Maryland Leaves Beginning To Turn, Plus Festivals Oct. 12-13

MARYLAND — While fall foliage colors have peaked in the state's western counties, leaves are starting to change across much of the rest of state. But cooler nights are setting in, which sparks brilliant golds, red and orange hues, Marylanders in the Baltimore/DC area jut have to wait another week or two, said the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Western Maryland takes center stage this weekend with the 52nd Annual Autumn Glory Festival at Deep Creek Lake in Oakland, Garrett County. The celebration runs through Sunday offering a variety of activities indoors and outdoors to celebrate the beauty of the local fall foliage. Travel & Leisure named Oakland “America’s Best Town for Fall Colors.” Celebrate Mother Nature’s gorgeous foliage surrounding Deep Creek Lake with parades, a farmers market, concerts, antiques and crafts shows, and a car show.

Anne Arundel County Project Forester Justin Arseneault said there is not a lot of color change in the area yet. “Some understory trees like flowering dogwood and eastern redbud are beginning to show signs of yellow and red, but green remains the dominant color for now — I think we will still see some color in another week or two.”

“This year’s fall colors in Garrett County are undoubtedly more brilliant than last season,” says Ranger Adam Stachowiak, assistant manager of Herrington Manor, Swallow Falls, and Wolf Den Run state parks. “Many leaves have already begun falling, however the maples and hickories are still producing eye pleasing color changes. Get in the woods and enjoy it before it is too late!”

Frederick County leaves are just beginning to change, according to Ranger Mark Spurrier, manager of Cunningham Falls and Gambrill state parks. In Baltimore County, Patapsco Valley State Park is beginning to experience color changes, says Ranger Felicia Graves.

Diana Marsteller, naturalist at Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area in Cecil County, says her area still seeing mostly green, but a bit more yellow on walnuts and hickories, and even some red on a few maples. “The colder temps this week will hopefully lead to some deeper hues by the weekend,” she says.

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“The dogwood leaves in Kent and Queen Anne’s counties are turning burgundy and many are full of red berries,” according to Maryland Forest Service Upper Shore Project Manager Teri Batchelor.

Assateague State Park Manager Angela Baldwin said that there is just a touch of yellow so far on Maryland’s easternmost shore.

Staff at Point Lookout State Park concur that the foliage is just beginning to change but is still primarily green.

Weekend festivals include:

SATURDAY
Patuxent River Appreciation Days
Calvert County
Nanticoke River Jamboree: Water and Woodlands
Dorchester County
Havre de Grace Annual Oktoberfest
Harford County
Fall Fest with Oysters in Rock Hall
Kent County
Hagerstown Harvest Hoedown
Washington County

SUNDAY
Historic Hancock's Resolution Fall Harvest Festival and Dinner
Anne Arundel County
Fall Festival in La Plata
Charles County

ALL WEEKEND
United States Sailboat Show
Anne Arundel County
Mount Harmon National Revolutionary War Re-enactment and Colonial Festival
Cecil County
Catoctin Colorfest
Frederick County
Twilight's Last Gleaming
Frederick County
Autumn Glory Festival
Garrett County
Bethesda Row Arts Festival
Montgomery County
"For the Defence of this Province"
Washington County