This Is Maryland's Quirkiest Little Town
What began as a 300-acre land grant for the Burley Plantation in 1677 has somehow evolved into one of Maryland’s quirkiest little towns: Berlin. Despite what the name might suggest, the town has no connection to Germany’s capital. Most believe instead that the name is a shortened version of the “Burleigh Inn,” a tavern that once stood at the crossroads of two key routes in the area.
Today, visitors from across the country come to Berlin for a weekend full of entertainment. The town hosts all kinds of creative festivals, such as the Berlin Bathtub Races and the Chili Pepper Festival. You can always find a live show going on in its Arts & Entertainment District as well. As if the town’s quirky culture were not enough, the area is also home to a herd of wild horses! The surprises keep coming, so take a closer look at all the quirky attractions Berlin offers.
Annual Festivals
With events happening in nearly every month of the year, you can count on Berlin to have something eccentric going on when you visit. One of the most eccentric takes place in June: The Berlin Bathtub Races. During this tradition, competitors race homemade, bathtub-inspired vehicles down the town’s main street. Spectators line the street, cheering for each team and appreciating the creative costumes, interesting design choices, and themed heats. There are always lots of food vendors there if you get hungry from all the cheering!
August is a great month to visit Berlin if you want to explore the town’s agricultural and culinary scene. On August 2nd this year, the town will host the Peach Festival, which, as you might expect, celebrates everything peach. Attendees will be able to purchase fresh peaches on a first-come, first-served basis, along with other peach products like peach pies, peach preserves, peach ice cream, and peach drinks. There are also plenty of family-friendly activities throughout the afternoon, such as live music, contests, demonstrators, and non-profit food vendors. The Berlin Chili Pepper Festival follows a couple of weeks later, on August 23rd, perfect for spicy food lovers. Throughout this festival, attendees can expect spicy food challenges, market vendors, live entertainment, and an abundance of flavor!
For a festival full of live music, there are two more festivals to have on your radar. The first is the Berlin Jazz, Blues, Wine & Brews fest, taking place each May. Here, visitors can enjoy sipping on beer, wine, or spirits while browsing local art outdoors, all while enjoying jazz and blues. For live bluegrass tunes, mark your calendar for September, when the Berlin Fiddlers Convention comes to town, featuring some of the country’s best bluegrass musicians!
Arts and Entertainment District
Berlin’s designation as an Arts & Entertainment District will come as no surprise to those who have visited the town. The district is home to over 10 restaurants, multiple live music venues, and numerous art galleries, making it a haven for the local art and culinary community. Strolling through town, visitors will spot several colorful murals, including the Berlin Welcome Center Mural series, the Pollinator Way Interactive Mural, and the Dr. Reverend Charles Albert Tindley Mural. Many of the town’s bars also serve as popular music venues. Burley Oak Brewing Company is a prime example, offering a wide selection of in-house brews alongside frequent live performances on the weekend. The Globe is another favorite for live performances, acting as both a historical theater and a full-service restaurant and bar.
Looking for a new piece of art or a souvenir? Make sure to stop by Jeffrey Auxer Designs, a local glass-blowing studio in the heart of downtown. A few of the glass pieces the studio makes include ringholders, drinking glasses, ornaments, and glasses. You can also sign up for a glassblowing class, offered year-round! If you need a new novel to read, stop by The Greyhound Indie Bookstore. Opened in 2018, it not only sells books but also serves as a gallery featuring fine art pieces.
Assateague Island National Seashore
After attending a festival and hearing live music, get ready to spot wild horses along the Assateague Island National Seashore. Composed of roughly 18,000 acres, Assateague Island extends for about 37 miles through both Maryland and Virginia. Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, visitors will find long, sandy beaches, sand dunes, marshes, pine forests, grasslands, and shrub thickets throughout the island. The main star of the island is its wild horses, which are divided into two herds: One on the Maryland side of the island and one on the Virginia side. The horses are descendants of domesticated animals likely brought to the island in the late 17th century.
In addition to the famed horses, other species you may spot while visiting the island include white-tailed deer, the non-native sika deer, red foxes, seven species of frogs and toads, fiddler crabs, and ghost crabs. Also, keep your eye out for a variety of shorebird species, like snow geese, which arrive in large flocks each fall.
Maryland may be small, but it is packed with surprising towns and attractions. Berlin, however, is easily one of the state’s most eccentric. With wild horse herds, music and culinary festivals, indie bookstores, and glassblowing studios, it is clear this town follows its own rules. But the quirky attractions don’t end here. Plan a visit for yourself to discover all of the surprises the small town has in store for you!
