Reisterstown Festival to Return with New Children's Area, Motorcycle Show

Along with the traditional parade and fireworks display, this year's Reisterstown Festival will feature several additions for thousands of attendees.

Set for the weekend of Sept. 7 at Hannah More Park on 12035 Reisterstown Rd., the family-friendly festival this year will provide live entertainment for kids at the Children's Area, festival co-chair Sherri Brogan said. There will be audience-participation performances from Gerry Gessie Duo Show, interactive storytelling from Middle Earth Studios and the Hannah More Park Playground.

Also for the first time, the festival will feature American Legion Rider's Motorcycle Show on Saturday, following the parade. A stunt bicyclist is scheduled to perform on ramps and teach kids about bike safety, Brogan said.

The committee will continue its tradition with the annual car show on Sunday.

Entering its 27th year, the free festival is scheduled to begin with a parade down Reisterstown's Main Street on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 9 a.m., Brogan said. Fireworks will be held Saturday night, with the International Beer Garden and live music. Civil War re-enactors and demonstrations, local bands and vendors will be available on both days.

Locals voted longtime Reisterstown resident and owner of Ship & Copy, Joe Mandara, to be this year's Parade Grand Marshal, Brogran said.

"The festival was originally called the Reister's Towne Festival in honor of John Reister," Norma Bosley, an Owings Mills resident and festival executive director, told Patch in 2011. "The community started doing the festival as a way to showcase the community and its businesses as well as local artisans, crafters and food vendors."

Music will include performances by Anthony "Swamp Dog" Clark, Old Man Brown, Hectic Red and more.

"We have some really great bands this year," Brogan says.

Attendees may also buy one raffle ticket for $2 or three tickets for $5 to put in any or all of the raffle baskets at the festival tent, Brogan said. Baskets include gift certificates and products from local businesses, including Playoff Sports Bar And Grill, Crown Jewelers, Dreamer's Salon & Day Spa and more.

The 50/50 raffle will be held on both days, with half of the proceeds going to the festival, Brogan said.

Parking will be available on the grounds at Hannah More, with suggested donations of $5 on Saturday ($10 after 5 p.m.) and $5 all day on Sunday. A complimentary shuttle will take attendees to the festival at the lower field.

Mars Supermarket will be the event's main stage sponsor. Other sponsors include Wawa, American Kenpo Karate Studio, Sri Shoe Warehouse and more. To sponsor the festival, email sponsorships@reisterstownfest.com.

"Without [these sponsors], we wouldn't be able to do what we do," Brogan said.

To volunteer in event planning and/or during the event, please email volunteer@reisterstownfest.com.

For more information on the festival, visit www.reisterstownfest.com.