Frederick Municipal Airport is throwing open its gates Saturday for the fourth annual Festival of Flight, a free open house packing in military helicopters, vintage warplanes, flight simulators and a drone tent for anyone curious about life on the runway. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the airport in Frederick, Maryland.
Organizers describe the goal simply: get the community out to see the aircraft that fly in and out of Frederick, the clubs that meet there, and the businesses that keep the airfield running, according to Maryland STEM Festival. This year's lineup, as reported by DC News Now, includes an Army National Guard Chinook helicopter, a Maryland State Police medevac helicopter, and both World War II and Vietnam War-era military aircraft on display alongside a Smithsonian aviation exhibit.
The festival brings together aircraft and educational programming. Its schedule includes an educational session on air traffic control and the FDK traffic pattern, presented by the FAA Safety Team.
Flight Demonstrations and Food Trucks Fill Out the Day
Beyond the static displays, the festival features flight demonstrations overhead, and the Frederick-based organizers have said the show will include live flight demonstrations and dramatic flight maneuvers, according to Airshow Center. Local food trucks and vendors will also set up at the event, Maryland STEM Festival notes, giving attendees a reason to linger between demonstrations.
Attendance is free, but visitors must register in advance through Eventbrite to secure a ticket, per Maryland STEM Festival. Organizers caution that activities, performers and aircraft on display may change without notice due to weather, mechanical issues or other factors, Airshow Center reports.
An Airport With a Regional Role
Frederick Municipal Airport is owned and operated by the City of Frederick and carries a Federal Aviation Administration designation as a reliever airport for Baltimore/Washington International, according to the City of Frederick. The city has framed the Festival of Flight as an annual tradition, with this weekend marking its fourth edition, per the city's event page.
Last year's gathering gave a preview of the kind of aircraft Frederick can draw to its tarmac. A 2025 report from the Frederick News-Post described crowds checking out a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter alongside remote-controlled aircraft demonstrations. Whether all the same aircraft return this year has not been confirmed, but the festival's emphasis on blending static exhibits with hands-on STEM programming appears to be carrying forward into its fourth year.
