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.

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 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.

1️⃣ Limbo into the weekend at Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar’s Luau Crush Party with Friday $5 crushes and tropical vibes only.

2️⃣ Love your mother… and by mother we mean Mother Earth. Spend #EarthDay2024 at Olde Mother Brewing Co.’s Thrift Market Pop-Up Shop — Open to all ages!

3️⃣ Dive into a world of colors, patterns and endless possibilities this Saturday at the Art Collective’s lively and hands-on monoprinting class.

4️⃣ Grab your besties and head down to Chappelle & Co. this Sunday for a brunch themed candle making workshop — You had us at brunch!

5️⃣ Explore African American spirituals and Latin Liturgy during The Chariot Jubilee collab with Frederick Chorale and Deer Creek Chorale at Evangelical Lutheran Church this Sunday afternoon.

Luau Crush Party! @ Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar

Friday, April 19, 11am-10pm
Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar – 41 S Market St

Get ready to limbo into the weekend at our Luau Crush Party this Friday! Join us from 11am to 10pm for $5 crushes and a tropical vibe that’ll have you saying aloha to good times! Don’t miss out on the fun—grab your grass skirts and sunglasses and let’s hula the night away!

4.20 Love Your Mother Thrift Market Pop-Up

Saturday, April 20, 12pm-4pm
Olde Mother Brewing – 526 N Market St

The Thrift Market Pop-Up is back and better than ever!!!! Come spend Earth Day with us and shop from 9 local vendors who pledge to help save their environment by thrifting, upcycling, tree hugging, and loving our Mother Earth.

This event is for all ages! Guests 21+ are welcome to enjoy delicious beverages served by Olde Mother. Hungry? We got you! Fifty Fifty is always on site serving up bangin’ food and bites all day long!

Entry is free and parking is available at the shared lot across the street at Gravel and Grind + Street parking on North Market, East 6th Street, & West 6th Street.

Bring your reusable bags, and come celebrate with us from 12-4 on 4.20 !!

Monoprinting without the Press @ Art Collective

Saturday, April 20, 11:30am-4:30pm
Art Collective – 141-A N Market St

Get ready to dive into a world of vibrant colors, unique patterns, and endless possibilities. In this lively and hands-on class, you’ll unleash your creativity through the magic of gel printing.

Brunch & Bubbly: A Candle Making Workshop @ Chappelle & Co.

Sunday, April 21, 11am-12:30pm
Chappelle & Co. – 223 N Market St

Enjoy some mimosas and light fares while you create your own 8 oz soy wax candle. Choose from over a dozen different scents such as cashmere musk, cinnamon, vanilla, champagne, and many more! All materials and supplies are included for this workshop. No experience is required!

The Chariot Jubilee @ Evangelical Lutheran Church

Sunday, April 21, 4pm-6pm
Evangelical Lutheran Church – 31 E Church StThe Chariot Jubilee @ Evangelical Lutheran Church

The Frederick Chorale, in collaboration with the Deer Creek Chorale, will perform a collection of music titled The Chariot Jubilee! Our concerts will highlight works from Nathaniel Dett and Maurice Duruflé. These not-often-performed works will explore the intersections between African American spirituals and the Latin Liturgy. Free admission!

The post Downtown Frederick’s Top 5 | April 19-21 appeared first on Downtown Frederick Partnership.

1️⃣ Hunt for red and gold eggs all around Downtown Frederick this Saturday and win Egg-cellent prizes from The Agency and other downtown businesses.

2️⃣ Save room for Brewer’s Alley’s Grand Easter Brunch Buffet on Sunday — Featuring a carving station, hot buffet, salad & seafood bar and desserts from Pastry Chef Christine!

3️⃣ The Wizard of Oz at The Weinberg Center for the Arts is the perfect event to round out your Easter holiday weekend with 2 hours of family fun, filled with high-energy dance, music and clever dialogue.

4️⃣ The Squirrels opens this weekend at The Maryland Ensemble Theatre. Tickets are already sold out for tonight so grab one for Saturday!

5️⃣ It’s the final weekend of the March show at Eastside Artists’ Gallery — Artistry Unleashed, with creative works from their 13 members.

Eggstravaganza at The Agency

Saturday, March 30, 10am-2pm
The Agency Frederick – 11 S Market St

Hunt for red and gold eggs all around Downtown Frederick and win Egg-cellent prizes from The Agency and some of our downtown business friends. Bring your found egg to The Agency Bunny that will be at their office that day and collect your prize. Limit 1 egg per family.

