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The 13 Best Free Things to Do in Maryland!

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One of the coolest things about living in, or visiting, Maryland is that there are so many free things to do. Whether you like museums, gardens, parks, concerts, or educational events, there is always something going on. Here are 13 of the best free things to do in Maryland, so pick your favorites and enjoy! 


Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, MD

For such an incredible collection of art, you would expect to pay a large admittance fee to the Baltimore Museum of Art. Instead, it is all free and a symbol of Maryland’s commitment to artistic culture. Some of the exhibits are rotating and you can also enjoy an outdoor sculpture garden.

Visit the beach in Ocean City

Heading to the beach is a free and fun event spring through fall. Ocean City is always alive with activity and you are likely to find a free festival here on many weekends. Enjoy the sun and surf, relax, and discover a new favorite restaurant.

Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, MD

The Enoch Pratt is no ordinary library. It spans an entire city block and is located in a historic and stunning building. They host free events all year, including story times, artistic performances, and workshops, so check their calendar and attend what interests you.

Canal Place Amphitheater, Cumberland, MD

You can hear bands from Knoxville, New York and Nashville at the Canal Place Amphitheater, for free June through August. Cumberland is away from it all, so grab your bike or your hiking shoes and spend the day outdoors before tapping your toes to your favorite tunes in this beautiful outdoor setting. If Cumberland is too far to go, Maryland is famous for free outdoor summer concerts. There is bound to be one near your home or office.

Robinson Nature Center, Columbia, MD

This Robinson Nature Center is truly stunning. With activities and discovery centers for kids, gorgeous grounds, and informational events year-round, it is a free and fabulous destination. If you aren’t near Columbia, Maryland has a variety of nature centers throughout the state that do not charge for admission.

Artscape, Baltimore, MD

This is the largest art festival in the Mid-Atlantic and one not to be missed. Most things are free and there are activities for all ages. Regardless of what your interest in art is, you will find Artscape to be fun, entertaining and full of energy.

Columbia Lakefront Summer Festival, Columbia, MD

Each summer, the Columbia Association hosts a festival on the lake. For several months, you can visit to watch a free outdoor concern or a movie under the stars. The events are completely free so bring your blanket and a snack or buy something from one of the local restaurants.

Sherwood Gardens, Baltimore, MD

Visit the Sherwood Gardens every spring to wonder through their gardens with over 800,000 tulips in bloom. The view is stunning and the gardens are so breathtaking that they regularly host weddings. The good news is that you can enjoy their grounds for free, making for a lovely spring afternoon.

Days End Farm, Lisbon, MD

Days End Farm is a horse rescue that provides the vital services of rescuing horses that are being mistreated or may otherwise be put down. You can tour the farm for free, participate in their educational tours and activities, and even ride a horse. Learn about their important work while enjoying these majestic animals.

Home workshops at the Loading Dock

The Loading Dock is a fantastic destination for anyone interested in home improvement, crafts, and recycling. People can donate objects and materials taken from homes and commercial buildings. Rather than throwing away perfectly good doors, windows, flooring, tile, appliances, etc., they are donated and can be purchased at an incredibly low price. On the weekends the hold free workshops that teach you how to do a variety of fun projects.

Kids Bowl Free, Multiple locations

The Kids Bowl Free program is an excellent way to get your kids involved. There are numerous bowling alleys throughout the state that participate in the program so all you need to do is register for hours of bowling fun.

Brookside Gardens, Wheaten, MD

Tour the beautiful grounds of Brookside Gardens at no charge or participate in one of their many free events, such as the free Wedding Expo. They have an aquatic garden, rain garden, trail garden, woodland walk and other destinations on the grounds so you can visit multiple times and see something new.

Salisbury Zoo, Salisbury, MD

Visit the Salisbury Zoo for free while on the Eastern Shore. They have educational events for kids, animal demonstrations and a variety of animals to see such as bison, capybara, red wolves, river otters, tropical birds, monkeys, sloths, and llamas.

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