Christina Lippincott

For 37 years the annual Caroline Summerfest Festival in Denton has marked the turn toward fall in Caroline County.  As vacations wind down and families prepare to return to the regular schedules set by school days, Summerfest has symbolized one last hurrah of family, friends, and food coupled with great music on two stages. Festival operation hours are 5:00 to 9:00pm each day for the two-day event on Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22. Free parking and shuttle bus transportation are available from the Health and Public Services Building located at 407 South Seventh Street on both days.

Kid and family friendly activities are a key feature. Fire truck rides, and Shore Party Rentals events ($) will again be located throughout the three-block historic downtown. Our Kids Event Tent, located on 2^nd Street, will incorporate some new and fun ways to be a kid.

Friday stage performance highlights on two festival stages include The Courthouse Band, Quinn Parsley and the students of Parsley School of Music, Anna Burgess, Justin Singleton, Elena Barrett, and Kelly Bell Band.

Saturday performances include Callum, Cyber Strike, Nelly’s Echo, Black Dog Alley, Madisun Bailey, and Chesapeake Sons; as well as strolling performer, Gena Lohr.

Performance schedule is posted on the Caroline Summerfest website at: www.carolinesummerfest.com, as well as Caroline Summerfest on Facebook.

Special thanks to these sponsors: WIN Transport, Burke & Herbert Bank, Sisk Fullfillment, Gray’s Gas, Fred Frederick, Harper & Sons, Smiles by Holsinger & Higgins, A&R Builders.

The event also includes:

• The Summerfest Car Show on Friday, August 21^st, will include an exclusive display of classic and custom cars in partnership with the Ridgely Car Show.
• Join us on Saturday, August 22^nd for our annual Rivah Run. This family fun event will be hosted at Martinak State Park this year. Check-in begins at 8:00am, with launch time 9:00am. Visit the Recreation and Parks website for more information and to sign up! Don’t wait! SPACE IS LIMITED to 100 boats!

Other features include:

• Saturday Fireworks display at 9:00 pm sharp
• Artisan vendors will be on hand selling their wares.
• Plus, bounces, giant slides and games, face painting, and other activities that will keep kids and adults busy for hours!
• And, of course, you can also enjoy the variety of festival foods, all benefiting local nonprofits!

Free Festival Shuttle Transportation

There is plenty of free parking at 107 South Seventh Street in Denton at the Health & Public Services Building near the Denton Fire Department. Accessible and air-conditioned shuttle buses travel from the parking area on 7^th Street directly into the heart of the festival thanks to the sponsorship support of Smiles by Higgins and Holsinger.

Caroline Summerfest is a pet-free, wheel-free, smoke-free and alcohol-free event. Park your bicycle, scooters and skateboards on the bike racks located at Third and Gay streets. For more information, call 410-479-8120 or visit www.carolinesummerfest.com. Like the event on Facebook for festival updates at facebook.com/carolinesummerfest.

The festival is supported in part by a grant from the Caroline County Council of Arts and the Maryland State Arts Council. The Town of Denton and Caroline County Recreation and Parks produce the event with the volunteer support of 75+ volunteers.

Outstanding Dreams Alpaca Farm is pleased to introduce Alpaca Weekends at the Farm, a new monthly event series running from May through November on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Designed as a fun, family-friendly experience, Alpaca Weekends at the Farm invite visitors to enjoy the farm with free admission and a variety of engaging activities for all ages.

Guests can meet and take photos with alpacas, explore the scenic property, and shop for unique gifts and alpaca products in the farm store. Guided group tours led by owner Phil Liske are available for $10 per person and offer a closer look at alpaca care, fiber production, and life on the farm. Each weekend will also feature rotating local food trucks, including Belly Bustin Grill on May 2 and 3, Smokin the Shore June 6, T & D Fusions June 7 and Sept. 7, EZ Access Eats on June 7, Oct. 3-4, and Nov. 7-8.

The Outstanding Dreams Farm Store will offer 10% off all items at the store each event weekend. The store features unique and handcrafted items made from the luxurious alpaca fiber, including apparel and outerwear, hats, woven rugs, blankets and throws, alpaca yarn, handbags and totes, fiber pillows, plush items for babies, gloves and mittens, knitting kits, sweaters and shawls, socks, scarves, and accessories.

