Maryland Renaissance FestivalCrownsville
Saturdays and Sundays through October 25
Its 50th season, a whole made up village with armored jousting, 200 performers on ten stages and comedy sword fights.
Fall in Baltimore, Annapolis and Frederick4 things
The ones people drive in from other counties for. Most of them run the whole season, so you don't have to pick a weekend yet.
Butler's Orchard Pumpkin FestivalGermantown
Wednesday to Sunday, September 19 to November 1
Pick your own pumpkins, hayrides, jump pads and a corn maze, and weekends sell out so reserve.
Magnolia Meadow Farms Fall FestivalThurmont
Saturdays and Sundays, September 26 to November 1
The biggest corn maze in Maryland, plus apple cannons, zip lines and mountain slides, and moonlit maze nights October 10 and 24.
Fall Festival at Summers FarmMiddletown
September 26 to November 1
A pumpkin train, wagon rides, giant slides, corn pits and a corn maze, over 30 years running.
The little stuff, by town0 things
The city Halloween parties and the trunk or treats and the free stuff. Cities post their 2026 dates late, so anything marked "check the date" gets fixed the second it's announced.
The cities post these in early November. Check back.
For the rest of your list
These don't need an address, tap them and they go on your list with everything else.
Christmas in Baltimore, Annapolis and Frederick3 things
Most of these post their 2026 dates in the fall, so these show last year's windows.
Miracle on 34th Street in HampdenBaltimore
right after Thanksgiving through New Year's Day · check the date
A whole Baltimore block of rowhouses gone over the top, with a hubcap Christmas tree, best walked since it gets crowded.
Temple Festival of LightsKensington
through December · check the date
Hundreds of thousands of lights around the temple grounds, with a big decorated tree and Christmas music.
Garden of Lights at Brookside GardensWheaton
nightly 5 to 9, late November into early January · check the date
A half mile walk through light tunnels and glowing animals, and weeknights are less crowded.
Town Christmas stuff
The town stuff, and I'll add the tree lightings as the cities post them in November.
Christmas in Annapolis
Lights on the Bay
late November through New Year's Day · check the date
A two mile drive along the Chesapeake Bay with a scavenger hunt hidden in the lights.
For the rest of your Christmas list
This is the at-home stuff, tap them and they go on your list with the lights and the train.
put it on the wall
Turn your Christmas picks into a real bucket list
Tap the lights and the trains and the town stuff you want and pick the Christmas design you like, and I'll hold onto your picks. The Christmas lists are coming soon, and the second they're up your picks drop straight into the slots.
Good any weekend0 things
The stuff that doesn't need a date, for the Saturday when nothing's going on.
Baltimore, Annapolis and Frederick fall and Christmas questions
When is the Maryland Renaissance Festival in 2026?
Saturdays and Sundays from August 29 through October 25, 2026, its 50th season.
When is Butler's Orchard Pumpkin Festival in 2026?
Wednesday to Sunday from September 19 to November 1, 2026.
who's writing this
Hi, I'm Amy.
We roadschool six kids out of a van. I'm just a mom with a Ford Transit and a lot of opinions about corn mazes, so if something on here is wrong, or your town's party is missing, email me at hello@bellebucket.com and I'll fix it.
put it on the wall
Turn your picks into a real bucket list
Tap the ones you want and I'll drop them onto whichever fall design you pick, then you add your own stuff (birthdays, carving pumpkins, whatever your family does). It prints big, like 24x36 big, and it hangs on the wall all season.