The Grantsville Arts & Entertainment District, in partnership with the Town of Grantsville and with support from the Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area, under the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, is celebrating the National Road Festival on May 14, 15, and 16!
The event begins on May 14 with a performance by Replay, a dynamic trio that specializes in performing popular oldies from different genres (pop, country, rock, jazz, etc.), from the 60s through the 90s. Don’t miss this energetic performance at the Spruce Forest Artisan Village Pavilion, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm!
Also on May 14 is the Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, a ticketed event featuring food and drink from Penn Alps Restaurant and the Mountain Grape Tavern! The Spruce Forest Artisan Village will be open, along with an Artist Market located in and around the Garrett County Arts Council’s The Gallery Shop, Too, which will run from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
On May 15, the Artist Market will run from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, when History Alive! acto, Richard Pawling, will perform a reenactment of a Conestoga Wagoner at the Penn Alps Church. Pawling, a natural entertainer and award-winning educator and interpreter, is a master at captivating audiences of all ages and ethnic backgrounds!
The Casselman Creamery will host ice cream tastings at its restaurant from noon to 4:00 pm. The Creamery makes all of its ice cream in-house from locally sourced ingredients; don’t miss their artisan-crafted flavors!
After his performance, the audience will be treated to a screening of the documentary by local artist Mark Stutzman, featuring the historic National Road Wagon Train that had traveled through Grantsville on Route 40 in years past. Stutzman is best known for the young Elvis Presley Stamp, posters for David Blaine and Broadway shows, playing card designs, local informational films, and album art.
On May 16, hundreds of residents will set up for the annual yard sale events, with a Town-wide Yard Sale at the Town Park, from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm. Further, the Artist Market will run from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm.
At 1:00 pm at the Grantsville Senior Center, the Grantsville Arts & Entertainment District will hold a dedication event for the Grantsville Barn Quilts, a public art project funded in part by the Maryland 250 Commission, organized in 2023 by Governor Moore to commemorate the state’s contribution to American history. At 2:00 pm, also at the Grantsville Senior Center, local and renowned musician Loretta Hummel will perform her well-loved country, gospel, and bluegrass music. Loretta is the lead vocalist with her current band, Country Grass, which performs a variety of country, gospel, and bluegrass music at several venues in MD, WV, and PA. Finally, to wrap up the festival, The Casselman Valley Travelers will perform at 4:00 pm at the Spruce Forest Artisan Village Pavilion. A favorite Grantsville area group, they specialize in ‘60s, ’70s, and ’80s country, bluegrass, and gospel music.
We hope you will come out and celebrate the National Road, the arts, the local businesses, and the beautiful and historic town of Grantsville! Bring your Garrett Arts Passport for several opportunities to obtain an artist-designed stamp!
Contact aedistrict@visitgrantsville.com or 301-334-6580, or visit www.grantsvilleaedistrict.com for more information; or, to join the Garrett County Arts Council, please visit www.garrettarts.org today.
Written by Garrett County Arts Council.