Tours can be reserved in advance at: https://alpacaweekendsfarm.eventbrite.com
Walk-up tour registrations will also be available on-site, but reservations are encouraged.

Select weekends will also include special yoga programming. On Aug. 1 at 11 a.m., guests can participate in a unique outdoor yoga experience led by Rising Tides Yoga, combining relaxation and movement in a peaceful farm setting. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased online at https://yogaalpacafarmAug1.eventbrite.com. Other yoga events will be hosted May 8 and June 5 at 6 p.m. To purchase tickets for May 8 visit https://yogaalpacafarmMay8.eventbrite.com, and for June 5 at 6 p.m. visit https://yogaalpacafarmJune5.eventbrite.com

“We’re excited to introduce Alpaca Weekends as a new way for the community to experience the farm,” said Phil Liske, Owner. “It’s a chance to slow down, connect with animals, and enjoy a fun day outdoors with family and friends.”

Event Details:
Alpaca Weekends at the Farm
First Saturday & Sunday of each month, May–November
11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Free Admission; Group Tours $10 per person

For more information and tour reservations, visit: https://alpacaweekendsfarm.eventbrite.com

The historic Eastern Shore town of Denton has officially earned designation as a Bird City Maryland community, an honor that recognizes the town’s commitment to protecting birds, preserving healthy habitats, and fostering environmental education.

Created in 2019, Bird City Maryland encourages communities to enhance the environment for birds and educate the public about the role birds play in a healthy community. For Denton, the designation reflects a strong connection to the Choptank River watershed and a commitment to supporting bird-friendly practices, public education, and the habitats that sustain local wildlife.

Denton’s Bird City designation was made possible through a partnership between the Town of Denton, Caroline County Bird Club, Caroline County Garden Club, Leaf & Bed, and Wild Ones Delmarva Chapter. Together, these partners are helping highlight the connection between healthy habitats, community education, and the natural beauty visitors can experience throughout Caroline County.

Located along the Atlantic Flyway, Denton is well positioned for birding in every season. Its surrounding mix of rivers, wetlands, forests, and nearby parks creates the kind of habitat that draws both native species and migrating birds to Caroline County. For birders and outdoor explorers, the town serves as a natural starting point for experiencing the county’s wildlife and scenic beauty.

Within the town of Denton, Daniel Crouse Memorial Park offers one of the most accessible spots for birding. Set along the Choptank River, the park includes waterfront views, marsh habitat, a boardwalk, and short walking paths that make it easy for visitors to watch for birds while exploring the riverfront. The park is also home to the Wharves of Choptank Visitor & Heritage Center, providing information about the region, parking, restrooms, river views, and access to the park’s nature trail and waterfront amenities.

Denton’s Bird City story also comes to life through public art made possible by the Caroline County Council of Arts. Along the waterfront at the Wharves of Choptank Visitor & Heritage Center, Rob Brownlee-Tomasso’s Choptank Takes Flight features eight panels of native birds, creating a colorful link between local wildlife and the Choptank River. Downtown, Parran Collery’s From the Heron’s Eye mural at 12 S. Third Street depicts Denton’s waterways through a 17-foot-long mosaic of flowing blue-green currents, fish, native plants, butterflies, and other watershed wildlife. The piece is anchored by a graceful heron and treflects the movement of the river and the habitats that support birds and wildlife throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Birders can extend their visit beyond downtown Denton and explore a range of habitats throughout Caroline County. From the wooded marshes and lake edges of Tuckahoe State Park to the floodplain forests of Idylwild Wildlife Management Area , and smaller sanctuaries like Pelot Wildlife Sanctuary near Greensboro, there are many opportunities to spot both resident species and migratory birds throughout the year. In neighboring Ridgely, Adkins Arboretum offers 400 acres of native gardens, meadows, wetlands, streams, and forested trails within Tuckahoe State Park. The arboretum also offers bird-focused programming, including seasonal migration walks, Slow Birding events, and guided bird-watching walks for groups.

Denton’s Bird City designation gives visitors another way to experience Caroline County. To learn more and to plan your visit, go to visitcaroline.org.

