Allegany County keeps a full calendar: steam trains that turn into the Polar Express in December, egg hunts and trout-season openers in spring, fireworks over the canal basin in July, and foliage runs, harvest fairs and lantern-lit history walks in the fall. Each entry below has its real venue, dates and ticket link.
4 seasonal happenings in this part of the year, including Mountain Maryland 3M Challenge.
The Polar Express, tree lightings, holiday parades and candlelit historic houses — late November through the new year.
ChristmasSelect evenings and weekends, late November through December
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad recreates the classic story with a themed evening excursion from the historic Cumberland depot, featuring hot chocolate, storytelling, and a visit from Santa. Trains depart from the Western Maryland Railway Station in downtown Cumberland.
"Ride the rails to the North Pole from a real 1913 depot."
ChristmasMultiple weekends in December
Frostburg's beloved holiday celebration includes the Elf Olympics, Breakfast with the Elves, author presentations, and a Storybook Holiday parade through downtown, as described on the Allegany County tourism site.
"Elf Olympics and a parade bring storybook magic to Main Street."
ChristmasWinter season, select dates around the holidays
A seasonal winter-themed excursion offered by Western Maryland Scenic Railroad aboard vintage passenger cars through the Allegheny Mountains, run in the weeks around the Christmas and New Year holidays.
"A scenic mountain rail journey in the heart of winter."
ChristmasEvening event in late November
Downtown Cumberland kicks off the holiday season with a tree-lighting ceremony on Baltimore Street, part of the city's annual holiday festivities promoted by Cumberland Main Street and Allegany County tourism.
"Downtown Cumberland lights up for the season."
ChristmasEvening event in late November
Frostburg's Main Street district holds an annual tree-lighting ceremony to open the holiday season downtown, as noted in Allegany County's official holiday events guide.
"Frostburg's Main Street glows for the holidays."
New YearDecember 31, evening
Downtown Cumberland hosts an annual New Year's Eve ball-drop celebration to ring in the new year, part of the county's holiday-season events lineup.
"Ring in the new year with Cumberland's own ball drop."
ChristmasEvenings, December
A holiday light display promoted by Allegany County tourism as part of its winter holiday-events lineup for the Mountain Maryland region.
"A festive holiday light display in Mountain Maryland."
ChristmasBy scheduled tour, including the holiday season
The Gordon-Roberts House, a Second Empire-style Victorian home in Cumberland's Washington Street Historic District, offers living-history and period tours that include seasonal holiday programming reflecting Victorian-era home traditions.
"Step into a Victorian Christmas in downtown Cumberland."
Winter months, trail and park hours vary seasonally
Rocky Gap State Park in Flintstone offers winter outdoor recreation on its trails and around Lake Habeeb, managed by Maryland DNR, with seasonal programming that varies by year.
"Mountain lake scenery, even in the snow."
Egg hunts, maple demonstrations, opening day of trout season and the first steam excursions back up the mountain.
EasterAnnually, the weekend before Easter (spring)
The City of Frostburg and local civic groups organize a springtime Easter egg hunt in a downtown park, drawing area families for candy-filled eggs, games, and photos with the Easter Bunny.
"Downtown Frostburg's family Easter tradition"
EasterSeasonally in spring, around the Easter holiday (schedule varies by year)
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad has run seasonal Easter-themed excursions from its Cumberland depot in past years, featuring a visit from the Easter Bunny aboard vintage coaches through the Cumberland Narrows. Scheduling varies by year, so riders should confirm current offerings on the WMSR site.
"Hop aboard a springtime scenic train ride"
Late winter to early spring (typically February-March)
Maryland DNR naturalists and local nature centers in the Rocky Gap/Allegany area host maple sugaring demonstrations each late winter into early spring, showing how sap is tapped and boiled down into syrup on-site.
"See maple syrup made the old-fashioned way"
Annually, a Saturday in early-to-mid spring (per MD DNR statewide schedule)
Maryland DNR stocks area streams and Rocky Gap's Lake Habeeb with trout ahead of the statewide opening day of trout season each spring, drawing anglers to Allegany County waters including Evitts Creek and the Potomac tributaries.
"Statewide season opener draws anglers to local waters"
Memorial DayAnnually on Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
Cumberland-area veterans organizations and the City of Cumberland hold a Memorial Day parade and wreath-laying ceremony to honor fallen service members, typically processing through downtown to a local memorial or cemetery.
"Honoring service members with a downtown parade"
EasterAnnually, the Saturday before Easter (spring)
The City of Cumberland's Parks & Recreation Department hosts a free community Easter egg hunt for local children each spring, typically at a city park. Activities include egg hunts by age group and visits with the Easter Bunny.
"Free egg hunt for local kids"
Fireworks over the canal basin, the county fair, lakeside concerts and the beach at Rocky Gap.
