Maryland Avenue has its own history and special flair it brings to the whole of downtown Annapolis. Back in the time of Annapolis’s formal inception, the street was popular with the wealthy, and in fact, the immaculate mansions built by these wealthy Annapolitans still stand today though have been opened for public knowledge, like the Hammond-Harwood House. Now, Maryland Avenue has stores that represent all the needs and wants in life: a need for nostalgia thanks to Evergreen Gallery, a need to eat good food from Galway Bay, and a need to be entertained thanks to the various shops and bookstores situated there. Even still, once a year, Maryland Avenue brings even more nostalgic traditions, food, and entertainment to the people of the city with their Irish Festival. Always in early summer, this annual event has been going on for years and, by the looks of it, will continue for years to come. Below, you’ll find a rundown of the festival: who was there, what was happening, and why you need to attend the next year’s festival.
Set up from just after the lunch hour to just before the dinner hour, the Irish Festival raised money for the local economy, the small businesses who were there, and generated interest in Maryland Avenue to ensure future business there. There isn’t a cause the festival proceeds go to, unlike Bands in the Sand this week that benefits the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Rather, this event is on a much smaller scale, but is certainly big on entertainment and free fun.
Vendors from outside of Maryland Avenue and businesses located on Maryland Avenue included: Maria’s Picture Place, Irish Traditions, Galway Bay, the local ASPCA, Walzcak Yacht Brokerage Services, Only One Handbags, Green Life Chiropractic & Wellness, Evergreen Gallery, and some others. Galway Bay was by far the most popular spot for getting food and of course, Guinness. Galway Bay had tables set up under a pavillion outside–all of which were full with happy guests.
Aside from the above local businesses, there was a massage stand, face painting, a rolling cart with hot dogs, and a lemonade stand set up. 
Huge green banners with “Guinness” printed on them hung above Maryland Avenue and live music reverberated from Galway Bay and a musician on a stringed instrument at the intersection of Maryland Avenue and Prince George Street. People–local and not–strolled along the street and perused the trinkets, bags, and artwork for sale.
A few other important things to whet your appetite for the next year’s Irish Festival include: the price of festival (free), the date and time of the festival (on a weekend day from 1 to 5 p.m.), and the obligations of the festival (simply to have a good time, eat some things, and buy some things). Information for the 2014 Irish Festival won’t be up on www.marylandave.com for quite some time, but keep an eye out in late May of next year. Celebrate with a Guinness when the weekend hits!
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