening ceremony Friday beginning at 5:45 p.m., and food sales will open at 5:30 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
“We have an amazing lineup for this year’s festival that will showcase numerous genres of music and different types of folklife,” said Caroline O’Hare, events and culture manager for the City of Salisbury’s Arts, Business and Culture Department. “We’re also excited about the new Toyota Narrative Stage, which will include Maryland’s poet laureate, Grace Cavalieri, along with many others.”
Performances will take place on four stages throughout the weekend. The Perdue Dance Stage will be open all three days and features numerous musicians to get attendees dancing, including a Saturday night square dance.
The other three stages will be open Saturday and Sunday. The Maryland Traditions Folklife Stage will feature different types of folklife performances and will be next to the Maryland Traditions Folklife Area, where tradition-bearers will share their work.
Featured musicians from Delmarva will perform on the Salisbury University Locals Stage. The Toyota Narrative Stage is new this year and will showcase poets and storytellers.
The Richard A. Henson Foundation Family Area will offer numerous free family activities from noon-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, including a community mural project, face painting, crafts, ambassador animals from the Salisbury Zoo, and more.
Attendees can also shop from juried artists at the Festival Marketplace, sponsored by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.
The City has worked with the Downtown Salisbury Business Alliance to offer a wristband for $10, for sale at Two Scoops Ice Cream & Waffles and Blackwater Apothecary. With the wristband, attendees will be able to access specials and promotions at numerous Downtown Salisbury businesses.
There will also be food vendors located throughout the festival site, along with alcohol sales for those 21 and older, including the festival beer, Folkie Doke, made by RAR Brewing.
Free festival parking is available in the City’s parking garage and nearby municipal lots. Festival attendees can also ride bikes to the festival and leave them at a free bike valet, located at the Salisbury Headquarters.
Volunteers are still needed for the festival. If interested in volunteering, register for a shift at www.MDFolkFest.com/volunteer.
In addition to the aforementioned area sponsors, the Maryland Folk Festival would like to thank the Maryland State Arts Council, the Fulton School of Liberal Arts at Salisbury University, TidalHealth, the Rural Maryland Council, BEACON at Salisbury University, Raccoon Point Studios, Xfinity, 47 ABC, Delmarva Public Media, the Salisbury Independent and the Daily State News.
The Maryland Folk Festival would also like to thank Friends of the Festival: Patty and Mark Engberg, Anne & Dick Morris, Debby & Kel Nagel, Marie Calafiura, Eastern Shore Distributing, Mat & Barrie Tilghman and the Democratic Club of Wicomico County.
For a festival schedule, artist bios, parking map and more information, visit www.MDFolkFest.com.
