Operation Sparkle • Downtown Frederick Partnership

Looking for a bit of fun on these cold winter days? Visit Downtown Frederick, MD for a family-friendly outdoor scavenger hunt through our beautiful historic downtown.

Downtown Frederick’s 200+ independently-owned businesses are all decked out for the holidays… but can you spy the sparkling lights that are hidden amongst the rest? Count the number of blue and silver light bursts hiding in shop and restaurant windows all over downtown!

Scavenger Hunt: Thank you for playing along with our Operation Sparkle holiday lights scavenger hunt! We selected a winner on December 13, but it’s not too late to enjoy Downtown Frederick’s beautiful holiday decorations any day of the season!

Need a helping hint? Click here to see a map of approximate light burst locations.

More fun things to do in Downtown Frederick!

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Join Colonial Jewelers in their Downtown Frederick showroom to SAVE BIG on their finest selection of beautiful, rare, hand-selected Diamonds! All Diamond jewelry is ON SALE for one week only: Diamond Engagement Rings, Wedding Bands, Anniversary Bands, Tennis Bracelets, Diamond Studs and Fashion Jewelry galore! Interest Free Financing Options Available.

Apr

Diamond Day Sale @ Colonial Jewelers

April Events

Colonial Jewelers

Evidence shows that the emotional culture of an organization influences employee satisfaction, burnout, absenteeism, teamwork, and team performance, however, “emotions” can often seem like a dirty word at work. Join Cowork Frederick to play a simple game to help break that taboo! Brain Boost is a FREE lunchtime collaborative learning experience designed to build expertise and ensure equitable access to a wealth of knowledge. Bring your lunch and learn.

Apr

Brain Boost: E%$#*^ (Emotions) at Work

April Events

Cowork Frederick

Play games with us! We have a comfortable venue space located in Downtown Frederick. We offer a selection of tabletop games such as Carcassonne for your enjoyment. Hot tea and snacks are made freely available. Donations are appreciated. Free parking is available in the parking lot immediately after 121 W. Patrick St and on W. Patrick St. proper. Please note that we are on the second floor with 18 steps to navigate.

Apr

Tabletop Game Night @ UNESCO BMW Center

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UNESCO Body & Mind Wellness Club

The Weinberg presents a high-energy percussive step dance and traditional African dance with riveting songs and compelling storytelling. Founded in 1994 as an exchange program with the Soweto Dance Theatre of Johannesburg, Step Afrika! is the first professional Dance Company in the world dedicated to the tradition of stepping. Mesmerizing and memorable. One of America’s top five African American dance companies travels the globe to deliver the tradition of stepping — a polyrhythmic, percussive dance form that uses the body as an artistic instrument. In perfect union, the performers’ feet pound the stage with power, precision, and skill. The dynamic dancing is complemented with riveting songs, compelling storytelling, and audience participation like none other.

Apr

Step Afrika!

April Events

Weinberg Center for the Arts

The patriarch of a family of grey squirrels has stowed away enough nuts for 10 winters, but the fox squirrels from way over near the 7-11 want in on his stash. In this fiercely funny and provocative play, the writer of Hand to God exposes the way we use power and domination to mask our own insecurities and fears. For mature audiences.

Apr

The Squirrels @ The MET

April Events March Events

Maryland Ensemble Theatre

Join the thirteenth annual Bring A Broom Saturday on Saturday, April 27, 2024! Community members are asked to bring their brooms and help Downtown Frederick get ready for spring. Volunteer a few hours of your time with friends and neighbors to help make downtown shine! Volunteers will sweep sidewalks, mulch tree wells, pick up trash and plant flowers. Volunteers of all ages are welcome. Bring A Broom Saturday is a great volunteer opportunity for companies, sports teams, social clubs and civic groups. If you’re volunteering as part of a group, select your team name from the dropdown menu during registration. If you’re a group leader and need to create a team registration, please contact leeann@downtownfrederick.org. More event info at bringabroom2024.eventbrite.com Bring A Broom Saturday is made possible with support from Oldetowne Landscape Architects, the City of Frederick and Oldcastle APG, Lawn & Garden Division.

Apr

Bring A Broom Saturday

April Events Partnership Events

Downtown Frederick

Join Curious Iguana to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day! What is Independent Bookstore Day? A nationwide celebration of indie bookstores! The first 50 customers who spend $50 or more will receive a free indie bookstore tote bag with purchase! They’ll have a limited supply of freebies, a giveaway, IBD merchandise, Nova Bookstore Crawl Passports, and a fun wheel to spin at checkout for extra surprises (while supplies last).

Apr

Celebrate Indie Bookstore Day @ Curious Iguana!

April Events

Curious Iguana

Walk in the footsteps of doctors, nurses, soldiers and civilians who cared for 8,000 wounded soldiers in Downtown Frederick Every Saturday at 10:30am and Sunday at 2pm from April until September, docents from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine will explain how Frederick became “One Vast Hospital.” Arguably the most trying moment in city’s history came after the Battle of Antietam in the fall of 1862. The town’s population doubled when 8,000 wounded soldiers were delivered by ambulance to make-shift hospitals throughout Frederick. Tickets are $15 and include admission to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in addition to the walking tour. Tickets are free for Museum members, but you must still reserve your spot. Reservations will be accepted on a first come first served basis. Contact Chris Reed at chris.reed@civilwarmed.org for more information or visit civilwarmed.org/weekendtours.

