June Let’s Go! Music Festival among events in busy season
For years, Liz Rawlings and Chris Hartman have traveled the country attending festivals as avid music lovers.
The Annapolis natives always wondered why there weren’t more outdoor live music events to enjoy in their neck of the woods. So, Rawlings and Hartman created Let’s Go! Music Festival, bringing in the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Goo Goo Dolls and Billy Currington.
Now in its third year, the music festival returns June 2-4 to Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds and will play host to a range of rock acts, including Live, Collective Soul and 311.
“They love their hometown so much and want to help build up the community,” Michaela Watkins, a spokesperson for Let’s Go! Festival, said of the organizers. “They will be highlighting local vendors, local food trucks and local artists. They’re trying to make this an all-encompassing community event.”
The event highlights a busy outdoor entertainment season in Anne Arundel County. The Annapolis area has already hosted several major events including the TacoFest in Annapolis earlier this month and the Naptown Music Festival over the weekend.
Here’s a roundup of events to look out for in the coming weeks.
Let’s Go! Music Festival, June 2-4
Set to perform will be Live, Collective Soul, Filter, 311, Cold War Kids, Silversun Pickups, Kip Moore, Larry Fleet, Pricilla Block and many more artists.
On June 2 the gates open at 3 p.m. and the music ends at 11 p.m. June 3 the show starts at 12:30 p.m. and runs until 11 p.m. and June 4 the gates open at 12:30 p.m. and music ends at 10 p.m.
Peake Social, an adult social sports league based in Annapolis, will bring all their games, including cornhole, spikeball and pingpong for guests to play while they listen to their favorite acts.
Tickets start at $65 for general admission and go up to $5,000 for seats in the captain’s box, right in front of the stage. Purchase tickets at letsgofest.com.
Pride Parade and Festival, June 3
Nearly 140 groups from around Maryland are expected to be a part of the Annapolis Pride Parade and Festival, now in its third year. The festivities begin around noon and end at 5 p.m. The theme of this year’s event is “Protecting LGBTQIA+ Youth.”
The festival will be held in The People’s Park on Calvert Street, as well as West Street, between Calvert Street and Church Circle, and in adjacent parking lots.
Serving as the grand marshal for this year’s parade is Annapolis resident Molly Estabrook, a board member of PFLAG, a nationwide support organization for LGBTQ+ people.
First Sunday Arts Festival, June 4
On the first Sunday of every month through November, the Inner West Street Association hosts the First Sunday Arts Festival on the Annapolis thoroughfare.
The first festival of the season was May 7. Future dates include June 4, July 2, Aug. 6, Sept. 3, Oct. 1 and Nov. 5. The festival lasts from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and features dozens of local vendors, artists, live music and cafe dining.
Live acts set to perform June 4 are: Tami Tambo, All Children’s Chorus of Annapolis, Fast Eddie and the Slowpokes, Priddy Music Academy and Naptown Sings.
More information can be found at innerweststreetannapolis.com/first-sunday-arts-festivals.
Juneteenth parade and festival, June 17
Annapolis will celebrate its third Juneteenth parade and festival on June 17, two days before the national holiday also called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. Juneteenth commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States in 1865, specifically, the day when enslaved people in Texas learned the Civil War had ended and that they were free.
The parade will kick off at noon at Annapolis City Dock. Following the parade, a free festival will be held at Bates Athletic Complex, 935 Spa Road, including live music, food and entertainment that will last until 8 p.m. The event is free to the public.
Afro-Soca wine, music, food festival, June 18
Anne Arundel Fairgrounds will be busy this summer as it will host one of the top AfroSoca wine festivals of the summer.
Enjoy Caribbean and African foods along with wine and music at this one-day event that will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There will be live bands, International DJs, and steelpan drummers for entertainment.
Tickets are $25 and the event is open to those age 21 and over only.
Tickets can be found at eventbrite.com/e/ afro-soca-wine-music-food-festival-tick ets-586264451757?aff=ALL EVENTS.
Admission includes entry, wine tasting, souvenir glass and music.
Attendees may bring chairs and blankets or small snacks for the day but no outside food, coolers or drinks will be allowed.
The annual all-local music festival is scheduled for June 24 in Eastport on the grounds of the Annapolis Maritime Museum and Horn Port Harbor Marina.
Thirty-seven bands will play across four stages from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
General admission tickets are $30 in advance and $40 the day of the festival. Children 12 and under are admitted free of charge.
Get tickets eastportarockin.com.