Fri, Oct 30 7:00 PM
Haunted Manor
Weinberg Center for the Arts
Loudoun Ballet Performing Arts Company presents a supernatural story about two siblings and an inherited manor.
All dates & admission ages
Standard $40; child/student $35
Things to Do
Frederick Arts & Culture Guide | Galleries, Theaters & Public Art
Galleries, Theaters, Public Art & Cultural Centers
10+ Arts Venues
Free Delaplaine Entry
Monthly First Saturday
Best evening out: visit the Delaplaine Arts Center (free), walk Carroll Creek's public art promenade, then catch a First Saturday gallery opening on the first Saturday of the month.
Frederick has earned national recognition as one of the most arts-vibrant communities in the United States. The downtown Arts and Entertainment District packs galleries, multiple theater companies, a free community arts center, and outdoor public art installations along Carroll Creek — all within a walkable historic district.
Galleries & Museums
The Delaplaine Arts Center
Free Community Gallery 📍 40 S Carroll St, Frederick, MD 21701
⭐ Frederick's premier visual arts hub along Carroll Creek Park Promenade. Rotating exhibitions, community art classes, and programs for all ages — admission always free.
Hours: Mon–Sat 9 AM–5 PM, Sun 11 AM–5 PM
Admission: Free
Programs: Exhibits, art classes, Art Talks, community events
Gift Shop: Gift Gallery with regional artists' works
African American Heritage Center (AARCH)
Cultural Museum 📍 All Saints and Carroll Streets, Frederick, MD
⭐ Tells the compelling story of African American history and culture in Frederick County through permanent and changing exhibitions and multidisciplinary programs.
Specialty: African American history and culture in Frederick County
Programs: Permanent/changing exhibitions, educational programs
Check: Current hours and opening schedule
Performing Arts
Frederick's theater scene is unusually rich for a city its size — five distinct companies offer programming from Broadway-caliber touring shows to community improv comedy.
Weinberg Center for the Arts
Historic Theater 📍 Downtown Frederick (historic Tivoli building)
⭐ Frederick's premier performance venue in a magnificently restored 1926 theater. National touring Broadway acts, symphony, film festivals, and special events.
Specialty: Broadway musicals, symphony, live music, dance, comedy
Admission: Varies by event — tickets required
Unique: Restored 1926 Tivoli — orchestra pit, chandeliers
Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET)
Theater Company 📍 Downtown Frederick Arts & Entertainment District
⭐ 30+ member ensemble producing 50+ original works. Strong comedy programming and a dedicated Family Theatre Series — one of Frederick's most beloved arts institutions.
Specialty: Original plays, comedy, children's shows, musicals
Programs: Improv nights, Family Theatre Series, Summer Theatre Camp
Best For: Comedy nights Fri/Sat Oct–Jun
New Spire Arts
Black Box Theater 📍 Downtown Frederick Arts & Entertainment District
⭐ Modern 275-seat black box with state-of-the-art AV. Hosts touring artists and community productions across music, theater, film, and comedy.
Capacity: 275-seat black box theater
Specialty: Touring artists, live music, theater, film, comedy, dance
Unique: 2019 addition with renovated lobby
Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre
Dinner Theater 📍 Frederick area (year-round venue)
⭐ Five mainstage productions yearly — includes buffet dinner. Interactive murder mysteries and a 20+ year summer camp tradition. Great for special occasions.
Specialty: Broadway-style musicals with buffet dinner
Programs: Murder mysteries, Breakfast with Santa, Summer Theatre Camp
Family: Kids' adaptations and annual camp tradition
Sky Stage
Free Outdoor Theater 📍 59 South Carroll Street, Frederick, MD
⭐ An open-air stage built on a historic fire-damaged pre-Revolutionary building site — transformed into free interactive public art and community programming.
Admission: Free
Specialty: Open-air drama, music, story time, film
Season: Spring through fall programming
Public Art & Cultural Spaces
Follow the Frederick public art trail to see the downtown murals and the Carroll Creek art walk.
Carroll Creek Park Promenade
Public Art Walk 📍 Historic downtown Frederick along Carroll Creek
⭐ Year-round public art along Frederick's most scenic downtown corridor. Part of a nationally recognized arts-vibrant community with a walkable public art program.
Admission: Free / public access daily
Art: Murals, sculptures, outdoor installations
Best Time: Daytime strolls or festival evenings
Frederick Arts Council
Arts Organization 📍 Downtown Frederick
⭐ The umbrella organization behind Frederick's thriving arts ecosystem. Manages Sky Stage, issues community arts grants, and coordinates the city's cultural programming.
Role: Arts advocacy, grants, Sky Stage programming
Programs: Grants, scholarships, community stage events
Website: Check for upcoming community arts events
Upcoming Arts & Culture Events
Upcoming dates from our Frederick event calendar. Check the organizer for admission and registration details.
Sat, Oct 31 1:00 PM
Make It Market: Halloween Edition
Give Rise Studio, 125 South Carroll Street
Choose from hands-on Halloween projects, including painted decorations, cards and bracelets. Costumes are welcome.
$5 entry; individual projects $8–$10; all-project pass $40.
Sat, Oct 31 8:30 PM
Halloween Salsa Night Dance Party
Rockwell Brewery, 8411 Broadband Drive Suite K
Start with a dance lesson, then dance to Latin music with DJ Willie. The evening includes a costume contest.
$15 cash cover; ages 21 and older.
Fri, Nov 6 8:00 PM
TolumiDE
New Spire Arts
TolumiDE performs songs blending soul, Afropop, gospel and contemporary African rhythms.
$35
Sat, Nov 7 11:00 AM
Handmade Puppet Dreams: Families Vol I
Weinberg Center for the Arts
A collection of handmade puppet films offers miniature worlds and stories for families.
$15; child and listed discounts $10
Sat, Nov 7 2:00 PM
Art Matters: Photography with E. Brady Robinson
Delaplaine Arts Center
Photographer and exhibition juror E. Brady Robinson discusses her work and the National Juried Photography Exhibition.
Free
Related Experiences
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main art museum in Frederick, MD? ▾
The Delaplaine Arts Center is Frederick's premier visual arts hub — a free gallery featuring rotating exhibitions, art classes, and community programs along Carroll Creek Park. It's open Monday through Sunday and admission is free.
Is Frederick known for its arts scene? ▾
Yes — Frederick has been recognized as a top arts-vibrant community in the U.S. The city has a concentrated Arts and Entertainment District downtown with galleries, multiple theaters, outdoor public art, and a strong First Saturday festival culture.
What theater companies perform in Frederick? ▾
The Weinberg Center for the Arts hosts national touring Broadway and concert acts. Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) produces original plays and comedy. Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre offers Broadway-style musicals with dinner. New Spire Arts (275-seat black box) hosts touring artists and community productions.
When is First Saturday in Frederick? ▾
First Saturday runs the first Saturday of every month from 5–9 PM. Galleries open special exhibitions, live music fills multiple downtown stages, and restaurants offer specials. It's one of the best ways to experience Frederick's arts scene.
See What's On This Month
Check the Events Frederick calendar for gallery openings, theater shows, and cultural events happening now.
Browse Arts Events