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Event Calendar

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May 2013:

18Feb

Hoecakes & Hospitality: Cooking with Martha Washington

February 18 - August 11

Location: Mount Vernon, NorthernVirginia

George and Martha Washington welcomed thousands of guests to Mount Vernon.  How did Martha manage to feed so many in a world without refrigerators, microwaves or running water?

Experience a behind-the-scenes look at the Washingtons’ kitchen through the new exhibition.  This temporary exhibition explores how foods were prepared and presented at 18th-century Mount Vernon. Before appearing in dining rooms, crispy hoecakes, smokes hams, frozen ice creams, and other foods required the work of gardeners, housekeepers, cooks, butlers and waiters – all under Martha Washington’s careful supervision.  Follow food from the estate's field to the table.

1Apr

A Million Blooms at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

April 1 - June 2

Location: Richmond, Virginia

A Million Blooms kicks off with Orchids Galore! in the conservatory!

The Garden celebrates spring with millions of blooms throughout the season: daffodils, cherry blossoms, tulips, irises, roses and peonies. Highlights include special events including Mother’s Day, the Spring Plant Sale and plant shows, and activities in the Children’s Garden.

Lewis Ginter Conservatory

5Apr

Orioles Baseball

April 5 - September 29

Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Experience the great American pastime at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in downtown Baltimore. A great spectator sport with hotdogs, bar-b-cue and beer!

12Apr

Virginia Arts Festival

April 12 - June 30

Location: Coastal Virginia

Every spring, the Virginia Arts Festival brings new reasons to celebrate the gift of the arts— unforgettable performances by virtuoso artists who have commanded the greatest stages in the world, “you saw it here first” discoveries of new artists, and experiences that span from the stage-filling spectacular to the sublimely intimate. 

26Apr

Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival

April 26 - May 5

Location: Winchester, Virginia

The Festival is held in the beautiful and historic Northern Shenandoah Valley.  It is an event the whole family can enjoy featuring a series of more than thirty events including: band competitions, dances, parades, carnival, circus, dinners, luncheons, a 10K Race, the Coronation of Queen Shenandoah, Firefighters' events, and celebrities.  Just 75 miles west of Washington, D.C. Winchester is a small city with a rural atmosphere. Crowds in excess of 250,000 attend the Festival each year.

1May

Passport DC

May 1 - May 31

Location: Washington, DC

Passport DC is a month long celebration of international cultural Awareness in Washington, DC. With tours of more than 70 embassies and hundreds of other international activities, it is easy to travel around the world without ever leaving the city!

3May

Washington National Cathedral Flower Mart

May 3 - May 4

Location: Washington, DC

Held on the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral since 1939, this outdoor family festival is sponsored by the volunteer organization, All Hallows Guild. All proceeds benefit the 59 remarkable acres of gardens and grounds surrounding the Cathedral—a haven of refreshment and peace for all visitors to enjoy. Each year one of Washington's embassies is honored.

Event features plant sales, children's activities, food, music, dance, gift boutiques, book sale and silent auction.

4May

Virginia Gold Cup

May 4

Website: vagoldcup.com
Location: Great Meadow in The Plains, Virginia

Come enjoy the world famous Virginia Gold Cup steeplechase race at Great Meadow in The Plains, Virginia. The Virginia Gold Cup is a grand spring tradition as well as a fixture on the social calendar. Attended by over 50,000 spectators, this race is one of the largest and most popular sporting events in the greater Washington metropolitan area. Race day features six hurdle and timber horses races, Jack Russell Terrier races, tent, tailgate and hat contests, and vendor booths for shopping.

4May

Kinetic Sculpture Race

May 4

Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Have fun at this race of wacky, imaginative, totally human-powered works of art constructed out of whatever is lying around and designed to travel on land, through mud, and over deep Harbor waters. Kinetinauts compete for the highly prized Next-to-the-Last Award (finishes, well, next to last), and serious prizes including Art and Engineering.

4May

Chincoteague Seafood Festival

May 4

Location: Chincoteague (Eastern Shore), Virginia

A spring seafood festival has been held here on Chincoteague Island for more than four decades.  Indulge in "Little Neck" clams, oysters, fish and a variety of sides.  Live music will be provided all afternoon for your listening & dancing pleasure.

The festival provides a venue to sample the best-of-the-best local seafood. It is a spring tradition on the Eastern Shore of Virginia...be a part of it.

4May

Silver Spring Fine Arts Festival

May 4 - May 5

Location: Silver Spring, Maryland

More than 100 artists representing a variety of artistic disciplines including photography, paint, jewelry, metalwork, digital art, sculpture, mixed media, fiber, drawing, wood, ceramics and glass. The artists will be on site.

5May

Ocean City Restaurant Week

May 5 - May 19

Location: Ocean City, Maryland

In addition to their regular menu, participating Restaurant Week establishments offer special Restaurant Week fixed price menu options.  Dining options range from simple to fine dining.

Check to see what participating restaurants are offering here.

