Patty Hancock
In a small village on the eastern shore of Maryland, nestled alongside a back road that seems to wind through time, sits an old-fashioned one-room school house that’s almost too ornate for the setting. It’s called the Fairmount Academy’s and, on May 26th, its doors will open once again for the 37th Annual 1800s Festival.
There is just something special about a small hometown festival. People come to catch up with neighbors and friends, to admire and marvel at hand-crafted quilts, to watch local singers and bands perform, and bite into fresh strawberry shortcake topped with homemade ice cream. Even take a ride on a fire truck.
The simplicity of a small event like the 1800s Festival exhorts a pull that is hard to ignore. It reminds visitors of a time when such events were commonplace, but are now harder and harder to find.
This year’s festival will be held Saturday, May 26th from 11 am – 5 pm at the Fairmount Academy on Fairmount Road in Fairmount. Rain date is June 2nd. Admission and parking are free. For more information about the event, call 410-651-0781 or 410-651-3945.
For more information about Somerset County events, please contact Somerset County Tourism at 410-651-2968 or 800-521-9189, email tourism@somersetmd.us, visit our website www.visitsomerset.com, or Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/somersetcountytourism.
Wendy Robertson is a frequent contributor to the Around Maryland blog. She writes about Somerset County and works for their local tourism office.