Photos by Mickey Pullen.

Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Linchester Mill Campus, 3390 Linchester Rd, Preston, Maryland, 21655, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Preston, Maryland – On Saturday, April 11, 2026 (rain date April 12), The Leverton Hubbard Foundation in partnership with the Caroline County Historical Society will host Land, Legacy and Freedom: Native American Strength Shapes a Nation, at the historic Linchester Mill Campus in Preston, Maryland, featuring local tribal communities, The Nause-Waiwash Band of Indians and The Pocomoke Indian Nation, whose histories are deeply rooted in Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

This day-long educational and cultural program will explore the 18th century with special emphasis on the era surrounding 1776 and the meaning of independence. Programming begins at 10:00 AM and continues throughout the day until 5:00 PM.

The Native American communities will share their traditions, and perspectives through presentations, traditional dance, drumming, music, artifact exhibitions, guided historical walks, and immersive demonstrations of traditional life skills.

All ages will have the opportunity to watch, touch and participate. Highlights include native flute, hide tanning using stone and bone tools, traditional turkey hunting techniques, cattail decoys, flintknapping, and use of native plants.

Guests, exhibitors, and volunteers are encouraged to wear historical clothing to enhance the immersive experience.

Tribal presentations and cultural demonstrations will address thought-provoking questions such as:

• Was July 4, 1776, a day of celebration for Native Americans?
• Did local tribes fight in the Revolutionary War — and if so, on which side?
• Did tribes remain, relocate, or adapt during this era of political upheaval?
• What was life like on the Eastern Shore in the 1700s?

The Historic Linchester Mill Campus, including the Mill Pond Trail, Leverton Manor, and the Hog Island one-room schoolhouse, provides a meaningful setting for reflection and learning. Activities and demonstrations will take place simultaneously throughout the campus.

The mission of the Leverton Hubbard Foundation is to ensure the survival and legacy recognition of Harriet Tubman, Jacob & Hannah Leverton and Daniel Hubbard through training, education, events, and interactive tours.

Thank you to our generous sponsors: The Preston Automotive Group, Shore United Bank, Maryland Humanities, The Caroline County Council of Arts, Choptank Electric Trust, The Maryland 250 Commission, and The Caroline County 250 Commission. This project has been financed in part with State funds from the Maryland Historical Trust, an agency in the MD Department of Planning.

All images attached are property of the Pocomoke Indian Nation, Inc., taken and donated by John Brinton Photography.

Caroline County Recreation and Parks (CCRP) is welcoming the community to lace up, wear their green, and kick off spring with the 18th Annual St. Paddy’s Day 5K, 1-Mile Fun Run, and Lil’ Leprechaun Dash on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the General James F. Fretterd Community Center in Denton. The race day fun begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. with a fast, certified and scenic course through town designed to energize both competitive runners and casual participants.

This family-friendly event includes something for every age and pace: a spirited 5K, a 1-Mile Fun Run, and the always-popular Lil’ Leprechaun Dash. Participants are encouraged to “dare to wear” their St. Patrick’s Day spirit as they take part in a community tradition that celebrates fitness, fun, and local pride.

Registration and deadlines:
Online registration is available via seashorestriders.com and closes at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 13. Early registration discounts are available through Friday, February 20, and Tech Performance T-shirts are guaranteed for all early registrants. Registration is capped at 250 people, so early sign-up is strongly encouraged.

Registration fees:

• 5K: $35 in advance / $40 after February 20

• 1-Mile Fun Run: $20 in advance / $25 after February 20

• Lil’ Leprechaun Dash: $7 in advance / $10 after February 20

Race-day logistics are supported by chip timing and finish-line coordination from Tim Bamforth and Seashore Striders, helping ensure a smooth, professional experience for participants and spectators. Awards will be presented for Overall and Masters Champions, as well as the top three finishers in 15 age groups for the 5K.

The course is flat and gently graded, featuring an out-and-back route through scenic residential neighborhoods. Proceeds from the event help support youth registration financial aid for CCRP programs, directly benefiting local families and community recreation opportunities.

