Autumn Glory Festival
Autumn Glory Festival is a five-day fall foliage festival run by the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce in Garrett County, Maryland, with its signature Grand Feature Parade in downtown Oakland. The 59th edition ran October 7 to 11, 2026, and its parade was Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., so the 2026 event is over as of October 18, 2026. The official Chamber page lists the 60th festival for October 13 to 17, 2027, but check before you go, because details are added closer to the event. It suits families, leaf-peepers, and visitors who want one calendar for the whole county.
| Question visitors ask | When is Autumn Glory Festival in Garrett County and when is the parade? |
|---|---|
| County | Garrett County |
| Official site | www.visitdeepcreek.com |
When is the Autumn Glory Festival and when is the parade?
The 59th Autumn Glory Festival took place October 7 to 11, 2026, according to the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce brochure described on its official page. The Grand Feature Parade was held Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. in downtown Oakland, Maryland, as stated by the Town of Oakland.
The Chamber's page lists the 60th Annual Autumn Glory Festival for Wednesday, October 13 to Sunday, October 17, 2027, and the parade for Saturday, October 16, 2027, at 1 p.m. Those 2027 dates are preliminary, so check before you go.
Is the Autumn Glory Craft & Gift Sale free?
Admission and parking are free for the Autumn Glory Craft & Gift Sale, according to the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce. The sale is held in the Ag Heritage Hall at the Garrett County Fairgrounds on the Friday and Saturday of the festival. For 2026 the hours were Friday, October 9, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, October 10, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The show features handmade craft items such as candles, jewelry, purses, woodcrafts, knitted items, food, and lotions. The Chamber says vendor placement depends on the variety of craft offered, not only on the waitlist form. Check before you go, because the 2027 sale schedule was not listed.
How do you enter the Grand Feature Parade?
The Town of Oakland opened registration for the 2026 Autumn Glory Grand Feature Parade on August 5, 2026. Community organizations, businesses, civic groups, youth groups, nonprofits, first responders, elected officials, equestrian units, specialty vehicles, and performance groups were invited to apply through the registration link on the Town's post.
Space is limited, and all entries are subject to parade committee approval. Questions go to Tracy Park, Main Street Manager for the Town of Oakland, through the contact details in the Town's post.
Where do the self-guided fall foliage driving tours start?
The Chamber's self-guided Fall Foliage Short Driving Tour starts at the Garrett County Visitors Center at 15 Visitors Center Drive, McHenry, MD 21541. The Chamber estimates the short tour takes about 55 minutes and covers about 26 miles. Highlights include barn quilts, Cranesville Swamp, Herrington Manor State Park, Swallow Falls State Park, Muddy Creek Falls, and Tolliver Falls.
The tour follows Maryland Scenic Byways, and the Chamber advises drivers to go slowly and watch for wildlife. Check before you go that the route and any stops are still open.
Autumn Glory Festival: questions visitors ask
When is Autumn Glory Festival in Garrett County and when is the parade?
The 59th Autumn Glory Festival ran October 7 to 11, 2026, according to the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce. The Grand Feature Parade was Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. in downtown Oakland, according to the Town of Oakland. The Chamber lists the next festival for October 13 to 17, 2027, so check before you go.
Is the Craft & Gift Sale free to attend?
Yes. The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce states that admission and parking are free for the Craft & Gift Sale. The 2026 sale was held at the Ag Heritage Hall at the Garrett County Fairgrounds on Friday, October 9, and Saturday, October 10.
What were the Craft & Gift Sale hours in 2026?
According to the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, the 2026 Craft Show ran Friday, October 9, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, October 10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check before you go for any 2027 schedule, which was not listed.
Can a community group or business join the parade?
Yes, the Town of Oakland invited community organizations, businesses, civic groups, nonprofits, first responders, and other participants to register for the 2026 parade. Space is limited, and the parade committee must approve all entries.
Who manages the Maryland State Banjo, Mandolin & Fiddle Championships?
The Town of Oakland manages the championships, which the Chamber's page says are presented by the Town of Oakland and the Greater Oakland Business Association. Questions go to the Town of Oakland at 301.334.2691. The page lists the 2027 championships for Friday, October 15, 2027, so check before you go.
Does the festival have a printed schedule of events?
The Chamber publishes an official brochure for each year's festival that lists events, including the parade, the state banjo, mandolin and fiddle championships, driving tours, turkey trail dinners, royalty court, car show, sales, farmers markets, and craft shows. The brochure described on the page covers October 7 to 11, 2026, and is sponsored by BILT Construction.
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