Apr

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Walking Tours with National Museum of Civil War Medicine

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National Museum of Civil War Medicine

Saturdays at 10:30AM Donation Based, All Levels Flow Rejuvenate with a cold beverage and food after yoga and receive 10% off your tab! Please Register At: https://linktr.ee/jenuineyogi EMAIL: jenuineyogi@gmail.com FB PAGE: facebook.com/jenuineyogi MEETUP: meetup.com/jenuineyogi

Apr

Yoga On Tap

April Events

Frederick Social

MAD Dance presents “Intentional Terrarium,” a Festival of Performances and Experiences in an Immersive Art Installation April 6, 13, 20, and 27 Frederick, MD – MAD Dance presents “Intentional Terrarium” a monthlong festival of performances and experiences taking place in an immersive art installation at the MAD Studio, Y Arts Center, 115 East Church Street, Frederick, MD. Every Saturday in April, from 1:30-8:30 pm, the “Intentional Terrarium” installation will be open to the public, with a rotating series of performances and experiences by a diverse group of artists, performers, healers, and thinkers. Admission is free. “Intentional Terrarium” features a portable greenhouse as its central feature, complemented by photographs, videos, poems, plants, sticks, vintage clothing, macrame and embroidered wall hangings, sounds, scents, tastes, recipes, and a collection of blue Ball jars. Driving the project are thoughts about building sanctuaries, bunkers, biospheres, and nurseries, preparing for the end times, thinking about how to share space intimately, self-sufficiency, and carving out time and space for contemplation. The installation encourages the question: What is so precious that we would create a structure to nurture its existence? MAD Dance, co-directed by Kitty Clark and Ray C. Shaw, will perform “Precious” every Saturday evening in April at […]

Apr

Intentional Terrarium: A Festival of Performances and Experiences

April Events

Y Arts Center

Battle of the Bands is coming back to Frederick! 6 Bands will “Battle” it out again on stage for a prize package worth over $5000 including a recording package from Frederick Recording Studio! Come out and enjoy food, beer, live music, games, activities, and so much more! All proceeds will go to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Frederick County. Save the date and stay tuned for updates including ticket sales, line up and more!

Apr

Battle of the Bands

April Events

Carroll Creek Amphitheater

True Documented Stories of the “Paranormal” with “Maryland’s Oldest Operating Ghost Tour. Take a Remarkable Journey through Frederick’s Gruesome and Bloody Past. Nearly 300 Years of War, Executions and Revenge. Uncover Politically Savvy and Defiant Citizens, Patriots from the Revolutionary War, Beckoning Soldiers from the Civil War, and so much more! Historic Frederick – Where The Dead Come Out To Play! Tours are 90-minutes in length and leisurely cover 1.2 miles. Not Recommended for Younger Children. Still cameras and flashlights permitted. No video or audio recording allowed. Tour Stops: • Visit Court House Square – the “execution site” of British sympathizers, learn about their fate, and the “curse” that continues to resonate • Visit the “spiritual playground” of dead children whose lives were cut short by unmerciful disease and suffering • Unravel the mystery surrounding a mysterious man in black executed in 1781 for his loyalty to King George III • Find out the “devilish plan” of a “spiteful” owner of an 1814 mansion and why his “spiritual discharge” remains • Contemplate the reasons why Frederick’s famed Barbara Fritchie continues to guard her home from invading Confederate soldiers 158 years after her death • Discover why former stage hands, […]

Apr

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Ghost Tours of Historic Frederick @ Brewer’s Alley

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Brewer's Alley

5 Venues – 30+ Vendors – Cake Dig Sponsored by Sage Cakery. Join us for the Downtown Frederick Wedding Walk presented by Colonial Jewelers! Meet your wedding vendors and tour venues while strolling Downtown Frederick. Check-in at Citizens Ballroom: 11am-12pm Wedding Walk: 12-3pm Cake Dig and Grand Prizes at Colonial Jewelers: 3-4pm

Apr

Downtown Frederick Wedding Walk

April Events

Citizen's Ballroom

Key West Productions invites you to experience the magic of Broadway as the Frederick Symphony Orchestra presents an enchanting evening filled with the timeless melodies and unforgettable stories that have captivated audiences for generations. From the haunting melodies of Cats to the epic tale of Man of La Mancha, and the toe-tapping energy of Oklahoma, prepare to be transported to the enchanting worlds of these iconic productions. This Broadway showcase promises an unforgettable experience for theater enthusiasts.

