McHenry, MD — Enjoy the beauty of the fall season in the mountains as Maryland celebrates the 49th anniversary of Autumn Glory with two large parades, concerts, band competitions, art exhibits, antique and craft shows and much more from October 12 – 16, 2016 in Garrett County, Maryland. The 49th Annual Autumn Glory Festival is sponsored by Garrett Regional Medical Center, a proud affiliate of WVU Medicine.
Known for scenic Deep Creek Lake and Maryland’s only ski resort, Wisp Resort, Garrett County is also home to the annual Autumn Glory Festival, a five-day celebration of autumn that celebrates the beauty of the local fall foliage. From Wednesday through Sunday, the area offers a wide variety of things to do indoors or outdoors.
Take in the breathtaking views of our spectacular Fall Foliage by driving or biking one, or both, of the county’s 2016 Autumn Glory Fall Foliage Tours. The first tour is a scenic route which includes Fort Alice Walking Trail, Noonan and Noonan, LLC, Historic Mountain Lake Park (Ticket Office), Broadford Lake Park, Ledo Pizza, Pasta & Pub and Maryland Scenic Byways. The Extended Fall Foliage Heritage Tour includes Historic National Road, Casselman Inn, Casselman River Bridge State Park, Spruce Forest Artisan Village, Mt. Aetna Trail, Barn Quilts and Maryland Scenic Byways. Head to visitdeepcreek.com or the Visitors Center in McHenry to pick up the full map and directions.
Autumn Glory schedule of events
The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Autumn Glory Kickoff Dinner featuring live musical entertainment and recognition of the annual Autumn Glory Golden Ambassador will kick off the festival on Wednesday, October 12 at Wisp Resort in McHenry.
Thursday features the Oktoberfest dinner and concert by the Oom-Pah band and a fireman’s parade. The week continues with historic area tours, antique and craft shows, fine arts exhibits, farmers’ market, 5-K walk, musical concerts, dogsled events, a quilt show, corn maze, art glass exhibits, outdoor adventures, quilt shows, food and drink specials, live entertainment, comedy basketball game, pumpkin chucking contest, horseback trail rides, shopping specials and a wide variety of other activities.
The Official Maryland State Banjo & Mandolin Championships, Friday at 7 p.m., features banjo and mandolin contestants of all ages competing for top honors.
Saturday, October 15, offers musical entertainment at the Front Page Stage, on Second Street near the Post Office and on the Box Car at the train station. The Grand Feature Parade begins at 1 p.m. Clowns, floats, bands, and plenty of sidewalk vendors increase the festival atmosphere. That day also will feature the Western Maryland Tournament of Bands at 6 p.m. with high school field show competition, as well as the Maryland State Fiddle Championship at 7 p.m.
Antique and Craft shows continue Sunday, joined by the Autumn Glory Festival Car Show, the Great Pumpkin Race & Festival on the rapids at Adventure Sports Center International and a no-hands Sundae eating contest at Lakeside Creamery.
In 2014, Travel & Leisure Magazine selected Oakland, MD as one of America’s Best towns for Fall Colors and included a mention of our annual Autumn Glory Festival. The travelchannel.com has listed the Autumn Glory Festival & Garrett County as one of America’s 3 Best Autumn Road Trips from 2008 – 2014 and, in 2008, the baltimoresun.com listed Garrett County as one of the top 5 locales for Fall Foliage. In 2013, the Travel Channel listed Deep Creek Lake, Garrett County’s annual Autumn Glory Festival and our two Fall Foliage Driving Tours as one of the top ten best Fall Foliage Road Trips in America. Autumn Glory also landed in the international spotlight in 2007, when the popular travel website, MSN.com listed it tops among fall festivals in the world. To the delight of locals and visitors alike, Autumn Glory in Oakland, Maryland, beat out Paris’ Festival d’Automne (#5) and Munich’s Oktoberfest (#7) – in addition to a bevy of domestic celebrations, including San Francisco’s Dias De los Muertos. “Music, parades and awesome colors are at the center of this festival,” noted the site, plugging in particular the Grand Feature Parade, the Maryland State Banjo & Fiddle Championships and the Tournament of Bands. In 2015, Good Housekeeping lists our Oakland, MD among the Top 50 Small Towns with the Best Fall Foliage. For more information about the 49th Annual Autumn Glory Festival, please go to http://www.visitdeepcreek.com/49th-annual-autumn-glory-festival
For more details about Autumn Glory, please visit www.visitdeepcreek.com or contact the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce at 888.387.5237.