St. mary's county

All Year 

• Historic St. Mary’s City - adjacent to SMCM, this first capital of Maryland (and fourth oldest permanent English settlement in North America) is an outdoor living history museum with interesting archaeology. SMCM Staff get a discounted admission rate. Just show your SMCM OneCard! 

• Wineries -  Port of Leonardtown (Leonardtown), Slack (in Ridge) - Want more? Follow the Patuxent Wine Trail to visit seven wineries in Southern Maryland. 

• Art Activities - Wine and Design (Leonardtown) - enjoy a drink and try your hand at painting; Board & Brush (Leonardtown) - DIY Wood Sign Workshop; The Yellow Line (Leonardtown; owed by our own Dr. Carrie Patterson) - art studio offering small classes, private drawing and painting lessons for adults, open studio times for children and adults 

• Escape Rooms -  Devil's Den (Mechanicsville), Escape from the Past (California), Escape Rooms Southern Maryland (Leonardtown)

• Exercise Classes - Evolve Yoga (California), Spice Studio (Leonardtown; our own Dr. Aileen Bailey teaches here), and Vertical Dance Co. (Callaway), Row House SOMD (California), root SUP & Fitness (Leonardtown), Hype House Cycle and Fitness Studio (Great Mills) 

• Lighthouses - Piney Point, St. Clements, Point Lookout (near campus!)

• Parks - Elms Beach Park(near campus), Point Lookout State Park (near campus - includes Civil War Museum/Marshland Nature Center), Greenwell State Park, Chancellor's Run Regional Park (near campus)

• Budds Creek -  boasts three distinct racing venues; check out Maryland International Raceway featuring championship drag racing, Budds Creek Motocross for world-class motocross and Potomac Speedway for stock car fun. 

• Various Locations: Hiking, Kayaking, Cycling, Fishing, Hunting, Camping

• Patuxent River Naval Air Museum in Lexington Park

• Sotterley Plantation in Hollywood

• Three Notch Theater in Lexington Park. See the Newtowne Players in shows such as Into the Woods, Little Shop of Horrors, 9-5, and Much Ado about Nothing. 

• Parks & Recreation - various activities

• Farmer’s Markets - California, Charlotte Hall, Lexington Park

• Historic Leonardtown - First Fridays (entertainment provided 5 - 8pm while many shops, galleries and restaurants are open), Leonardtown Wharf, Yoga at the Wharf, and more.

• T and A Farm in Dameron, MD; Stop by to see goats, chickens, small hay maze for kids in the fall, pick up eggs, local meats and packaged ice cream.

• Cooking Classes at Quality Street Kitchen & Catering [P.O. Box 937 | 41655 Park Avenue | Leonardtown, MD 20650 | In the Inn at Leonardtown | (301) 997-0700]

• Viking Axe Throwing and Rentals [22715 Duke Street | Leonardtown, MD | (240) 346-9654]

• Go to Smith Island to have a slice of the State Dessert: Smith Island Cake 

Spring

• Cherry Blossom Festival in Lexington Park

Summer

• • Mulberry Music Festival at SMCM - Held on the eve of Juneteenth

  • Juneteenth Celebrations in Lexington Park (and other places around the county)

  • River Concert Series at SMCM - For 5 Friday nights during the summer (Jun-Jul), enjoy classical music with a wonderful view of the St. Mary’s River and devour delicious food from a variety of vendors.

  • Beaches - Elms Beach (Lexington Park), Myrtle Point Park (California)

  • Beerfest - held in June at Historic St. Mary’s City

  • Goldpetal Farms - Sunflower Maze in Chaptico, MD; open end of June-mid July

  • Potomac Jazz and Seafood Festival - held in July in St. Clements Island

  • SOMD Italian Heritage Festival - held in early-August at the St. Mary's County Fairgrounds

Fall 

• • Riverfest - held in Sept at St. Mary’s City

  • Taste of St. Mary's - held in early Sept on the square in Leonardtown. Sample menu favorites from St. Mary's County restaurants, and enjoy live music and entertainment.

  • St. Mary’s County Fair - held in mid Sept at the fairgrounds in Leonardtown. Tractor pulls, pig races, prize winning crafts and livestock, rides, and of course fair food.

  • Blessing of the Fleet: held the first weekend in Oct in Clements; arts & crafts, seafood, music, boat ride to St. Clement’s Island, lighthouse tours, children's activities, parade, and fireworks.

  • Southern Maryland Heritage Festival at Historic Sotterley in October: held in Oct in Hollywood. There will be unique artisans, cultural foods, a variety of spirits, live music, demos, children's activities, and family fun to be had by all.

  • Oyster Festival (national oyster shucking contest and national oyster cook-off): held in mid-Oct at the fairgrounds in Leonardtown. Bring your appetite!

  • Corn Mazes: Forrest Hall Farm & Orchards in Morganza & Bowles Farm in Clements