DelFest

DelFest

If you've ever wanted to take your kids to a music festival but worried it wouldn't be family-friendly, DelFest is the one to try. It's a bluegrass and roots music festival out at the Allegany County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, MD, and they actually think about families when they plan it. There's a dedicated KidZone with crafts, activities, and space for younger kids to play while the music goes on around them. The vibe is relaxed, the crowd is mellow, and the whole thing feels more like a big community gathering than a typical concert.

You can camp on-site if your family is up for it, which turns the whole weekend into an adventure. But if camping with kids sounds like more than you want to take on right now, day passes are available starting around $29 for kids. There's yoga in the mornings, food vendors everywhere, and the music runs from afternoon into evening. The mountain setting is beautiful, and kids tend to love the freedom of running around in the grass while live music plays. It's about 2.5 hours from DC, so it's a commitment, but worth it for a weekend that feels completely different from the usual routine.

Parent Tips 💡

• ✓Day passes are available if you don't want to commit to camping for the whole weekend.
• ✓Bring ear protection for little ones. The music is live and can be loud, especially near the main stages.
• ✓The KidZone has shade, so it's a good place to take breaks during the hotter parts of the day.
• ✓Pack layers. Mountain evenings in western Maryland get cooler than you'd expect, even in May.