Hi Adventure Fam!
Hope your week has been off to a great start! I am officially in that weird part of the year where I want to squeeze in every last summer activity but I’m also already thinking about farms, cider, and fall weekends.
My kids went back to school this week so that was kind of bittersweet because I love having them home with me, but some days I could do with a little less of the noise or talks of being bored while I work lol.
Anyway…
If you are still figuring out what to do with the kids this weekend, I pulled together a few Maryland family ideas that are actually worth considering.
This week’s mix includes something outdoors, something affordable, one easy family outing, and one event you may want to plan ahead for.
This Weekend’s Top Picks
- Maryland State Fair, Timonium
The Maryland State Fair is one of those classic end-of-summer outings with something for just about everyone—rides and midway games, farm animals, exhibits, live entertainment, and plenty of fair food. It’s an easy pick if you want an outing that can keep the whole family busy for several hours.
Best for: All ages, especially ages 4–12
Cost: $$ — Admission + rides, games, and food are additional costs
Good to know: Buy tickets ahead of time and arrive early, especially on Labor Day weekend. Comfortable shoes are a must because there’s a lot of walking!
Plan your visit → Maryland State Fair
2. Maryland Renaissance Festival, Crownsville
Step into a 16th-century English village filled with costumed characters, live performances, jousting, games, shops, and plenty of food. Kids will love how immersive it feels, while there’s enough entertainment and exploring to make this a full-day family outing.
Best for: All ages, especially ages 5+
Cost: $$ — Admission required; food, games, and shopping are additional
Good to know: This is a very popular event and tickets can sell out, so buy them ahead of time. Wear comfortable shoes and plan for plenty of walking outdoors.
Plan your visit → Maryland Renaissance Festival
3. Gaver Farm Fall Festival, Mount Airy
Gaver Farm is packed with fall fun, with dozens of attractions including giant slides, jumping pillows, playgrounds, farm animals, games, and plenty of space for kids to run around. It’s especially great for families who want an outing where the activities, not just pumpkins and photo ops can keep the kids entertained for hours.
Best for: Ages 2–12
Cost: $$ — Admission includes many farm attractions; some activities and food cost extra
Good to know: Give yourself several hours here because there’s a LOT for kids to do. Weekends can get busy, so arriving close to opening is your best bet.
Plan your visit → Gaver Farm
You can also read about our experience when we visited Gaver Farm.
Deyewa Tested
Great Big Game Show
We recently visited Great Big Game Show, and this was one of those places where I wasn’t completely sure what to expect before we went.
The kids loved competing against the adults plus it was a fun space for both adults and kids. We chose to take our kids since it was my birthday and most of my close people have kids. Many people also do adults only bookings etc so it works for everyone
The biggest thing I would tell another parent before going is to get ready. to compete and get loud!
Deyewa Scorecard
Kid enjoyment: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Parent stress: ☆☆☆☆☆
Affordability: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Time needed: 1 hour
Best ages: 6–Any age
Worth the drive? Yes
Would we go again? Absolutely.
Free Family Find
Home Depot Kids Workshop
This week’s free pick is the Home Depot Kids Workshop, happening at participating Home Depot locations.
Why we like it:
It’s a simple, completely FREE activity that gets kids away from their screens and lets them build something with their own hands. Kids get a project kit to assemble during the workshop and can take their finished creation home, plus, it’s an easy Saturday morning outing that doesn’t require committing your entire day.
Cost: FREE Parking: Free Best for: Ages 5–12, especially kids who enjoy building, crafting, and hands-on activities
See the details → Home Depot Kids Workshops
Worth the Drive?
Swallow Falls State Park
From central Maryland: Approximately 3 hours
If you’re willing to drive a little farther this weekend, Swallow Falls State Park in Oakland is worth putting on your list.
This is one of my favorite Maryland spots when you want an outing that feels like you actually went somewhere. I do not care much for driving, so I pushed this off for months maybe even years if I am being honest lol.
We hit I believe 3 waterfalls and the kids were able to handle it all because it was not a long hike and they played with rocks along the way.
Best for: Families with school-age kids who are comfortable walking trails
Cost: It is about $3-5 per person or per car depending on what month you visit and if you are out of state.
Good to know: Wear shoes with good grip because areas around the waterfalls can be wet and slippery. Go earlier in the day if you want a quieter experience. Also try to time your visit to when it rained a lot before. The day we went, the waterfalls were not pouring as much as videos I had seen probably due to less rain that week.
Plan your visit → Swallow Falls State Park
Plan Ahead
Don’t Wait Until the Weekend for This One
Cox Farms Fall Festival
Although this one is in Virginia, if Cox Farms is on your family’s fall list this year, it is one to start planning for now. The Fall Festival is packed with giant slides, hayrides, farm animals, play areas and plenty of activities that can easily turn into a full-day outing.
We have never been before and are planning to check it out this fall because I have heard so much about it!
This is one I’d recommend booking early because popular fall weekends can get very busy, especially once October hits.
Dates: Select dates September–November Location: Centreville, VA Tickets: Advance tickets recommended
Get tickets/details → Cox Farms Fall Festival
From the Deyewa Guides
Planning more than just this weekend?
This week’s featured resource:
[Top Indoor play places in Maryland]
I’ve collected some of our favorite indoor play places in Maryland for family outings in one place so you don’t have to search every time you need something to do.
Explore the guide → Top indoor play places in Maryland
Coming Up on Deyewa
Next week I’m working on:
Maryland fall farms and festivals
If there’s somewhere you think I should include, hit reply and tell me!
I actually read the responses, and they help me decide what to cover next.
Before I head out though, I want to leave you will this scripture that I have been pondering on this week:
Jeremiah 17 : 7-8 which says:
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
I love the picture this verse gives us. The tree still experiences the heat, and the drought still comes, but it remains green and continues to bear fruit because of where its roots are planted.
Our trust in God doesn’t mean difficult seasons won’t come. It means those seasons don’t have to determine how we stand. When our confidence is in Him, we can remain rooted, nourished and fruitful even when circumstances around us feel uncertain.
A reminder for this week: Don’t measure God’s faithfulness by the season you’re currently in. Keep your roots planted in Him.
See you next weekend,
Lola Deyewa
Helping Maryland families find fun, low-stress adventures worth the time, money, and drive.
Instagram: @thedeyewa Website: Deyewa.com
