Maryland State Parks are preparing a range of activities the week of July 4 to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary, giving residents and visitors opportunities to combine outdoor recreation with historical education and family-friendly programming.
The events coincide with Independence Day, when parks remain open for traditional activities such as hiking, picnicking and visiting exhibits that highlight American history. July 4 is also a license-free fishing day statewide, allowing anyone to fish in tidal and nontidal waters without a license, though all current size and catch limits still apply.
Several popular parks will require reservations on July 4 to manage crowds and prevent closures. These include Point Lookout State Park and Newtowne Neck State Park in St. Mary’s County, along with Gunpowder Falls, Greenbrier, North Point, Rocks State Park’s Kilgore Falls area, Rocky Gap, Sandy Point and Swallow Falls. Reservations can be made through the state’s park day-use system.
At Janes Island State Park in Crisfield on July 1, a tulip poplar descended from Maryland’s original 1775 Liberty Tree will be planted as part of the statewide Maryland Liberty Tree Project. The planting recognizes the role of liberty trees during the lead-up to the American Revolution and connects today’s visitors to that early symbol of resistance.
On July 3 at Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park in Cambridge, a program called Foraging 101 will introduce participants to edible plants found in Maryland parks. The session covers wild foods historically gathered by Indigenous peoples and freedom-seekers, offering both practical knowledge and environmental context.
Assateague Island State Park in Berlin will host its annual Fourth of July Festival on July 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event begins with a bike parade through the campground, followed by activities at the Nature Center that include raffles, games, crafts and tie-dye. Helmets are required for parade participants.
At Freedman’s State Park in Brookeville on July 4, visitors can learn traditional milling practices such as thrashing, winnowing and hand-grinding wheat. The program highlights the importance of mills in the Patuxent River Valley and their connection to local farming families during earlier periods of American history.
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park in Church Creek will offer traditional children’s games and crafts on both July 4 and 5. Activities include games such as jacks, mancala and marbles, along with making yarn dolls. On July 5 at 2 p.m., rangers will lead a tour of the park’s exhibit hall.
Fort Frederick State Park in Big Pool will present living-history programs on July 4 and 5 focused on the American Revolution. Interpreters will portray the men and women who lived at the fort, which served as a prison for British soldiers during the war. Demonstrations will include musket firing, military drills and children’s drills.
Year-round opportunities tied to the 250th anniversary remain available at parks statewide. The Miles for Maryland challenge encourages participants to hike 250 miles inside state parks during 2026, with photo submissions eligible for prizes. A separate photographic scavenger hunt called America in Miniature runs through November 15.
Additional events later in the year include a U.S. trivia trail walk at Assateague State Park in August and programs at Fort Frederick exploring military gear used by American soldiers from 1753 to 1953.
For residents of Southern Maryland, Point Lookout State Park and Newtowne Neck State Park offer convenient options for participating in the holiday weekend while requiring advance reservations to manage attendance. These parks provide access to the Chesapeake Bay and local history, aligning with the broader themes of heritage and outdoor recreation emphasized during the anniversary period.
State parks continue to serve as accessible spaces for both celebration and reflection as Maryland joins the national observance of 250 years since the founding of the United States.
