Good Morning St. Mary's 👋.

This weekend, America turns 250 years old. 🇺🇸

That is a big deal. We are lucky to call this country home, and in St. Mary's, that hits a little closer. We have Pax River right here, military families all over the county, and plenty of people doing the work that lets the rest of us grill hot dogs and argue about where to watch fireworks.

So first: Happy birthday to the United States of America. And thank you to the service members here at Pax, across the country, and around the world who help keep the whole thing going.

Let’s get into it.

🧠 Did You Know?

This week, with the nation turning 250, let’s swap out our usual poll for a piece of bizarre local history. We all know Pax River is a hub for high-tech aviation, but how well do you know the secrets hiding at the bottom of our waters?

🏡 Around the County

  • California Applebee's Has Closed: It’s official - The California Applebee’s has permanently closed after a three-decade run in St. Mary's County. The corporate listing for this location is gone, and the signs on the door confirm the restaurant has served its last late-night half-priced appetizer. If you need your fix, you’ll have to head up to the remaining regional locations in Prince Frederick or La Plata.

  • A Homegrown St. Mary's Short Film Is Almost Funded: Ariel Gill-Ehrenreich is raising money to shoot Sweet Virginia, a short film set and filmed in St. Mary's County, about a restless 13-year-old girl trying to make sense of a stifling small-town summer. She and her team are about 86% toward reaching their financial goal to finish it. Its not every day a filmmaker who grew up here decides to come back, bring a small crew, and make a real St. Mary's County movie. Let's help her get over the finish line.

  • Junior Historian Registration Is Open: The county's Museum Division has a four-day outdoor Junior Historian program at Piney Point Lighthouse Museum for ages 7 to 12. Its $100, capped at 12 kids per session, and includes an archaeological dig, boat racing and bird boxes.

⭐ The Top Pick

St. Mary's Freedom Fest 2026

Friday, July 3 | Gates open at 5 PM | St. Mary's County Fairgrounds, Leonardtown

If you want the full-scale, giant holiday experience without having to cross a bridge this weekend, heading to the fairgrounds on Friday night is your default move. Since it’s the nation's 250th, they are leaning heavily into the classic community setup: a massive lineup of local food trucks, a dedicated kids' zone, and an All-American Freestyle Stunt Show leading up to the main event.

Admission and parking are completely free, but you’ll want to treat this like the logistical operation it is. Gates open at 5 PM, the fireworks launch around 9:20 PM, and the fairgrounds lot fills up quickly, so carpool if you can swing it. Throw some folding chairs or blankets in the trunk, leave the coolers at home (they aren’t allowed past the gate), and definitely map out your exit strategy before the grand finale even starts.

🗺️ 39,000 New Neighbors? The 2050 Plan Hits the Table

Last night, the Planning Commission officially opened the floor for "St. Mary's 2050," the master blueprint that will dictate where everything from townhomes to commercial centers can be built for the next quarter-century. The underlying math is a wake-up call: we are bracing for roughly 39,000 new residents over the next two decades. To keep the rest of the county rural, the game plan is to channel most of that growth straight into Lexington Park and Leonardtown. The draft admits 45% of local renters are already tapped out by housing costs, so it’s pushing for more townhomes and duplexes, while trying to tighten development rules before the traffic on 235 gets completely unmanageable.

Last night was just the first half. The real action happens next Tuesday, July 7 at 6:30 PM in Leonardtown for Part 2. That session is dedicated entirely to "applicant-driven Land Use Category Change Requests", which is a fancy way of saying the formal process where individual property owners and developers petition the county to alter the rules for specific plots of land.

📅 Your Weekend Calendar

🟢 Thursday, July 2

  • Kids Cupcake Decorating Class | 10 AM to 12 PM @ Kneaded Baking Co., Leonardtown. If you are trying to get everyone out of the house early, Kneaded has a morning cupcake-decorating class for kids on the Square.

  • Teen Cupcake Decorating Class | 2 PM to 4 PM @ Kneaded Baking Co., Leonardtown. For the teens who are a bit too old to join the earlier session.

🟢 Friday, July 3

🟢 Saturday, July 4

  • Solomons Patriotic Pet Parade | 8 AM @ Solomons. Start the Fourth across the bridge with the patriotic pet parade before the day gets hot.

  • First Saturday of the Month Market Series | 9 AM to 4 PM @ Town Market, Leonardtown. Before the fireworks plans take over, Town Market has local vendors, produce, flowers, and baked goods going most of the day.

  • 17th Annual July 4th Parade | 11 AM @ Town Creek, Lexington Park. The Town Creek parade starts at Cornerstone Church and doesn’t disappoint.

  • Drayden African American Schoolhouse Open House | 11 AM to 2 PM @ Drayden African American Schoolhouse, Drayden. If you have never been inside the one-room schoolhouse in Drayden, the Fourth is a good day to fix that.

  • Summer Saturday Tours | 1 PM @ Historic St. Mary's City, St. Mary's City. Historic St. Mary's City has a guided Saturday tour for anyone who wants the quieter version of the holiday afternoon.

  • 250th Celebration of Independence | 1:30 PM and 6 PM live music @ Tiki Bar & Grill, Solomons. Tiki has Glamour Kitty at 1:30 PM, New Normal at 6 PM, free hot dogs while they last, cold drinks, and the Solomons fireworks crowd rolling through all day.

  • 4th of July Market | 3 PM to 9 PM @ Hooked Gifts & Boutique, Solomons. Hooked Gifts & Boutique is pairing a vendor market with a front-row Solomons fireworks angle.

  • Solomons Island 4th of July & America 250 Fireworks | 4 PM to 10 PM @ Solomons Island. Fireworks launching from two barges instead of one this year. Vendors and live music, the National Anthem is at 9:15 PM, and the fireworks follow immediately after.

  • Freedom Fest at West Basin Marina | 5 PM to 8 PM @ West Basin Marina, NAS Patuxent River. MWR Pax River's free America 250 celebration is built around lawn games and a marina-side holiday setup.

  • USA 250th Celebration at Dennis Point Marina | 5 PM to 10 PM @ Dennis Point Marina and Campground, Drayden. Waterfront fireworks, food, music, games, and a $20-per-vehicle admission.

  • Fireworks Cruise | 8 PM to 10 PM @ Big Kahuna Cruises, Solomons. Big Kahuna has a ticketed cruise for watching the Solomons fireworks from the water.

🟢 Sunday, July 5

  • SOMD Cars & Coffee | 8 AM to 11 AM @ Laurel Glenn Shopping Center, California. A huge gathering of local cars. Pop the hood, check out the other rides and drink some java.

  • 250th Under the Oaks | 5 PM to 7 PM @ Tudor Hall, Leonardtown. Tudor Hall gets the Sunday America 250 slot with music, history, and a bring-your-own picnic setup under the oaks.

🤝Trusted Local Partners

FITZIE'S MARINA RESTAURANT & PUB
Waterfront Dining • Leonardtown

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See you next Tuesday. ✌️

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