42nd Annual Friendsville Days

We’re excited to invite you to join us as we celebrate the “Past & Present” at the 42nd Annual Friendsville Days Festival on August 18th through the 20th, 2023. 

The days will be fun-filled and are always better with you there!

On Friday, August 18th: 

Prepare to get wet and wild at the Floatilla! Make a creative craft to float down (a short section, class I/II rapids) of the Youghiogheny River, from the Maple Street (Route 42) bridge to the Park. Don’t feel like building something? No worries, just grab a tube or anything that safely floats and dress up in your best flotilla outfit! The crowds will be watching to cheer on the river runners. Register at the Friendsville Discount Liquors Parking lot from 4-5 PM. Everyone must sign a waiver and wear a coast guard approved PFD. Awards will be given for best floats and costumes! Floatilla will begin on Water street at 5:30 PM.

After the Floatilla shenanigans, join us for a FREE community dinner at Friendsville Park beginning at 6PM, first come, first serve. Joint Training Facility (JTF) games, inflatables along with musical entertainment will spark joy in all. 

6:30PM: Corn hole registration at 6PM, tournament hosted by Aaron and Kelsey Friend. Double elimination tournament, standard straight scoring to 21. Entry free $20, Cash Prizes for winning teams!

Scott Alexander will perform from 5-6:30 PM. Hailing from Oakland, Scott brings an acoustic spin to genre-spanning songs from across the decades, along with his own originals.

The Sugarfoot Stompers will perform from 7-9 PM. From “Almost Heaven” Garrett County, The Sugarfoot Stompers are a regional crowd favorite playing New Orleans jazz.

Fronted by trombone, trumpet, clarinet, and backed by banjo, acoustic bass, washboard/percussion, the boys bring joy to audiences with rockin’ improv. sessions on traditional blues and Dixieland tunes.

Rick Milne, a longtime music educator, plays trombone and sings. He also plays in regional community bands. Moe Turrentine, a community band leader, plays trumpet. He is the only member of the group to have played for Castro in Cuba. Gino Mauricci plays clarinet with Sugarfoot and sax with his rock ‘n’ roll band. He studied at Eastman School of Music and toured with Winton Marsalis. The rhythm section is Stephan Moylan on banjo and vocals, Matt Eary on upright bass, and Fred Jacoby on percussion and vocals. All three have performed in multiple bands and vocal groups ranging from long-hair rock ‘n’ roll to neatly trimmed barbershop.

On Saturday, August 19th:

Beginning at Noon, we will launch the celebration with the community lining the streets of Friendsville to admire the parade march through our downtown. Lineup begins at 10 AM, registration info below. 

Following the parade, the town is invited to join us in the park for the big 42nd annual celebration!  Amuse yourself with pony rides, JTF games, inflatables, horseshoes, basketball, cornhole, a watermelon eating contest, live music, balloons and face painting, door prizes, raffle items, tasty food trucks, shopping from a variety of eclectic vendors, and a loving community ambience. 

8AM: Softball Tournament hosted by Denny Witt

10AM-6PM: Annual Cruise-In for car fanatics to show off their automobiles! 

2-5PM: Outdoor Leadership and Adventure Education (of Garrett College) is setting up a mountain bike obstacle course! Challenge yourself, see what's possible. Bikes and helmets available. 

1:30PM: Horseshoe tournament Hosted by Don Van Divner and Vernon. Prize winner. Registration 1PM

2:30PM: Basketball tournament hosted by Phil & Austin Smith. $5 per player. 4 players per team. Playing 3 on 3, 4th player to switch out. Registration 1:30PM

5PM: Watermelon Eating Contest. Sign up at the pavilion for your age group at 3PM. 

3-7:30: Mechanical Bull

6-8: Pony Rides

Musical Acts Include:

2-4PM: ilyAIMY. For nearly two decades as ilyAIMY (i love you And I Miss You), Rob Hinkal and Heather Aubrey Lloyd have played everything from bait shops to biker weeks. They engage audiences with humor and award-winning narrative songs that pair an unforgettably soulful and powerful female vocalist with a percussive, clawhammer-like guitarist. Their infectious energy and rapid-fire lyricism is softened with cello and lush harmony, making ilyAIMY "a welcome jolt" and "an acoustically roiling, combustible attack on the usual singer/songwriter fare," say reviewers. Their energetic brand of new folk earned honors from Kerrville NewFolk, the National Association for Campus Activities, the Northeast and Southeast Regional Folk Alliances and the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. They are repeat Washington Area Music Association Winners for Best Contemporary Folk Group.

4-5pm: Open Mic, family friendly music, jokes, tricks, and stories welcome!

6-9PM: Optimus Riff is a rock and funk band with members from MD, WV, and PA. Playing an eclectic mix of originals as well as classic covers, they are sure to get you feeling good. Check out their album wherever you stream your music and don't forget to bring your dancing shoes!

9PM: Fire dancers of Luciole Liberation will ignite our night! Luciole Liberation is a collective that is sparking creativity through fire and theatrical based performance.

10 PM: Fireworks! 

We're looking for a variety of food and craft vendors! Please point your favorite food trucks and artists in our direction so we can host them at our spectacular event! Contact info below.

Sunday August 20th:

11AM: The Community Church Service will be held at the Fire Hall.  All community church pastors and members are invited and are asked to coordinate with their churches in bringing covered dish items for the fellowship following the service.  There will be music and singing and short sermons from pastors.

To register as a food truck or vendor, contact Bonnie Artice at articebonnie@gmail.com 

To register for parade, contact Marty McCabe at mjmccabe81@gmail.com

Questions about the Flotilla, contact Pat Hamlin at pkhods@earthlink.net

Questions about Open Mic, contact Kim Alexander at earthrootflower@gmail.com

Questions about Cruise-in, contact Glenn at (301)750-4018

Questions about the community church service, contact Phil Smith at philio123@yahoo.com

Any other questions about the event, contact the committee at friendsvilledays@hotmail.com

To learn more, follow our Friendsville Days Facebook Page.