Maryland Folklife Area & Stage
Maryland: America in Miniature
Step into the heart of the Maryland Folk Festival at the Maryland Folklife Area and Stage—an immersive celebration of the diverse cultures, traditions, and stories that make Maryland unique. This year’s theme, “Maryland: America in Miniature,” highlights the state’s remarkable cultural landscape, from its Eastern Shore waterways to its urban enclaves and rural highlands. Through vibrant dance, stirring music, hands-on crafts, and powerful storytelling, the Folklife Area showcases the living traditions of communities across the state. As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, these artists and tradition bearers remind us that the story of America begins in places like Maryland—where heritage is both rooted and evolving.
The Maryland Folklfe Stage is made possible with the support of the Maryland Heritage Area Authority and the Beach to Bay Heritage Area, whose commitment to cultural preservation helps ensure Maryland’s rich traditions continue to thrive and inspire.
The Maryland Traditions Folklife Area is supported by the Maryland State Arts Council and Maryland Traditions—the state’s traditional arts program that identifies, documents, supports, and presents traditional arts.
In partnership with
This project has been financed in part with State funds from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority
but does not necessarily reflect its views or policies
Maryland Folklife Area Demonstrators
Beach to Bay Heritage Area
This grassroots nonprofit works to preserve and promote the Lower Eastern Shore’s cultural, natural, and historical assets through community-based heritage tourism and storytelling. Continue reading
BeachNut Studio
Colleen Tiefenthal creates vivid hooked rug art inspired by the natural beauty of the Chesapeake Bay. A fiber artist, painter, and sustainability advocate, her work blends tradition with a modern, eco-conscious flair. Continue reading
Eastern Shore Gyotaku
Catch. Paint. Eat. Repeat. Robby Chin preserves the Japanese tradition of gyotaku fish printing—honoring each sustainably caught fish and the stories they carry from Maryland’s rivers to your table. Continue reading
Indigo Dye Village
Illuminating Indigo’s African Origins – Led by cultural historian Kibibi Ajanku, this immersive experience explores the African roots of indigo dyeing and its significance in African American communities from the Gullah Geechee corridor to Baltimore. Continue reading
Maryland 250 Commission
Explore Maryland’s contributions to America’s 250-year journey, including the stories of Indigenous peoples, enslaved and free African Americans, and all who fought for liberty, life, and justice in the Old Line State. Continue reading
Oishani’s Creative World
At just 13 years old, Oishani Das is already a seasoned paper artist and classical vocalist, whose delicate quilled creations reflect her Indian heritage and love for storytelling through art. Continue reading
Poplar Hill Mansion
Learn about Dr. John Huston, Salisbury’s first surgeon, and his 1800s home-practice setup during the War of 1812. Discover how medicine, status, and history intersected in Maryland’s Federalist period. Continue reading
Samuel Wallace
2025 Maryland Traditions Heritage Award recipient Samuel Wallace brings traditional Jamaican pottery methods—learned as a youth in St. Elizabeth Parish—to Baltimore, where he teaches and inspires students with vessels formed “from the ground up.” Continue reading
Maryland Folklife Stage Performers
Dr. Spyros Koliavasilis
Heritage Award winner, cultural preservationist, and oud master Dr. Spyros Koliavasilis and apprentice Nicholas Mitrione share soulful Greek traditions through Rebetiko and Smyrneika, performed on oud, bouzouki, and laouto-guitar. Continue reading
Holy Pickers Union Center
The Holy Pickers Union Center is a group of Crisfield women—past and present seafood workers—who lift their voices in gospel song to honor the legacy of African American crab pickers and the historic 1938 Crab Pickers Strike. Continue reading
Janice Curtis Greene
Janice Curtis Greene is a multi award-winning author, master storyteller, and historical reenactor, an American griot, keeping the stories and history of the African diaspora alive. Continue reading
Kalanidhi Dance
Kalanidhi Dance brings the vibrant tradition of Kuchipudi to life with stunning classical technique and contemporary storytelling—an unforgettable celebration of Indian dance. Continue reading
Kalinka Dance Ensemble
Kalinka Dance Ensemble of Baltimore is a multicultural group sharing Russian and Central European folk-dance traditions through vibrant performances and community events across the Baltimore/DC area. Continue reading
Kate Spanos Irish Dance
Kate Spanos Irish Dance presents a variety of traditional and modern Irish dance styles from different corners of Ireland. Continue reading
The Stringbuzzards
The Stringbuzzards are an Eastern Shore bluegrass band known for their high-energy shows and heartfelt originals. Blending tradition with local flavor, they serve up classic bluegrass with a fun, modern twist. Continue reading