8May

Maryland Film Festival

May 8 - May 12

Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Maryland Film Festival is an annual four-day event that takes place the first weekend of each May, presenting top-notch film and video work from all over the world. Each year the festival screens approximately 50 feature films and 75 short films of all varieties -- narrative, documentary, animation, experimental, and hybrid -- to tens of thousands of audience members.

10May

PANorama Caribbean Music Festival

May 10 - May 11

Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia

The PANorama Caribbean Music Fest is a musical adventure set to the soothing sounds of steel pan music. The festival’s casual atmosphere appeals to people of all ages who are intrigued by the unique sounds and style of steel drum music! Fusing together the rhythm of steel bands, ocean breezes, and great Caribbean food, the breathtaking Virginia Beach oceanfront becomes an “island paradise” for the weekend.

11May

Women of Sotterley Plantation

May 11

Website: sotterley.org
Location: Hollywood, Maryland

Discover the women of Sotterley. Whether it was the mistress of the house, the farm manager's wife, the heiress, or the enslaved servants, the women of Sotterley were fascinating people who lived extraordinary lives. Limited to 20 people per tour.

11May

Wine Festival at Monticello

May 11

Location: Charlottesville, Virginia

Join us for an unforgettable evening on the West Lawn of Monticello. Enjoy the splendor of spring while tasting Virginia’s best vintages at the only house in America designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Tickets include tours of Jefferson's Monticello, live music on the West Lawn, and tastings of Virginia's most celebrated local vintages.

11May

Jamestown Day

May 11

Location: Williamsburg, Virginia

Mark the 406th anniversary of the 1607 founding in Virginia of America’s first permanent English settlement with family-friendly tours, military and maritime displays, and traditional music, storytelling and entertainment. Separate site admission. 

11May

Luray Festival of Spring

May 11

Location: Luray, Virginia

Join us in beautiful Luray, the town where the Caverns meet the sky, for the Annual Festival of Spring. You will be surrounded by fine crafters, delicious foods and live entertainment in our beautiful Downtown. Sample wines from Virginia Wineries.  Children will be full of smiles once they see all of our activities in the Inn Lawn Park.  10 a.m.-6 p.m. 

16May

Beach Music Weekend

May 16 - May 19

Location: Location: Virginia Beach (Tidewater and Hampton Roads)

Beach Music Weekend blends the best of the "oldies" with dancing under the stars in a jam-packed blast to the past! Settle into the sand as Beach Music Bands from the East Coast descend on Virginia Beach in a nostalgic salute to the "good old days" of cool cars and hot tunes.

A three-day series of free concerts is presented on a stage built right on the beach at 30th Street.

17May

Secret Garden Party

May 17

Location: Richmond, Virginia

Downtown Richmond's historic Court End neighborhood invites the public to a progressive cocktail party featuring the urban gardens and green spaces of the Valentine Richmond History Center, the John Marshall House, the Museum and White House of the Confederacy, Monumental Church (Historic Richmond Foundation) and the VCU Massey Cancer Center. All five sites are located within five square blocks and will be open throughout the evening, with a variety of music and refreshments at each. A complimentary shuttle will circulate throughout the evening. Guests may begin and end their evening at any of the five sites. Tickets are available either in advance or at the door of any of the five sites.

18May

Preakness Stakes

May 18

Location: Pimlico Racetrack, Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore celebrates the second jewel in horse racing’s Triple Crown, culminating in the annual running of the Preakness Stakes at north Baltimore’s Pimlico Racetrack.

23May

Ralph Stanley Festival

May 23 - May 25

Location: Coeburn, Virginia

This is one of the best festivals in Virginia - and one you definitely shouldn't miss! The sound of banjos, mandolins and voices ringing high on top of some of the most beautiful mountains you will ever see!

24May

Salute to Summer

May 24 - May 26

Location: Virginia Beach, VA

Salute to Summer is an unabashed “Star-Spangled” salute to great music from the past and present, fun in the sun, and our American military! Live entertainment on three outdoor stages includes music of different styles and eras.

25May

Sotterley Plantation and The War of 1812

May 25

Website: sotterley.org
Location: Hollywood, Maryland

"The Choice – Risking Your Life for Freedom" - Sotterley Plantation presents a living history event written by Dale Jones. This interactive experience will take the audience on a journey from the perspective of the enslaved at Sotterley during that summer of 1814.

27May

National Memorial Day Celebration & Parade

May 27

Location: Washington, DC

The National Memorial Day Parade includes nearly 200 elements, including marching bands, active duty and retired military units, youth groups, and parade floats—as well as hundreds of veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

29May

Capital Pride

May 29 - June 9

Location: Washington, DC

More than 250,000 people celebrate gay pride in America's capital city.

30May

Clinch River Days Festival

May 30 - June 1

Location: St. Paul, Virginia

A weekend of fun in the mountains! Tours and exhibitions of the designated Scenic River, schedule a caving or canoe trip, hike the eight miles of maintained trails along the Clinch River. Other features: Juried art and photography shows, wine & cheese tasting with local vineyards, Clinch River Cruisers Classic Car Show, games, crafts and Food Vendors.