Tastings, pairings, and local fare.
Celebrate the sweet cycle of the orchard at the Apple Blossom Cider Festival! Join us for a day of crisp sips, local flavor, and regional pride at Maryland’s only statewide cider celebration. Whether you're a seasoned cider lover or simply savoring a spring day out, this is your chance to taste the harvest.
Expect local cider producers, and select mead, wine, and spirits makers, pouring samples. Your ticket includes a souvenir glass and all the tastings you can responsibly enjoy.
Plan Your Visit
When
DATE: Saturday, April 11th
VIP Entry: 11:00 a.m
General Admission: 12:00–4:00 p.m
What’s Included
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Entry to the Festival
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Souvenir Maryland Cider Festival Tasting Glass
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Unlimited Samples from 12+ Local Cider Producers
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Oyster & Cheese Pairing Add-Ons Available Too!
Where
The Great Frederick Fairgrounds
797 E Patrick St, Frederick, MD
Transportation & Parking
We encourage ride sharing and designated drivers. Ample on-site parking is available.
What To Expect From The Cider Scene
Cider isn’t one-size-fits-all. Maryland’s makers craft drinks across the spectrum - from bone-dry still ciders inspired by colonial tradition to bubbly, fruit-forward modern pours. Some are made from a single variety of heritage apple, while others blend apples with local fruits and spices for a whole new flavor experience. Taste your way through the state’s creative cider spectrum and discover new favorites.
Who's Pouring?
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Brothers Ridge Ciders
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Chesapeake Cider Co
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Doc Waters Cidery
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Heavy Branch Cider
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Hub City Brewing
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Potomac Cider
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Pub Dog Brewing
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Silver Wheel Cellars
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Willow Oaks Craft Cider & Wine
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Church Street Distilling
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Loew Vineyards
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more to come
Sip, chat, and learn from the talented cider and mead makers behind your favorite bottles.
Pairing Events
The Blossom & The Brine:
A Maryland Sip & Shuck Experience
Celebrate the best of the Bay and the Branch at The Bloom & The Brine, a premier pairing session at the Maryland Apple Blossom Cider Festival. In coordination with Maryland’s Sip & Shuck promotion—a state-wide celebration of our world-class craft cider and local oyster industries—this session invites you to discover the surprising harmony between the orchard and the estuary.
Join us as we pair the crisp, effervescent acidity of local Maryland ciders with the cool, saline finish of freshly shucked Chesapeake oysters. It is a true "merroir meets terroir" experience, highlighting how the mineral-rich waters of the Maryland coast perfectly complement the heritage apple varieties grown in our soil.
Instructions
The Blossom & The Brine - Cider & Oyster pairing session will begin at 12:30 p.m .
The Bloom & The Board:
A Maryland Cider & Cheese Pairing
Indulge in a sensory journey through Maryland’s rolling hills and fertile pastures at The Bloom & The Board. This curated tasting session at the Maryland Apple Blossom Cider Festival celebrates the artisanal craft of our state’s finest cider makers and master cheesemakers.
While "Sip & Shuck" celebrates the sea, The Blossom & The Board celebrates the soil. This session explores the sophisticated relationship between fermented apple juice and aged raw-milk cheeses. You’ll discover how Maryland’s unique climate influences the flavor profiles—or terroir—of everything produced on our land.
Instructions
TThe Bloom & The Board - Cider & Cheese pairing session will begin at 2:30 p.m.