Easter Grand Buffet at Brewer’s Alley

Sunday, March 31, 10am-3pm
Brewer’s Alley – 124 N Market St

The Easter Grand Buffet is one of the most-loved traditions at Brewer’s Alley! This year’s buffet will feature a Carving Station, Hot Buffet, Salad & Seafood Bar and Dessert Display from Pastry Chef Christine. Make your reservations today by calling 301-631-0089 or online.

The Wizard of Oz at The Weinberg

Friday, March 29, 7:30pm-9:30pm | Saturday, March 30, 2pm-4pm & 7:30pm-9:30pm
Weinberg Center for the Arts – 20 W Patrick St

Other Voices Inc. brings to the stage an original adaptation of The Wizard of Oz! The Wizard of Oz is the perfect event to round out your Easter holiday weekend with 2 hours of family fun, filled with high-energy dance, music and clever dialogue as we travel from Kansas to the Emerald City and back again with Dorothy and friends. Perfect for all ages with fantastic lights, specials effect and creative costuming to keep kids and adults alike entertained!

The Squirrels at The Maryland Ensemble Theatre

Saturday, March 30, 8pm
Maryland Ensemble Theatre – 31 W Patrick St

The Squirrels opens this weekend at The Maryland Ensemble Theatre! The patriarch of a family of grey squirrels has stowed away enough nuts for 10 winters, but the fox squirrels from way over near the 7-11 want in on his stash. In this fiercely funny and provocative play, the writer of Hand to God exposes the way we use power and domination to mask our own insecurities and fears.

For mature audiences.

Artistry Unleashed at Eastside Artists’ Gallery

Saturday & Sunday, March 30 & 31, 1pm-5pm
Eastside Artists’ Gallery – 313 E Patrick St

It’s the final weekend to visit Eastside Artists’ Gallery March show, featuring artwork from their 13 members.

Due to the holiday weekend, be sure to check with individual businesses for their most up-to-date hours.

Businesses to be closed on Easter Sunday:

Agave 137
A Lit’le Irish Too
Beans and Bagels
Crash and Catharsis Rage Factory
Dream House
Edgeworks Knife & Supply Co
Elliott’s Antique Store
Olde Mother Brewing
The Basement Hair Co.

The post Downtown Frederick’s Top 5 | March 29-31 appeared first on Downtown Frederick Partnership.

1️⃣ It’s the last weekend for Sailing Through The Winter Solstice on Carroll Creek. Come say goodbye to this year’s fleet and vote for your favorite boat before midnight on Friday (March 1).

2️⃣ Heritage Frederick is reopening to the public this Friday and Saturday! Admission to the Museum of Frederick County History gives you access to SIX new exhibits, the house and garden.

3️⃣ Use your detective skills to participate in a First Saturday Mystery with the Academy for the Fine Arts and Surelocked In Escape Games. Visit various downtown locations to unlock clues and discover who is the next great artist of Frederick!

4️⃣ Enjoy an artisan pop up at McClintock Distilling on Saturday with The Maker’s Valley and 20+ local vendors – admission is free!

5️⃣ Frederick Restaurant Week returns as a newly imagined two-week culinary experience: Bites & Bevs. Starting Sunday (March 3), enjoy curated menus from 15 of Downtown Frederick’s most popular eateries! But make sure you save your appetite for Collab Week…

Sailing Through The Winter Solstice

Friday – Sunday, March 1-3
Carroll Creek Park

Sailing Through The Winter Solstice completes its voyage for this season on March 9 so that means this is the last weekend to enjoy the fleet before they are gone! The deadline to vote for your favorite boat is Friday, March 1 at midnight.

Exhibits at Heritage Frederick

Friday, March 1, 12pm-4pm | Saturday, March 2, 10am-4pm
Heritage Frederick – 24 E Church St

Heritage Frederick will reopen to the public on March 1 at noon! They invite you to mark your calendars, prepurchase your tickets, and/or stop in for a visit to the Museum of Frederick County History. Your admission ticket gives you access to SIX new exhibits, the house, and the garden.

Raiders of the Lost Art: A First Saturday Mystery

Saturday, March 2, 1-5pm
Delaplaine Arts Center – 40 S Carroll St

A mysterious set of artwork has been discovered in the basement of the Delaplaine! We need your help to visit various Downtown Frederick locations and match each work with the artist it represents. Solve the final puzzle to learn the identity of our Mystery Artist! Start the game at the Delaplaine Arts Center, 40 S Carroll St, Frederick, MD 21701.

