Celebrate Maryland Day
March 19-25, 2026
Join more than 50 partners as they host special events, programs and activities that showcase local museums, historic buildings, heritage sites, art galleries, natural resources, archaeological sites, parks, trails and historic communities throughout the Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area.
Explore the Crossroads of Maryland’s History in Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, MD
Since 2008, Chesapeake Crossroads and our heritage partners across Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, MD have hosted Maryland Day events, often for free or just $1. Now entering its 18th year, the event has become the informal launch of the Spring heritage tourism season and continues to grow. As we prepare to commemorate the founding of the Nation and the semiquincentennial (250th) we invite you to join us for Maryland Day Celebrations in 2026.
So What IS Maryland Day ….?
Maryland Day commemorates the anniversary of March 25, 1634, when the first European settlers from the Ark and the Dove landed on Maryland soil. Marylanders began observing Maryland Day in 1903, when the State Board of Education designated it as a day devoted to the study of Maryland history. In 1916, the General Assembly authorized the celebration of Maryland Day as a legal state holiday.
and Why Are We Celebrating?
We invite you to explore how Annapolis and Anne Arundel County has been central to the history, evolution, and legacy of Maryland. We commemorate not just that day in 1634 when Europeans first alighted on Piscataway lands, but we encourage you to explore the full arc of our history. This is a chance to discover, reflect, commemorate, and celebrate this crossroads of culture, while recognizing our region’s unique role as a place where social change helped in our collective… and still ongoing struggle for equality and freedom.
Plan Your Visit
Discover hundreds of Maryland Day events and programs happening across the Chesapeake Crossroads. Use this interactive map to filter by location, date, or event type.
