The Deep Creek Dunk is a favorite winter event that draws big crowds to that area each year. When is the Deep Creek Dunk? The 2023 Deep Creek dunk is February 25 at Uno Chicago Grill/the Honi-Honi bar. Taylor-Made is a proud sponsor of the festivities that benefit Special Olympics Maryland (SOMD).
If you’re not familiar, the Deep Creek Dunk was started in 1998 with the support of the Maryland State Police and Natural Resources Police. Individuals and teams commit to “dunking” in the icy lake water and raise funds for SOMD during the months prior. The day of the event takes on a festive atmosphere with music and a costume contest keeping everyone entertained.
Here’s the complete schedule for Deep Creek Dunk weekend:
Friday, February 24
Goosebumps, Grapes & Growlers – Head to the Honi-Honi from 6-9PM for an evening of fire and wine. The admission goes to Special Olympics. Taste a variety of wine and beer from the comfort of a heated tent.
Deep Creek holiday activities are happening throughout the month of December. There are lots of opportunities to catch the spirit of the season. You can visit with Santa, attend a tree lighting, find the perfect gift local shops, check out Christmas light displays, and much more.
Deep Creek Holiday Activities
Christmas in the Village Friday, December 2nd, 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm , Saturday, December 3rd, 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm Held at Spruce Forest Artisan Village in Grantsville, this is a favorite area tradition. Enjoy strolling and live music in the Village Church, activities in the Village buildings, hot chocolate and cider, and luminaries throughout the Village paths and over the Casselman River Bridge. In addition to the activities in the Spruce Forest Artisan Village, there are guest artists in the Great Room above Penn Alps.
A Great Small Town Christmas December 2nd and 3rd, Oakland A Great Small Town Christmas kicks off with a walking holiday light parade led by Santa followed by the tree lighting ceremony on Friday, December 2nd at the B&O Museum. There will also be sleigh rides, carols, store specials, and a special treat from Santa! Saturday the fun continues with Soup N’ Santa! Area non-profits will hand out free soup (donations are encouraged), visit with Santa, free sleigh rides, live music, and local shopping.
Holiday Open House December 3rd from 10 am to 12 pm, you can enjoy cookies, crafts, and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center.
Holiday Lights at Broadford Park Thursday-Sunday, 6pm, Set your GPS to 1600 Pittsburgh Ave. in Mt. Lake Park, MD See the many light displays provided by various businesses, churches, extracurricular groups, and family groups. Money raised on the first night will benefits organizations. Cost is $10 per car.
Holiday Open House at Deep Creek Pottery December 3rd, 10am-5pm This festive Holiday Open House includes guest artist Connie Pardini of Wirestorm Creations! Lots of new pottery, handmade jewelry and decorative metalwork along with door prizes, holiday snacks, and cider too!
Dutch’s Ugly Sweater Party December 2nd, 5pm Dutch’s at Silver Tree will have Tito’s drink features and a contest for the best ugly sweater.
Oakland Express at the B&O Museum December 10th and 17th, 5:30pm-7:30pm, B&O Museum in Oakland. For children ages 4-9, there will be crafts, snacks, and a visit with Santa.
The event is free, but donations are always appreciated.
There is limited space for this event. Please call Nicole McCullough at 301-334-2691 to make a reservation. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED.
Get Your Jingle On – Holiday Open House December 10th, 10am to 4pm, Deep Creek Lavender Farm Annual Holiday Open House with music, raffles, sales and more. Enjoy Lavender teas or a cup of lavender hot chocolate and munchies as you shop.
Christmas at Brodak’s December 11th, 2 pm to 4 pm Brodak’s banquet hall hosts crafts for kids and story time with Santa himself!
The Festival of Trees Garrett County is held every Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving at the Garrett County Fairgrounds. For 2022, the festival dates are November 25th and 26th. Friday hours are 9-5 and Saturday hours are 9-4 with the live auction of trees starting at 6PM. Tickets are available at the door and proceeds benefit the Dove Center.
Fun for all ages, you can see beautiful trees decorated with unique themes by local businesses and organizations. Each day, the fun kicks off with breakfast with Santa. The cost is $10 per person with seatings at 9 and 10AM. You will get a full breakfast plus priority in line for a professional photo with Santa in his sleigh. Continue reading “Festival of Trees Garrett County”
Thanksgiving Deep Creek Lake gatherings are a favorite among our guests. Getting together with your favorite people surrounded by gorgeous scenery makes the holiday even more special.
Whether you are having a large get-together or something more intimate, we have a few tips to help you plan your Thanksgiving Deep Creek Lake escape:
The five-day Autumn Glory Festival celebrates the beautiful colors of our local fall foliage for it’s 55th time this year. Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 12 and running through Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, this popular festival brings more than 60,000 people to the local area.
NEW FOR 2022 – The town of Oakland will host a carnival the 12th-16th on Liberty Street. Gambill Amusements will provide more than a dozen rides along with games and food.
The Kick-Off Dinner and Reception is Wednesday, at Wisp Resort. The evening features a cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres and a full course dinner including assorted desserts. A presentation follows with an introduction of the Autumn Glory King & Queen, Sponsor Recognition Presentation, Golden Ambassador Presentation and a Commemorative Photo Auction. The evening ends with live music and dancing.
Turkey dinners are an important part of the Autumn Glory festival tradition. Before it became the event we know today, it started as a turkey grower’s festival. The Turkey Trail lists the numerous local restaurants and churches that serve up delicious dinners.