The Maker’s Valley Spring Fling Market at McClintock Distillery

Saturday, March 2 25, 12pm-5pm
McClintock Distilling Co – 35 S Carroll St

Enjoy an Artisan pop up at McClintock Distillery featuring 20 local vendors. Plus Traditional Authentic Mexican food truck will be on site for yummy eats.

Bites & Bevs

Sunday, March 3 – Saturday, March 16
Downtown Frederick

Frederick Restaurant Week returns in 2024 as a newly imagined two-week long experience showcasing downtown’s robust culinary and craft beverage scene. Bites & Bevs will captivate the curiosity and the appetites of our community as local food and beverage establishments come together for an all-new Collab Week full of limited-time offerings and unique events.  

The post Downtown Frederick’s Top 5 | March 1-3 appeared first on Downtown Frederick Partnership.

Here’s some ideas to get you started:

1️⃣ It’s not too late to attend Celebrate Frederick’s first ever speak-easy style Bootleggers Ball on Friday at McClintock Distilling – costumes encouraged!

2️⃣ Hear straight from the artists featured in The House on Jonathan Street documentary (making its television debut across America this week) and Gaslight Gallery exhibit opening this weekend.

3️⃣ Grab your gals and head over to Frederick Social on Saturday for a Galentine’s Day party featuring shopping, snacks, flirty cocktails and photo ops!

4️⃣ Keep the celebrations going at Brewer’s Alley Mardi Gras Bash on Saturday with music, drinks, and special menu items. Yes, there will be Beignets!

5️⃣ We know this event isn’t until Tuesday… but it’s too good not to extend your weekend plans! Join Attaboy Beer and Curious Iguana for a romance book fair for adults only. Blind date with a book, enjoy pink drinks, take selfies, plus local romance authors will be book signing.

Bootleggers Ball at McClintock Distilling

Friday, February 9, 8pm-11pm
McClintock Distilling – 35 S Carroll St

Presented by Celebrate Frederick, take a step back in time for a speak-easy style, costumed affair with live music, games, raffles, appetizers and specialty cocktails.

Presented by Celebrate Frederick, ticket includes live music by Hard Swimmin’ Fish, appetizers from Union Mills Public House, souvenir photo print from Selfie Mode DC, and one drink ticket. 21+ event.

The House on Jonathan Street Exhibit @ Gaslight Gallery

Saturday, February 10, 1pm – 6pm | Sunday, February 11, 2pm
Gaslight Gallery – 118 E Church St

The House on Jonathan Street, the latest documentary from 3 Roads Communications, is making its broadcast television debut on 200 Public Television stations across America. This one-hour documentary uses the accidental discovery of the significant history of a modest dwelling on a traditionally African American street in Hagerstown, MD to trace the roots of middle America’s racial, economic and social interactions.

The House on Jonathan Street exhibit at Gaslight Gallery will run February 10 through March 31 and feature two artist talks from Graffdummy, Russ Hodge, Patrick Hodge and Mellah Nix.

Galentine’s Day at Frederick Social

Saturday, February 10, 12pm – 10pm
Frederick Social – 50 Citizen’s Way

Grab your gals and head on over for a fun-filled day at Frederick Social!
Shop their Mini-Market of vendors, enjoy music from female pop artists, sip on flirty cocktails, snack on tasty light bites, enjoy a photo op in front of our festive backdrops and more!

Mardi Gras Bash at Brewer’s Alley

Saturday, February 10, 9pm-1am
Brewer’s Alley – 124 N Market St

Get into the Mardi Gras spirit! Brewer’s Alley will have the music, the eats, and all the special cocktails.

Perfect Match: A Romance Book Fair for Adults at Attaboy Barrel House

Tuesday, February 13, 5pm-7:30pm
Attaboy Barrel House – 24 S Wisner St, Suite 110

Join Attaboy Beer and Curious Iguana for a romance book fair for adults!
Featuring romance books, blind date with a book, local authors signing books, pink drinks, tote bags, a cute selfie station, and more!

Local romance authors Sarah Adler, Andie Burke, and Emily Duvall will be signing books at the event. This event is free and open to the public.

The post Downtown Frederick’s Top 5, February 9-11 appeared first on Downtown Frederick Partnership.