Annually over Memorial Day weekend (late May)
DelFest is a multi-day bluegrass and Americana music festival founded by Del McCoury, held annually at the Allegany County Fairgrounds over Memorial Day weekend, featuring national touring acts, camping, and family activities.
"Del McCoury's bluegrass festival on Memorial Day weekend"
Annually in late July/early August
The Allegany County Fair is an annual summer agricultural fair held at the county fairgrounds featuring 4-H livestock shows, carnival rides, food vendors, and grandstand entertainment.
"Classic county fair with rides, livestock, and food"
Memorial Day through Labor Day (seasonal)
Rocky Gap State Park opens its sandy beach on Lake Habeeb for swimming, along with boat rentals, hiking trails, and campground access during the summer recreation season.
"Lake beach, boating, and trails in the Alleghenies"
Summer weekends (schedule varies by year)
Rocky Gap Casino Resort hosts a summer outdoor concert series on its lakeside stage overlooking Lake Habeeb, bringing touring musical acts to the resort grounds within Rocky Gap State Park.
"Live music on the lake at Rocky Gap"
Independence DayAnnually around July 4th
Canal Place in downtown Cumberland hosts the city's Independence Day celebration, including live music and a fireworks display over the C&O Canal National Historical Park area.
"Fireworks over the historic canal basin"
Seasonally, spring through fall, with peak summer schedule (check WMSR calendar)
The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad's summer excursion, the Frostburg Flyer, runs steam- or diesel-powered vintage trains between Cumberland and Frostburg through the Cumberland Narrows and over the Helmstetter's Curve, offering scenic mountain views.
"Ride the rails through the Cumberland Narrows"
June-October, Thursdays 9:30am-2pm and Saturdays 9:30am-12:30pm
This seasonal open-air market on the Downtown Pedestrian Mall offers local produce, plants, baked goods, and locally raised meats from area growers. It runs Thursdays and Saturdays from June through October.
"Fresh-picked produce on the pedestrian mall"
Seasonal summer hours (check museum calendar)
The Frostburg Museum, housed in the historic B&O train depot, offers summer hours with exhibits on local mining, rail, and Appalachian history, along with occasional summer programs and tours tied to Frostburg's Main Street events.
"Local history inside a historic depot"
Throughout summer (dates vary; see Main Street Frostburg calendar)
Main Street Frostburg organizes a series of summer community events in the historic downtown business district, including markets, live music nights, and seasonal street festivals supporting local shops and restaurants.
"Downtown Frostburg's summer street-life"
Throughout summer (dates vary; see Canal Place calendar)
Canal Place in downtown Cumberland hosts a summer series of outdoor concerts, markets, and community events along the C&O Canal terminus, drawing residents and visitors downtown.
"Downtown Cumberland's summer gathering spot"
Summer months (check NPS event calendar)
The National Park Service offers summer ranger-led programs, hikes, and towpath activities along the C&O Canal National Historical Park in Cumberland, which also serves as the terminus of the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) trail.
"Ranger programs where the C&O Canal meets the GAP trail"
Annually in summer (dates vary by year)
The Mount Savage Volunteer Fire Department hosts its annual summer community carnival with rides, games, and food as a fundraiser for the fire company, a longstanding tradition in the small Allegany County town.
"Small-town fire department fundraiser carnival"
Annually in summer (dates vary by year)
The town of Lonaconing hosts a summer community carnival, often organized with the local volunteer fire company, featuring rides, games, and food stands in George's Creek valley.
"George's Creek valley's summer carnival tradition"
Labor DayAnnually on Labor Day weekend (early September)
Allegany County towns, including Westernport and LaVale, host community Labor Day events such as picnics, ballgames, and fire company gatherings marking the unofficial end of summer.
"End-of-summer community gatherings"
Foliage trains, harvest festivals, haunted history walks and the Thanksgiving-weekend season kickoff.
Late September (single day)
The 3M Challenge is an annual multi-sport endurance event (biking, hiking/running, and paddling) organized by Mountain Maryland Trails along the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal corridor near Cumberland. The 2026 event date has been set for September 26.
"A three-discipline endurance test through the Alleghenies"
HarvestA weekend in September
Cumberland's Heritage Days Festival brings food trucks, arts and crafts vendors, live music, and historic re-enactments to downtown to mark the start of the fall season, per Cumberland Main Street.
"Food, crafts, and re-enactors fill downtown Cumberland."
HalloweenWeekends in October
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad's fall excursion takes riders on a themed train trip tied to the pumpkin-patch/harvest season, departing from the Cumberland depot through the mountain scenery.
"A family-friendly fall train ride to a pumpkin patch."
HalloweenOctober 31, afternoon (1:00–4:00 PM)
A downtown Halloween event on Cumberland's brick-paved Baltimore Street pedestrian mall featuring trick-or-treating among Main Street businesses, listed on the Cumberland Main Street events calendar.
"Trick-or-treat along Cumberland's historic Main Street."
