Headline & seasonal festivals
Springfest
35th annual free Inlet Lot festival—200+ artists and crafters, specialty food, two free music stages, plus ticketed PAC Spring Showcase nights.
Status (Eastern US date): Loading…
Dates and prices change—confirm with official sources before you book travel. Status uses US Eastern calendar dates for “today.”
Plan your trip
Tickets, parking, lodging pacing, tips, and official links for this event window.
FAQs
Practical visitor questions—kids, weather, parking, tickets, and local logistics.
About this event
Springfest 2026 runs Thursday, April 23 through Sunday, April 26 at the Inlet Lot (south end of the Boardwalk). Town announcements mark the 35th anniversary: festival hours are typically 10 AM–6 PM each day, with free daytime entry for arts, crafts, specialty food, and live music on two stages featuring 200+ artists and crafters.
Evening Spring Showcase performances at the Ocean City Performing Arts Center (Roland E. Powell Convention Center) are separate and ticketed—past 2026 billing included The Fabulous Hubcaps (Apr 23), Who’s Bad: The Michael Jackson Experience (Apr 24), a Taylor Swift tribute (Apr 25), and The Fab Four closing the series. Buy PAC tickets via Town / ococean.com channels—not included with free festival entry.
The Inlet footprint stacks with other April visitors (kite festival, early Restaurant Week, Cruisin’ setup). Prefer Beach Bus, walking from downtown lodging, Convention Center lots with shuttle patterns when published, or West Ocean City Park & Ride rather than hunting Inlet curb spaces. Pair with lodging, transportation, and food & drink planning.
Spring coastal weather swings—layers, sunscreen, and a light rain plan help. If you fish or boat the same weekend, dawn marina runs usually beat afternoon Inlet congestion.
Quick planning tips
- Arrive mid-morning on Saturdays before the densest craft-aisle crush.
- Screenshot the festival map from official posts—cell service lags when crowds peak.
- Buy PAC showcase tickets early if those evenings are your main reason for the trip.
Map (approximate)
Top FAQs
- Is Springfest free?
- Daytime festival entry at the Inlet Lot is free. Food, crafts, and any ticketed Performing Arts Center showcase shows are separate purchases.
- What are the 2026 hours?
- Town materials list Thursday–Sunday, 10 AM–6 PM at the Inlet Lot. Confirm day-of on Town / OceanCity.com channels if weather or programming shifts.
- Where should I park?
- Inlet curb space is scarce. Use hotel parking + Beach Bus, Convention Center / Park & Ride patterns when special-event service is published, or walk from downtown lodging.
Sources we used
OCEANCITY.MD does not operate these events. Organizer websites, OceanCity.com, the Town of Ocean City (OC Ocean), OC Visitor, and regional tourism calendars are starting points—verify every time-sensitive detail directly.
Related guide on this site: older editorial page (may overlap topics).
