Share: 

Chesapeake Bay Balloon Festival Kicks Off the Final Weekend of July

July 28, 2021

These final few days of July bring a couple of noteworthy events to the local region, in addition to the conclusion of the annual Delaware State Fair in Harrington and some worthwhile happening in upstate Delaware.

We hope everyone is enjoying the Summer of 2021 at and near the beaches and making the most out of what is always one of the best times of the year. There's a lot of good things going on and that will continue well into the fall when some of the year's biggest events take center stage.

But before we get to the much anticipated Fall Festival Season, we have some great things to tell you about for the extended weekend of July 30 through August 1 at and near the Delaware and Maryland beaches.

So let's jump right into it with a preview of one of the mid-Atlantic's largest hot air balloon festivals, held just a short distance away in Talbot County, Maryland.

Chesapeake Bay Balloon Festival (July 30 - August 1)

If you're looking for a fun, family-friendly festival for this final weekend of July, head on over to Cordova for the always festive Chesapeake Bay Balloon Festival.

Scheduled for July 30 through August 1 at Triple Creek Winery in Cordova (see map above for directions), this event features three days of fun centered around some of the region's finest hot air balloons.

Click here for the full schedule of events for the three-day festival, which includes hot air balloon rides, tethered balloon rides, live music, food trucks, games for the kids and even an on-site mechanical bull for those who want to give it a try.

This mid-summer festival is always well attended and gets rave reviews, so hop in the car and take the quick trip over to Talbot County for the 2021 Chesapeake Bay Balloon Festival.

A portion of proceeds raised during the event goes to benefit local fire departments and municipalities. 

Learn more about this year's balloon festival here.

Finale of Delaware State Fair (July 29-31)

The 2021 Delaware State Fair wraps up this weekend, but there's still a few days left to get to Harrington and enjoy all of the fun.

As always, the State Fair features an eclectic mix of events and activities for attendees, including the always popular carnival rides, a wide selection of "fair food," games and livestock exhibits.

And don't forget some of the favorities like the "Hollywood Racing Pigs," "Circus Hollywood," the "Disc Connected K9s" and the camel show.

Headline acts for the final few days of the fair include "38 Special" on Friday, July 30 and Zach Williams on Saturday, July 31.

Visit www.delawarestatefair.com for more information.

White Marlin Open/Marlin Fest (August 2-6)

This event actually doesn't kick off until Monday, but it will be half over by the time our next "Weekender Blog" comes out, so we're going to feature it here today.

The five-day White Marlin Open is the world’s largest billfish tournament and is being held for the 48th year in Ocean City. Hundreds of teams are expected to compete in 2021 for prize money in the millions of dollars.

Last year’s tournament drew more than 3,000 contestants in categories that included white marlin, blue marlin, tuna, wahoo, dolphin and shark.

New for 2021 is the accompanying Marlin Fest, which will be held each day at the 3rd Street Bayside Ballpark in Ocean City. It will feature a festival-like atmosphere, as well as real-time views of the tournament weigh-ins.

Ocean City has been known as the “White Marlin Capital of the World” since given that moniker by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939. And judging by the size and popularity of this yearly fishing tournament, that nickname will probably be around for some time to come.

To learn more about the 2021 White Marlin Open, visit www.whitemarlinopen.com.

Click here for the rest of this weekend’s featured events

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter