There’s a new spot to make your holiday season shine! Downtown Frederick Partnership is thrilled to announce the opening of Holiday HQ, a festive pop-up info center and selfie paradise located at 22 S Market St, inside the historic Federated Charities building.

Follow the wall of colorful lights and step into the magic – Holiday HQ is decked out with fabulous, photo-worthy installations perfect for sharing (and showing off) your Downtown Frederick adventures.

Pose in front of our glimmering disco wall, snap a postcard-perfect shot inside our life-sized Polaroid frame, or get cozy in our retro 70’s-inspired holiday nook – it’s all here waiting to make your season brighter. Get a sneak preview of the space at downtownfrederick.org/holidayhq.

The space will serve as the weekend winter headquarters for the Downtown Frederick Ambassador team, who will be on hand to help visitors discover shopping, dining and holiday happenings all season long.

Holiday HQ Hours: November 8 – December 21

• Saturdays | 3-6PM
• Sundays | 1-4PM

Whether you’re downtown for shopping, dining or dazzling holiday lights, make Holiday HQ your first stop for festive fun and a quick photo op that’s guaranteed to sleigh.

The post Holiday HQ… Your Holiday Headquarters! appeared first on Downtown Frederick Partnership.

With FREE PARKING in all of the City’s garages and meters all day on Monday, September 1, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t make a weekend of it in Downtown Frederick!

Don’t see your favorite place on our list? This is only a start! Be sure to check with individual businesses for their most up-to-date hours. For more great things to see and do in Downtown Frederick, visit downtownfrederick.org/events

Spend your Labor Day weekend with us!

The post Labor Day in Downtown Frederick appeared first on Downtown Frederick Partnership.

With FREE PARKING in all of the City’s garages and meters on Friday, July 4, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t make a weekend of it in Downtown Frederick!

Don’t see your favorite place on our list? This is only a start. Be sure to check with individual businesses for their most up-to-date hours.

For more great things to see and do in Downtown Frederick, visit downtownfrederick.org/events.

Spend your 4th of July weekend with us!

The post 4th of July in Downtown Frederick appeared first on Downtown Frederick Partnership.

Don’t see your favorite place on our list? This is only a start! Be sure to check with individual businesses for their most up-to-date hours. For more great things to see and do in Downtown Frederick, visit downtownfrederick.org/events.

The post Visit Downtown Frederick this Memorial Day! appeared first on Downtown Frederick Partnership.

Nestled in the heart of Downtown Frederick, the newly opened Visitation Hotel Frederick stands as a powerful example of how historic preservation can breathe new life into treasured spaces. This thoughtfully restored property, located at 200 E 2nd St, officially opened its doors in December 2024, marking a major milestone as the first new hotel to open in Downtown Frederick in over 50 years.

Visitation Hotel is part of the Marriott Tribute Portfolio, a collection of distinctive independent hotels, and represents the visionary rehabilitation of a Federal-style building that dates back to circa 1850. With a long and storied past – as a Catholic boarding school, convent, community hub, and Civil War field hospital – the building had sat vacant since 2016, until it was purchased and reimagined by James O’Hare and Lance Jaccard.

Despite challenges, including a fire during construction and the COVID-19 pandemic, the team remained committed to a vision rooted in historic preservation and adaptive reuse. The result is Downtown Frederick’s first new hotel in over 50 years—complete with 65 guest rooms, event spaces, and a new restaurant, Wye Oak Tavern, led by celebrated chefs Bryan and Michael Voltaggio.

The transformation of Visitation Hotel is a true preservation success story. The project carefully maintains the building’s historic form, massing and architectural elements while introducing modern amenities for today’s travelers. Original features such as antique window glass, original wood flooring, and brickwork were retained and restored. The former chapel now serves as a dining space and includes original stained-glass windows, a pipe organ, choir loft and tabernacle, blending historical reverence with elegant design.

A thoughtful interpretive plan incorporates over 1,200 artifacts and memorabilia from former students, along with historic photos and archaeological fragments that tell the building’s layered story. The former auditorium, known today as the Academy Room, still showcases its original stage and Civil War–era elements. Outside, the renovation honors a cemetery where more than 100 nuns are buried.

From the beginning, the project was committed to supporting the local economy. Local artisans – including woodworkers, metalworkers and framers – played key roles in restoring the property and artwork was sourced from regional creators. As part of Historic Hotels of America, Visitation Hotel helps put Frederick on the map for travelers seeking historic accommodations.

The Visitation Hotel Frederick project is more than just a historic preservation effort – it’s a transformative addition to our downtown. It brings new energy and economic vitality, supports small businesses, and invites both locals and visitors to engage with Frederick’s past in a meaningful and immersive way.

As Downtown Frederick continues to grow and evolve, Visitation Hotel stands as a beacon of how we can honor our history while building for the future. It’s a true example of preservation in action – and a reminder that our city’s character lies not only in its bricks and mortar, but in the care we take to preserve what matters.

Learn more and participate in Preservation Month 2025: savingplaces.org/stories/preservation-month-2025

The post Visitation Hotel Frederick: A Historic Transformation Honoring Downtown’s Legacy appeared first on Downtown Frederick Partnership.

Don’t see your favorite place on our list? This is only a start! Be sure to check with individual businesses for their most up-to-date hours. For more great things to see and do in Downtown Frederick, visit downtownfrederick.org/events.

The post Visit Downtown Frederick this Martin Luther King, Jr Day! appeared first on Downtown Frederick Partnership.

With FREE PARKING in all of the City’s garages and meters all day on Monday, September 1, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t make a weekend of it in Downtown Frederick!

Don’t see your favorite place on our list? This is only a start! Be sure to check with individual businesses for their most up-to-date hours*. For more great things to see and do in Downtown Frederick, visit downtownfrederick.org/events

Spend your Labor Day weekend with us!

The post Labor Day in Downtown Frederick appeared first on Downtown Frederick Partnership.

Don’t see your favorite place on our list? This is only a start! Be sure to check with individual businesses for their most up-to-date hours. For more great things to see and do in Downtown Frederick, visit downtownfrederick.org/events.

The post Visit Downtown Frederick this Memorial Day! appeared first on Downtown Frederick Partnership.

1️⃣ It’s a big ole plant party at Attaboy Barrel House tonight! If you love plants don’t miss Plant Palooza with indoor + outdoor plants, art, jewelry, local potters and more!

2️⃣ Make your way to Sky Stage tonight for Comedy Under the Stars! This is the first of their stand up comedy night series.

3️⃣ The AARCH Heritage Center is offering monthly African American History Walking Tours starting this Saturday. Come explore the local history on All Saints Street and the surrounding area.

4️⃣ Catch the last weekend of the May show at Eastside Artists’ Gallery featuring local landscapes of central Maryland by mother-daughter duo Arden McElroy and Jill Hossler.

5️⃣ Keep the fun going on Monday and head over to Frederick Social for Trivia Night on the patio — pups are welcome!

Plant Palooza at Attaboy Barrel House

Friday, May 24, 4-8pm
Attaboy Barrel House – 24 S Wisner St, Suite 100

Anything and everything plants! From indoor plants to outdoor plants, plant art & jewelry, plant dyed apparel & bags, local flowers and potters… it’s a big ole PLANT PARTY!

Comedy Under the Stars at Sky Stage

Friday, May 24, 7:30-9:30pm
Sky Stage – 59 S Carroll St

Sky Stage presents a night of standup comedy under the stars! This summer event kicks off in May and runs every fourth Friday through October. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. Purchase tickets online or at the door.

African American History Walking Tour

Saturday, May 25, 11am-12pm
AARCH Heritage Center – 125 E All Saints St

Join AARCH tour guides for an informative exploration of local history on All Saints Street and the surrounding area. Learn about the cultural and historical importance of the neighborhood that was the center of the African American community until the early 1960s.

“It’s Elemental My Dear” Show @ Eastside Artists’ Gallery

Saturday, May 25 & Sunday, May 26, 1-5pm
Eastside Artists’ Gallery – 313 E Patrick St

The elements of Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water are the cornerstones of the artwork of our featured artists for the month of May. The mother-daughter duo of Arden McElroy and Jill Hossler draw inspiration for their paintings from the rich local landscapes of central Maryland and the seascapes of their travels.

Trivia Night Mondays at Frederick Social

Monday, May 27, 6:30-9:30pm
Frederick Social – 50 Citizens Way

Look at Frederick with new eyes! Experience the history and beauty of downtown as we explore some of the popular architectural styles, local art, and history.

The post Downtown Frederick’s Top 5 | May 24-27 appeared first on Downtown Frederick Partnership.

1️⃣ Momma needs a drink! So good thing the Maryland Craft Beer Festival is taking over Carroll Creek this Saturday pouring more than 200 unique beers — all brewed in Maryland.

2️⃣ Does that special lady in your world like to host or decorate? Author Sean Scherer will be at Crème de la Crème this Saturday for the release of his new book Vignettes.

3️⃣ Gift Mom a Family Theatre Experience at the MET and catch the last showings of The Borrowers.

4️⃣ Make her day with reservations to Brewer’s Alley’s Grand Mother’s Day Buffet on Sunday.

5️⃣ Bring Mom for a stroll through The Frederick City Market on Sunday for the first day back of the season!

Maryland Craft Beer Festival

Saturday, May 11, 12-5pm
Carroll Creek Park, hosted by the Brewers Association of Maryland

Festival entry includes beer samples from dozens of Maryland breweries (including some not yet open to the public!) pouring more than 200 unique, beers – all brewed in Maryland. Plus, live music and a tasty selection of local food and craft vendors throughout the festival.

Sean Scherer Book Signing @ Crème de la Crème

Saturday, May 11, 12-3pm
Crème de la Crème – 207 N Market St

Author Sean Scherer celebrates the release of his new book Vignettes – which focuses on the art of combining common objects into aesthetically pleasing groupings, or vignettes. Learn how to use any surface in your home, from a tabletop to a bookshelf to a wall, to create lively displays of your favorite items.

The Borrowers (Family Theatre Experience) @ MET

Saturday, May 11, 10:30am & 1:30pm
Sunday, May 12, 1:30pm
Maryland Ensemble Theatre – 31 W Patrick St

An imaginative retelling of the delightful classic tale about three tiny people who are big heroes. Bring the kids MET for family time and a show!

Mother’s Day Grand Buffet @ Brewer’s Alley

Sunday, May 12, 9am-3pm
Brewer’s Alley – 124 N Market St

The buffet will feature a Carving & Sauté Station, Brunch, hot and cold items, as well as pastries from Chef Christine. To make a reservation call 301.631.0089.

Frederick City Market Opening Day

Sunday, May 12, 9am-1pm
331 N Market St

The Frederick City Market is back for the season! Join them for opening day on Mother’s Day and pick her up something special from this local food and artisan market, held every Sunday from May through November.

The post Downtown Frederick’s Top 5 | May 10-12 appeared first on Downtown Frederick Partnership.