43rd Annual Autumn Glory Festival Scheduled For Oct. 6 Through Oct. 10

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Aug. 19, 2010


by Sarah Duck, GC

Chamber of Commerce marketing director

Enjoy the beauty of the fall season in the mountains as Maryland celebrates the 43rd anniversary of Autumn Glory with two large parades, concerts, band competitions, art exhibits, antique and craft shows, and much more from Oct. 6 to 10.

Known for scenic Deep Creek Lake and Maryland's only ski resort, the Wisp, 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.

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, Oct. 6.

Thursday features the Oktoberfest dinner and concert by the Oom-Pah Band and a firemen's parade.

The week continues with historic area tours, antique and craft shows, fine arts exhibits, both swing and oldies dances, a farmers' market, 5-K walk, storytelling and book festival, musical concerts, dogsled events, a quilt show, corn maze, art glass exhibits, outdoor adventures, shopping specials, and a wide variety of other activities.

The Official Maryland State Banjo Championship, Friday at 7 p.m., features banjo contestants of all ages competing for top honors.

Saturday, Oct. 9, offers musical entertainment in Oakland at the Front Page Stage, on Second Street near the post office, and on the Box Car Stage at the train station.

The Grand Feature Parade begins on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Oakland. Clowns, floats, bands, and plenty of sidewalk vendors increase the festival atmosphere. That day will also feature the Western Maryland Tournament of Bands at 6 p.m. with high school field show competition, as well as the State Fiddle Championship and Mandolin Contest at 7 p.m.

Antique and craft shows continue Sunday, joined by the Autumn Glory Festival Car Show in Oakland and a no-hands sundae eating contest at Lakeside Creamery.

Garrett County's annual Autumn Glory Festival landed in the international spotlight last fall when the popular travel web site MSN.com listed it tops among fall festivals in the world. To the delight of locals and visitors alike, Autumn Glory in Oakland 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 and Fiddle championships, and the Tournament of Bands.

For the past two years, travelchannel.com has also listed the Autumn Glory Festival and Garrett County as one of America's Three Best Autumn Road Trips, and in 2008, baltimoresun.com listed Garrett County as one of the top five locals for fall foliage.

For more details about Autumn Glory, visit www.autumngloryfestival.com or contact the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce at 301-387-4386.

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