A family friendly event will take place at the Oakland Fire Hall on Thursday. Sponsored by the Oakland Volunteer Fire Dept. The Fireman’s Parade starts at 7 p.m.
The Grand Feature Parade will be held Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. on Omar Street in downtown Oakland and travels the length of 2nd Street, rounding Alder Street and ending on 3rd Street near Fox’s Pizza Den. Thousands of people will gather to enjoy regional bands, local professional and amateur floats, dance teams and dignitaries. Parade concessions will be available on Green Street located across from Naylor’s Hardware. A children’s tent and baby comfort station will be located at the B&O Station complete with children’s crafts, popcorn and face painting.
The old-fashioned Glorious Harvest Farmers Market & Craft Show will be held at Mt. Fresh Pavilion in downtown Oakland. There will be handmade arts & crafts, homemade baked goods, lots of pumpkins, fall decorations, home grown fresh vegetables and fruits, jams and jellies, cheese, meats and more.
Also on Saturday, the Civic Club hosts their Antiques, Vintage, and Makers Market. You can browse treasures at the Oakland Community Center from 9am-6pm.
The Autumn Glory Craft & Gift Show will be held on Saturday and Sunday at the Garrett County Fairgrounds. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lots of craft vendors will be showcasing their items and gifts. Festival apparel will be available for purchase and includes t-shirts, sweatshirts and more. Admission and parking are free.
Additional events that are taking place over the five days include the following:
Antique Show
Car Show
Historic Tours
Horseback Trail Rides
Ski & Snowboard Swap
Don’t miss the Fall Foliage Heritage Short and Extended Driving Tours that take you throughout beautiful Garrett County. The fall foliage color begins in late September and peaks in mid-October so you can enjoy the best color during the time of the festival.
Search now to make your plans to be here for Autumn Glory weekend!
Deep Creek Lake fall getaways are a favorite way to enjoy the best of this colorful season. Reserve your Deep Creek Lake vacation rental, pack your hiking boots and sweaters and get ready for an unforgettable experience.
Everyone’s favorite late summer event, the Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival, is September 10, 2022! This weekend-long celebration brings hundreds of visitors to the area. Benefitting HART for Animals and the Garrett Lakes Arts Festival, it is a great time that supports great causes.
Here’s a quick guide to what you need to know to make the most of your getaway during Deep Creek Lake Art, Wine & Beer Festival weekend:
–Buy your tickets in advance, and you’ll save! Adult tickets are $30.50 in advance and $37 at the gate. That gets you entrance to the festival, a commemorative wine glass, and wine tastings.
From fireworks over the water to small town parades loaded with charm, the Deep Creek Lake area is a favorite place to celebrate Independence Day! I put together a guide to some “can’t miss” events that you have to check out if you are here for the holiday. They include some tips to finding the best spot to watch Deep Creek Lake fireworks.
Deep Creek Lake holiday events keep things festive in the mountain of Western Maryland throughout late November and early December. If you love unique, local art or are looking for fun kids’ activities, you won’t be disappointed.
It is easy to catch the spirit of the season when you experience fun activities with friends and family. The best way to start is to choose your perfect mountain home – maybe one with a cozy fireplace or bubbling outdoor hot tub – and then plan your trip around one of these favorite Deep Creek Lake holiday events.
FESTIVAL OF TREES GARRETT COUNTY November 29-30 at the Garrett County Fairgrounds
Benefitting the Dove Center, there are lots of family activities to enjoy. Breakfast with Santa, crafts, face painting, and more will keep the kids entertained. Plus, you can shop for holiday gifts from local artisans and vendors. Beautifully decorated trees are found throughout the exhibit hall, and they are auctioned off at 6PM on Saturday as the grand finale. MORE INFO
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING
November 30 at Honi-Honi Bar, 7PM
Fun for the entire family, the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Honi Honi Bar also features photos with Santa Claus and live entertainment from 8-11pm. MORE INFO
CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE
December 6-7 at the Spruce Forest Artisan Village, 4-8PM Fri., Noon to 8PM Sat.
This event is a local favorite. Candle luminaries light the village that is filled with fire-warmed artisan studios and historic museums. Get to know the artists and buy unique holiday gifts. There are activities for kids as well as choral programs. MORE INFO
A GREAT SMALL TOWN CHRISTMAS
Downtown Oakland, December 6-7 Experience the small town charm of Oakland! The event centers around the historic town center. There are fun festivities every weekend that include photos with Santa, free soup from local non-profits, great deals at local shops, a tree lighting ceremony and much more! MORE INFO
Ugly Christmas Sweater Party at the Honi-Honi
December 21, 8PM-11PM
Break out your ugliest Christmas sweater and head to the Honi-Honi for great live entertainment by Brother Short. MORE INFO
Storytime with Santa at Taylor-Made
December 24
Santa makes his annual visit to the Taylor-Made office to read a story and take photos before heading out to deliver toys.
More Deep Creek Lake holiday events will pop up in the next week or two, so I’ll add them this post when I have more info. Check back, and I’ll keep you updated!
To celebrate this favorite festival, we are sharing some of our favorite Autumn Glory photos from past years. If you love the Deep Creek Lake area or if you are a fan of beautiful foliage, it is an absolute must.
The five day festival includes concerts, band competitions, antique and craft shows, two parades and a lot more!
