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DENTON - Downtown Denton is about to be totally tubular. Caroline County’s biggest weekend of the year is set for Friday, Aug. 15, and Saturday, Aug. 16, when Caroline Summerfest returns with a “Back to the 80’s” theme. From 5 to 9 p.m. both nights, the streets will be alive with music, food, fireworks, and more.
This annual festival is a team effort, brought to life by Caroline County Recreation and Parks and the Town of Denton with help from the Caroline County Council of Arts and the Maryland State Arts Council. According to Rec and Parks Director Jamie Beechey, the event draws between seven and nine thousand people each year.
Pulling it off is no small feat. “We give ourselves a reprieve about a month after Summerfest,” Beechey said. “Even though we aren’t picking it up in October, November, and December, there are little things that keep it on our mind year-round. January usually starts the full sprint, believe it or not.”
Caroline Summerfest has been rocking the block for 36 years with no signs of stopping. “The goal, besides being a great end-of-summer family event, is that it serves as a fundraiser for many non-profits in the county.” To make sure those groups get the most bang for their buck, there are no standalone commercial food vendors, only local organizations selling everything from pork parfaits to funnel cakes.
Denton Town Manager Scott Getchell put it this way: “Parents and kids see it as the last big event before school begins. People who are originally from here travel home to be at the event. Nonprofits from all over the county rely on the money made here to support their causes throughout the year. In some respects, it’s like one big family reunion.”
This year’s throwback theme will meet a stacked lineup of activities. Friday night features a car show and Saturday night caps the weekend with a rad fireworks display. Across both nights, expect craft and food vendors, kids’ activities, sweet treats, sponsor booths, and raffles.
“My favorite part of Summerfest is the kids,” Getchell said. “Seeing them carrying balloon art in one hand and ice cream in the other, smiling and laughing, enjoying time with their families, makes all the work worthwhile.”
Beechey encourages festivalgoers to check out the Summerfest website or Facebook page for updates on food, entertainment, and the many sponsors who keep the magic alive. In the meantime, dust off those leg warmers and boom boxes—Summerfest is about to party like it’s 1989.
