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Maryland
A royal guide to must-try eats at the Maryland Renaissance Festival
Step back in time to the year 1537 at the Maryland Renaissance Festival, where the reign of King Henry VIII and his wives unfolds with each passing season. With over 200 performers, 10 stages and a 3,000-seat jousting arena, the festival offers continuous period-themed entertainment every weekend through Oct. 20. Among the 42 food emporiums, you’ll find a feast fit for royalty. From savory delights to sweet treats, here are the must-try snacks that will have your taste buds jousting for joy.
Fried macaroni and cheese on a stick
Five golden nuggets of fried macaroni and cheese, skewered for easy munching, are a gooey delight and festival favorite. Whether you opt for the mild cheddar version or the spicy pepper jack, this snack will leave you satisfied enough to continue your Renaissance quests. It’s perfect for sharing with your fellow peasants.
Stuffed spuds
Lords and ladies, prepare for a meal hearty enough to fuel your knightly endeavors. These baked potatoes come royally stuffed with ham, cheddar, broccoli, bacon and sour cream. A perfect meal for those who need to fortify themselves for a day of merriment and mischief in the village, these spuds will keep you going strong from dawn till dusk.
Smoked turkey leg
Aye, nothing says “Renaissance Festival” quite like a massive smoked turkey leg. Sink your teeth into it and you’ll feel like a true warrior of the past. The smoky scent wafts through the air as soon as you enter the festival, and holding one in your hand will make you feel as though you’re ready for battle — or at least a hearty feast in Revel Grove.
Warm cookies and milk
For those with a sweet tooth, this treat is truly a treasure. A cone of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies paired with a cup of cold milk is the perfect snack for both young squires and seasoned festival-goers. Dipping a warm cookie into the milk is pure wizardry, just like a journey back to childhood when cookies and milk reigned supreme for my annual visit.
Croissant sundae
Savor this decadent dessert fit for a queen. A flaky croissant stuffed with ice cream and crowned with hot fudge, whipped cream and a cherry, this indulgence is best enjoyed while watching one of the many festival performances. It’s piled so high with so many layers of deliciousness that you’ll want to sit, savor and bask in the glory of this sweet creation. (Just be sure to grab a few napkins first.)
Oysters, clams and steamed shrimp
For those with a taste for the sea, the festival’s centrally located seafood stand offers a bounty of raw oysters, clams and shrimp. Whether you’re downing raw oysters like a pirate or enjoying steamed shellfish that might’ve confused even the best Renaissance chefs, this feast pairs perfectly with a flagon of mead. Don’t let the anachronistic cherry lime slush distract you from the salty splendor.
Pickles and pretzels
Hark! The barrel-bearing vendors approach with a timeless duo: pickles and pretzels. A crunchy, sour pickle or a soft, salty pretzel is just the snack to enjoy while wandering through the village. The simplicity of this affordable treat — $2 for pickles and $3 for pretzels — ensures that you can keep one hand free to browse the wares at more than 140 artisan shops or cheer on the jousters.
Chris Franzoni is a Baltimore native, food fanatic, blogger and “Eater-in-Chief” of @EatMoreBeMore, which he started nine years ago with two goals — eating his way through the city and shining a positive light on the Baltimore-area restaurant and hospitality scene.
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Maryland
Great nature trails for hiking, beachcombing on Maryland’s Lower Shore
Calling all outdoorsmen and women — Maryland’s Lower Shore is home to some of the best hiking, walking and running trails on the East Coast.
Here’s a closer look at four picturesque parks and preserves with nature trails in the Berlin, Salisbury and Ocean City area.
Assateague Island
Assateague Island offers a wide variety of paved and unpaved trails open for hiking and 37 miles of flat beach terrain for wandering and beachcombing. Assateague Island’s Maryland District features a Life of the Dunes trail, Life of the Forest trail, Life of the Marsh trail.
Furnace Town
Furnace Town is nestled between the Pocomoke State Forest and Nature Conservancy’s Nassawango Creek Preserve. The popular historical site offers three Nature Conservancy Trails, three Maryland Forest service Trails, and a 26-acre outdoor museum and recreation area.
Pemberton Historical Park
Pemberton Historical Park, a 262-acre area featuring a trail system, outdoor amphitheater and more, was created in the 1980s. The park offers 4.5 miles of nature trails for walking and hiking only, allowing visitors to explore wetlands, forests and more of the natural world.
Nassawango Creek Preserve
Nassawango Creek Preserve’s primeval forest has an abundance of bald cypress and black gum trees. Visitors are invited to indulge in its four trails, the Nassawango Joe, Prothonotary Warbler, Ron Wilson Memorial Trail and Leifer Trail, as well as self-guided audio tours.
Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com.
Maryland
Washington Nationals 1st-round pick from Potomac Md. signs contract – WTOP News
The 21-year-old second baseman and 11th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft has deep ties to the D.C. region.
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
(Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Courtesy Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals’ first-round draft pick Chris Hacopian inked his first professional contract Wednesday, a moment made sweeter by the fact it was just a 30-minute drive from home to get to Nationals Park and put pen to paper.
The 21-year-old second baseman and 11th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft has deep ties to the D.C. region. He’s from Potomac, Maryland, and played his high school ball at Winston Churchill, where he was named the 2022 Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year and a 2022 Washington Post All-Met selection.
According to MLB.com, Hacopian grew up a Nationals fan, admiring the likes of Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa and others. He also played his first two collegiate seasons at the University of Maryland, where his father Derek played before him, before transferring to Texas A&M for his junior season.
With the Aggies, Hacopian hit .319 with 11 home runs and 41 RBI across 42 games en route to being named First-Team All-Southeastern Conference and a Third-Team All-American by Baseball America, the Nationals said in a news release.
After inking his contract Wednesday, Hacopian donned his new jersey and ball cap and stepped onto D.C.’s beloved diamond as a part of the Nationals organization for the first time.
“That was so cool, oh my gosh. I’ve been in the stands like, 100 times, but being on the field is so different,” he said.
Hacopian was ranked 14th among MLB Draft prospects by MLB.com. The 6-foot-1-inch, 210-pound second baseman boasted one of the best bats in college baseball, according to MLB.com, with excellent control over the strike zone and feel for the barrel, along with solid pop.
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© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
Maryland
Maryland confirms 5 new measles cases, bringing year’s total to 9 – WTOP News
The state said the five recently traveled together to “a location in the U.S. experiencing an active measles outbreak.”
Maryland health officials confirmed five more measles cases, all in Carroll County.
“These individuals recently traveled together to a location in the U.S. experiencing an active measles outbreak,” the state Department of Health said in a release.
The agency said others may have been exposed on the afternoon of July 13 in the emergency department waiting room at Carroll Hospital Center in Westminster.
Another measles case recently prompted warnings from health officials in Maryland, Virginia and the District. On June 17, a Maryland resident traveled through Dulles International Airport and visited a D.C. urgent care clinic.
Measles is highly contagious. It can spread through the air through coughs, breathing, and sneezes. Early symptoms can include fevers of over 101 degrees, coughs, runny noses, watery eyes and face or body rashes.
It can take up to 21 days after exposure for the first symptoms to appear, and those who are not fully vaccinated or otherwise immune to measles are especially vulnerable.
The five new measles cases in Maryland bring the state’s year-to-date total to nine. The state health department confirmed three cases in 2025, and one in each of the previous two years.
“All Marylanders should review potential exposure times, watch for symptoms, and confirm they are up to date on their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations,” the health department said.
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© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
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