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South Laurel

  • Writer: Diane Mezzanotte
    Diane Mezzanotte
  • 4 hours ago
  • 3 min read
Local news covering Laurel Lakes, Victoria Falls, Oakcrest, Montpelier, and the Route 197 corridor

A view of the Montpelier House Museum, showing the front entrance where guests once disembarked from stage coaches. (Photo courtesy of M-NCPPC)
A view of the Montpelier House Museum, showing the front entrance where guests once disembarked from stage coaches. (Photo courtesy of M-NCPPC)
Montpelier To Kickoff Spring Events with Popular Festival

Shortly after moving to Laurel in 1987, I learned about two annual Spring events that grew to be must-go dates for me and my family: the Main Street Festival and the Montpelier Spring Festival.  I always thought of the latter as a more “hippie” version of the former, with festival-goers lying on blankets in the grass, listening to live music, watching dance performances, and perusing artwork—in various forms—which was on display and for sale.


While the Main Street Festival lives on, the original version of Montpelier’s festival died out in the 1990s. A former festival committee member told me that the event had just become too large and difficult to manage for the relatively small committee that ran it. Security concerns, traffic backups, and other issues led to its demise. However, it was replaced a few years later by another event that started relatively small and has been growing in size and attendance for almost 30 years now: the Montpelier Festival of Herbs, Tea, and the Arts.


This year’s festival will take place on Saturday, April 26, from 10 am to 4 pm on the grounds of the Montpelier House Museum, located at 9652 Muirkirk Road in Laurel. Attendees can expect to see dozens of vendors throughout the grounds and offering a variety of products, including the titular herbs for planting, tea for brewing, and many works of art created by local artists. Items in past years have also included flowering plants, crafted items, locally raised honey, flavored vinegars, garden décor, and much more.


The adjacent Montpelier Arts Center will be open, allowing visitors to peek inside resident artists’ studios and view current exhibits. History tours will also be given in Montpelier House, built in the late 1700s by Thomas Snowden, whose family was known throughout the state for their successful businesses and extensive landholdings. The property served as a plantation at one point, with enslaved people, whose history also can be discovered at Montpelier.


Diane Mezzanotte and Vicki Seibert, both of greater Laurel, enjoy boxed lunches at the 2024 Montpelier Herb, Tea, and Arts Festival.
Diane Mezzanotte and Vicki Seibert, both of greater Laurel, enjoy boxed lunches at the 2024 Montpelier Herb, Tea, and Arts Festival.

I attended this wonderful festival last year, along with a dear friend who was celebrating her birthday. We took advantage of all the events, including a performance by the Meade High School’s steel drum band. Even though a light rain made frequent appearances on the chilly day, the festival was well attended. We walked away with plants for our garden, some handmade greeting cards, and new teas to enjoy. But our favorite part was the boxed lunch of delicious tea sandwiches and pastries, along with a cup of hot tea. These lunches can be reserved in advance starting on April 1, or you can pick one up the day of the festival. Hope to see you there!


Other upcoming spring events at Montpelier include:


  • Hidden Spaces Tour. Sunday, May 4, 3:30–5:00 pm. Participants will see areas of the mansion that are usually off-limits and learn about the construction and preservation of the historic building. For ages 16 and up; climbing narrow stairwells is required, and ADA accommodations are not possible for this event. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 301-377-7817. Sunday, May 4. Cost is $10 for PG County residents and $15 for all others.

  • Souls Seeking Freedom Walking Tour. Saturday, May 10, 2:00 – 3:00 pm. Hear new findings and discuss the history of enslavement and resistance from 1765 to 1865. Drop-ins welcome, but reservations are recommended; call 301-377-7817. For ages 18 and older. (This event will be held again on Saturday, Sept. 20.)

  • Montpelier House Museum Community Day on Saturday, May 31 from 10–4. This annual event seeks to help the community connect with and celebrate our past, present, and future. Tours, talks, and family-friendly activities. Free event. All ages.


 

Diane Mezzanotte is a staff writer and member of the Board of Directors for The Laurel History Boys. In addition to covering Laurel city municipal news, she also reports on all things from South Laurel.

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