Event Details

What: 18th Annual St. Paddy’s Day 5K, 1-Mile Fun Run & Lil’ Leprechaun Dash
When: Saturday, March 14, 2026 • Race begins at 9:00 a.m.
Where: General James F. Fretterd Community Center, 107 South 4th Street, Denton, MD 21629

Winter can make it a little too easy to stay indoors—but the Healthy Parks, Healthy People Winter Schedule is the perfect reason to bundle up and get outside. Whether you’re looking for a casual mid-morning stroll, a guided walk with friendly conversation, or a longer hike that gets your heart pumping, there are plenty of chances to chase away the winter blues and enjoy the outdoors with others.

Year-Round Favorite: Martinak Morning Walk

If you’re craving something consistent and low-pressure, the Martinak Morning Walk is a great weekly routine. Walks meet at the Martinak State Park Office at 10:30 AM. Tuesdays and Thursdays are guided and take place on a paved trail. Walks are about 1 mile (roughly 2,000 steps) with benches along the way—perfect for a steady pace and time to enjoy nature. Want a little more mileage? Walkers can choose to extend to 1.5 miles by looping through the camp areas and trails before returning to the start.
Meet at the gravel parking area on the left past the park office.

Wednesday Winter Hikes: February Through May

If you’d like something more adventurous, the Wednesday Winter Hike Schedule runs February through May, meeting Wednesdays at 10:30 AM. These hikes range from 3 to 5 miles across a variety of terrains and locations, offering a great way to build endurance, explore new trails, and enjoy the camaraderie of hiking with a group. Dress for the weather, and bring water and a snack so you’re comfortable and fueled along the way.

Here’s the lineup:

February

• Feb 4: Pickering Creek — Boundary Walk (Meet at the Visitor Center Parking Area)

• Feb 11: Adkins Arboretum — Loop it Walk (Meet at Visitor Center Parking Area)

• Feb 18: Tuckahoe State Park — Lake Trail (Meet at Tuckahoe Lake Parking Area)

• Feb 25: Terrapin Nature Park — Cross Island Trail (Meet at Exit 37 Parking Area)

March

• Mar 4: Idylwild WMA — Marshy Hope Creek (Meet at Houston Branch Parking Area)

• Mar 11: Tuckahoe State Park — Anna’s Trail (Meet at Park Office)

• Mar 26: Redden State Forest — Headquarters Loop (Meet at Redden Forest Fire Station)

• Mar 31: Chapel Branch — Beaver Pond Trail (Meet at Woodland Rd, Seaford, DE)

April

• Apr 1: Tuckahoe State Park — Sandtown Trail (Meet at Cemetery Road Parking Area)

• Apr 8: Sassafras NRMA — Meadows and Forest (Meet at Turners Creek Parking Area)

• Apr 15: Wye Island NRMA — Holly Tree Trail (Meet at Wye Island Rd Parking Area)

• Apr 22: Tuckahoe State Park — Pee Wee’s Trail (Meet at Crouse Mill Rd Parking Area)

• Apr 29: Lynch Preserve — Robins Creek Trail (Meet at end of Tall Tree Ln, Preston)

Inclement Weather Policy

If Caroline County schools are delayed or canceled, the walks or hikes will be canceled as well.

Stay in the Loop

Want updates or to be added to the Healthy Parks, Healthy People email list? Contact karen.giannino@maryland.gov for more information.

Santa’s Workshop in the Island of Misfit Toys
December 13th, and 20th from 12 PM – 4 PM 
At Wharves of Choptank Visitor & Heritage Center, 3 Crouse Park Ln, Denton, MD 21629

Get ready for a magical holiday adventure at Santa’s Workshop in the Island of Misfit Toys! Bring your little ones to The Wharves, where they’ll step into a world of festive fun, creativity, and holiday cheer.

At Santa’s Workshop, children can drop in anytime between 12 PM and 4 PM to build their very own wooden toys with the help of our cheerful “elves” (student volunteers). From painting to assembling, it’s a hands-on experience where imagination comes to life. But that’s not all! Santa Claus himself will be making an appearance, so be sure to snap a photo and let him know what’s on your wish list this year.

The event is donation-based, making it accessible for all families. All proceeds go towards supporting local youth programs and spreading holiday cheer.

