Maryland Folk Festival is back!

SALISBURY, Md. — The city of Salisbury is preparing for its biggest festival of the year: the Maryland Folk Festival.

Caroline O’Hare, events and culture manager for the city and festival director, said the team has been preparing all year.

“We’ve been gearing up all year round and now is really crunch time,” O’Hare said. “This year we have a whole host of different artists. We have some different experiences such as the DHCD Plaza stage, which is a stage where you can learn different types of dances.”

Whether it’s hip-hop or salsa, there will be a dance for everyone. Organizers encourage festivalgoers to bring their cowboy boots for Saturday evening’s square dance.

“The whole community came together and danced together,” O’Hare said. “So we have Charm City Junction, who is going to be playing, and then we’ll have a caller and anyone can participate. It’s super easy. Even I did it, and I have two left feet. So Saturday evening we’ll have our square dance.”

For those who prefer something else, food and craft vendors and local restaurants will participate in the TAPS program.

“What’s exciting about this and different from last year: People are used to drinking in the street. Now we’re going to have that alcohol available at a few of our different establishments,” said Victoria Idoni, the city’s communications director.

That is not the only new feature this year.

“This year we’re going to have a scavenger hunt, and that’s going to involve a bunch of our local businesses,” Idoni said.

The festival also will feature poetry, bubble science demonstrations, the Delmarva Discovery Museum and an indigo dye village.

“You can actually get your hands into the indigo and dye these incredible prints and learn about that craft from her,” O’Hare said.

The Maryland Folk Festival runs Sept. 19-21 in Salisbury.