Apr

The Frederick Symphony Orchestra presents “The Best of Broadway”

Join Curious Iguana and Frederick County Public Library as they celebrate the launch of Sarah Adler’s sophomore romance novel, Happy Medium, one day before release day! Sarah will be joined in conversation by fellow author Laura Hankin. They will discuss Sarah’s lovable and hilarious rom-com! Presented in partnership with FCPL. This event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase and signing at the event. About Happy Medium: A clever con woman must convince a skeptical, sexy farmer of his property’s resident real-life ghost if she’s to save them all from a fate worse than death, in this delightful new novel from the author of Mrs. Nash’s Ashes. About the author: Sarah Adler writes romantic comedies about lovable weirdos finding their happily ever afters. She lives in Maryland with her husband and daughter and often travels absurd distances to acquire baked goods. Mrs. Nash’s Ashes was her debut novel. You can find her online at sarahadlerwrites.com.

Apr

Local Author Talk + Signing @ The Library

April Events

Curious Iguana

Celebrate craft history in the making at the C. Burr Artz Public Library! Join the crocheters of South Mountain Crochet Guild, who have filled the CBA display cases in March and April for National Craft Month, as they share the history of crochet and how it has evolved throughout the years.

Apr

This Isn’t Your Grandmother’s Crochet @ the Library

April Events

C. Burr Artz Public Library

Open Mic Comedy with Wrecked Em’ Comedy is a fun night for those looking to watch local comics put on a fun show! If you are interested in going on stage, you may come on Tuesdays in February, March and April at 7:30 pm to get on the list. Check out our Weekly Specials & Entertainment on our website.

Apr

Open Mic Comedy @ Cellar Door

April Events February Events March Events

Cellar Door

The Frederick Speaker Series presents Cheryl Strayed, the bestselling author of Wild and Tiny Beautiful Things. Cheryl Strayed is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling memoir, Wild, about her soul searching trek over 1,000 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail. Her story inspired Oprah Winfrey to revive her tremendously popular book club, with Wild as its inaugural selection for the launch of Oprah’s Book Club 2.0. The story also inspired producer and actress Reese Witherspoon to bring Wild to the big screen in 2014. Strayed is also the author of The New York Times bestseller Tiny Beautiful Things, a collection of her widely popular Dear Sugar columns for TheRumpus.net. Her writing has appeared in The Best American Essays, The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post Magazine, Vogue, Allure, The Missouri Review, Creative Nonfiction, The Sun and elsewhere. Her books have been translated into 26 languages around the world. A warm, candid, funny, and engaging speaker, Cheryl Strayed talks about her personal struggles and story of survival, love, loss, adventure, courage, empathy and the power we possess to blaze our own wild trails.

Looking for a bit of fun on these cold winter days? Visit Downtown Frederick, MD for a family-friendly outdoor scavenger hunt through our beautiful historic downtown.

Need a helping hint? Click here to see a map of approximate light burst locations.

More fun things to do in Downtown Frederick!

Diamond Day Sale @ Colonial Jewelers

Brain Boost: E%$#*^ (Emotions) at Work

Tabletop Game Night @ UNESCO BMW Center

Step Afrika!

The Squirrels @ The MET

Bring A Broom Saturday

Celebrate Indie Bookstore Day @ Curious Iguana!

Walking Tours with National Museum of Civil War Medicine

Yoga On Tap

Intentional Terrarium: A Festival of Performances and Experiences

Battle of the Bands

Ghost Tours of Historic Frederick @ Brewer’s Alley

Downtown Frederick Wedding Walk

The Frederick Symphony Orchestra presents “The Best of Broadway”

Local Author Talk + Signing @ The Library

This Isn’t Your Grandmother’s Crochet @ the Library

Open Mic Comedy @ Cellar Door

Cheryl Strayed

Brain Boost: Why You Need A Mission Statement

2024 Conference on Civil War Medicine

The Big Parade (1925) – Silent Film Series

The Comedy Pigs at MET Comedy Night @ Maryland Ensemble Theatre

May Exhibition Openings @ The Delaplaine

Mayfest First Saturday

Print Day in May @ FBAC

Accessories Bonanza @ Frederick Arts Council Center

Vegan Eats + BK Juices Series

AANHPI Heritage Festival

Art Matters Artist Talk: Laila Abdul-Hadi Jadallah @ The Delaplaine

Creative Outlet for May @ The Delaplaine

Frederick Running Festival

Frederick Spring Market at Carroll Creek Park

Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas

Alive @ Five 2024 Season Kick-Off

24K Band at Alive @ Five

Brain Boost: Values Matter (you should define yours)

Sean Scherer Book Signing @ Crème de la Crème

Maryland Craft Beer Festival

Headshot Day @ Cowork Frederick

Feehan Brothers at Alive @ Five

Beyond the Garden Gates Garden Tour

Spirits of Maryland: Frederick

Quantum Leap at Alive @ Five

Moon Market Frederick: Frederick’s First Monthly Market for Mystical Wares!

Sherlock Sundays

The Players Band at Alive @ Five

Thai Water Festival (Songkran) @ Carroll Creek Amphitheater

Frederick Festival of the Arts

Brain Boost: Enhance Communication in Your Multilingual and Multicultural Teams

Frederick Pride Festival

Each year, the Partnership tackles strategic initiatives to bring more residents and employees to Downtown Frederick, offers an exciting season of events and works closely with downtown businesses and partners to continue to strengthen and improve Downtown Frederick.