So mark your calendars and come join us at The Wharves for a heartwarming holiday experience that your family will cherish!

• Registration Required: Each child must be signed up in advance
• Suggested Donation: $15 per child (non-refundable), payable at the link here or in-person at the Arts Council during gallery hours(Wednesday to Friday 12-5pm, Saturday 10am-3pm).
• How to Register: Sign up through our website or by dropping into The Foundry Art Gallery.
• Photographs: By registering, participants agree to allow photos for the event’s marketing and promotion.

All proceeds benefit local youth programs and holiday initiatives. We look forward to spreading holiday cheer with you and your family!

Learn more and register here. 

Spirited and full of fascinating details just waiting to be discovered, This Little Glade, an exhibition of mixed-media works exploring natural themes by artists Irene Pantelis and Rhonda Luckey, is on view in the Arboretum’s Visitor’s Center Art Gallery from November 4 through January 2. At a reception on Saturday, November 22, 2 to 4 p.m., the artists will speak about their innovative ways of working.

Both artists focus on plants and see their work as a kind of collaboration with nature both in terms of materials and imagery. Pantelis, a Bethesda artist who teaches at the University of Maryland at College Park and Montgomery College, paints fluid images of entire plants from their roots to their leaf tips using sumi ink, watercolor, and vegetable and flower dyes that she makes herself. Luckey, a retired educator who divides her time between her studios in Central Lake, MI, and Indiana, PA, creates eco-prints using a dyeing technique in which heat and moisture cause leaves and flowers to leave natural imprints on cloth or paper. She then combines them with traditional art materials and materials she gathers from nature including sprigs of dried plants, bark and the curly twigs of a shrub called walking stick (corkscrew hazel) to create animated, yet gentle meditative artworks.

“The process of eco-printing—where art and science meet—captivates me,” Luckey said. “It allows endless exploration and experimentation, blending naturally with other media. Through eco-printing, I can work with textiles and paper, layering inks, paints, dyes, and stitching, to create pieces that feel both grounded in nature and alive with discovery.”

Pantelis shares Luckey’s urge to explore and experiment. She has developed a unique method of working with very wet media, painting the stalks, leaves and roots of plants with bold, energetic brushstrokes while allowing her ink, watercolors and dyes to freely flow and mingle before drying very slowly over days or even weeks. This balance of skill and chance results in images filled with subtle shades of color that stream, bloom and ripple across the surfaces in natural patterns mimicking water or windblown sand.

“I always think of my works as the record of what happened during my process,” she said. “I focus on plants because their forms and growth patterns fascinate me, and I think they are also important because, like food and music, they have the ability to transcend cultures, generations, and geopolitics.”

The two artists also share the fact that they each lived abroad during their childhoods. For Luckey, it was Okinawa, Paris and Naples according to her father’s military assignments.

“My parents approached each place with deep curiosity and respect, encouraging me to do the same,” she explained. “Those years of living abroad taught me to see beauty in contrasts and connections—lessons that continue to weave through my work today.”

Pantelis lived in various South American countries where her parents did missionary work but each summer, she stayed with her grandparents in the grasslands of the Pampas in Uruguay. As she began to understand the interconnected complexity of their fertile ecology, her lifelong love of plants was ignited.

“I love to read about their survival mechanisms or to learn about how humans have interacted with them over the millennia,” Pantelis said. “Our fates have always been intertwined.”

The artists borrowed the show’s title from a poem called “This LiAle Glade, Remember” by Pa]ann Rogers. Celebrating the intricate and varied beauty and nourishing spirit of the earth, the poem affirms their mutual love of nature and deep interest in the interconnections that allow life on earth to flourish.

This show is part of Adkins Arboretum’s ongoing exhibition series highlighting regional artists whose work engages with natural themes. The Arboretum, located at 12610 Eveland Road near Tuckahoe State Park in Ridgely, is a 400-acre native garden and preserve offering exceptional experiences in nature.

For gallery hours or more information, contact Adkins Arboretum at 410-634-2847 or visit adkinsarboretum.org.

A 400-acre native garden and preserve, Adkins Arboretum provides exceptional experiences in nature to promote environmental stewardship.