SALISBURY, Md. — Come join award-winning Annual Poplar Hill Mansion Festival as Salisbury celebrates its rich Federal Period history! This beloved community event will take place on Sunday, May 3, 2026, from 12 to 4 p.m., offering a full day of history, culture, and family-friendly fun.
During the event, attendees can enjoy War of 1812 reenactors, performances by the Chesapeake Independent Blues, Bill Alexander playing the historic 1810 Joshua Thurston pianoforte, and dancing by the Dover Dancers. Educational displays from local nonprofits and historical societies will highlight Salisbury’s past, while children can enjoy crafts, games, and other interactive activities. A festive Maypole will also celebrate May Day traditions.
This year’s festival will also feature a special bacon celebration, inspired by Poplar Hill Mansion’s historical records. In 1828, the household inventory documented 1,400 pounds of bacon on hand — a testament to the agricultural and culinary traditions of the era.
In honor of that flavorful piece of local history, the Big Bad Wolf Bacon Truck will be on-site offering delicious bites for festival attendees to purchase.
Visitors can browse the Market Square, featuring vendors selling handcrafted items, and take guided tours of Poplar Hill Mansion throughout the day, enhanced by volunteers dressed in authentic period attire.
“This festival is a wonderful way to connect with Salisbury’s heritage while enjoying a fun, family-friendly experience,” said Sarah Meyers, Poplar Hill Mansion Curator.
The Poplar Hill Mansion Festival is free to attend, with parking available at Bethesda Methodist Church at the corner of Division St. and Isabella St. in the historic Newtown Neighborhood.
To accommodate the festivities, Elizabeth Street between Rt. 13 and Division St. will be closed from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please plan accordingly and follow posted detours.
For more information, visit: https://poplarhillmansion.org/events/.
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About ABCD
The Arts, Business and Culture Department is responsible for fostering Salisbury’s thriving economic climate through supporting business, expanding economic opportunity, promoting artistic expression, hosting unique experiences, and maintaining regional attractions such as the Poplar Hill Mansion. By producing signature events, facilitating business incentives, and collaborating with stakeholders, this department strives to make Salisbury a place where arts, business, and culture intersect and flourish. https://salisbury.md/departments/arts-business-culture
About the City of Salisbury, Maryland
Founded in 1732, Salisbury is the county seat of Wicomico County, a place where John Smith touched land in 1608 during his exploration of the Chesapeake Bay, bringing him in contact with the Wighcocomoco or Wicomico, the Nause, the Kusk’arawack, and the Nantaquack or Nanticoke tribes who had lived in the region for several millennia. Situated on Maryland’s historic Eastern Shore at the crossroads of the Delmarva Peninsula, Salisbury is now one of the region’s largest cities, and serves as the capital of the Eastern Shore, a rural area defined by its agricultural and maritime traditions, landscapes, and industries.
The Chesapeake Bay is central to this distinctive identity. Though a relatively small city, Salisbury is the geographic and economic hub of one of the nation’s fastest-growing Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The City of Salisbury is working to build its reputation as an arts and culture destination and is aligning its downtown development and revitalization efforts with the arts. Salisbury believes hosting the Maryland Folk Festival is the perfect catalyst to further a cultural renaissance and urban renewal. https://salisbury.md/