The Maryland Wine Harvest Festival — the 17th Annual Harvest Festival at Layton's Chance Vineyard & Winery — takes place Sunday, October 4, 2026, from 12–4 PM in Vienna, Maryland. Adult tickets are $20 and include a complimentary wine tasting and a commemorative glass while supplies last. The event blends wine, live music from Uprizing, food vendors, local artisans, and family farm activities — petting zoo, hayrides, and bounce houses — into a full afternoon on a 14-acre Eastern Shore vineyard. This guide covers everything you need to plan a visit, from what's included in the ticket to how to get there across the Bay Bridge.
- Date: Sunday, October 4, 2026, 12 PM – 4 PM.
- Location: Layton's Chance Vineyard & Winery, 4225 New Bridge Road, Vienna, MD 21869.
- Ticket: $20 adult — includes complimentary wine tasting and commemorative glass while supplies last.
- Music: Uprizing performing live throughout the afternoon.
- Food: Fat Kings BBQ, Squeaky's Café, Kona Ice.
- Family activities: Petting zoo, hayrides, juggling, bounce houses — genuinely kid-friendly.
- Drive from Baltimore: ~90–100 miles, 1h45m–2h via US-50 East across the Bay Bridge.
Festival in 2026
(tasting included)
at Lazy Day Farms
Baltimore
Maryland Wine Harvest Festival 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | 17th Annual Harvest Festival |
| Date | Sunday, October 4, 2026 |
| Time | 12 PM – 4 PM |
| Location | Layton's Chance Vineyard & Winery |
| Address | 4225 New Bridge Road, Vienna, MD 21869 |
| Adult ticket | $20 — includes wine tasting + commemorative glass (while supplies last) |
| Music | Uprizing (live, throughout the afternoon) |
Confirm current 2026 details on the Maryland Wineries Association listing for Layton's Chance or the official winery site before purchasing, since festival specifics can be updated closer to the date.
What's at the 2026 Harvest Festival?
The festival packs a full afternoon of wine, music, food, and farm activities into its four-hour window — making it a genuine day-out event rather than a quick tasting stop.
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Live Music — Uprizing. Music anchors the festival's atmosphere throughout the afternoon as the backdrop to tastings, food, and farm activities. Uprizing is a regular performer at Layton's Chance concerts.
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Wine Tasting — included with ticket. A complimentary tasting of Layton's Chance's own wines: Norton, Chambourcin, Vidal, Cabernet Franc, and Traminette — true-to-the-fruit reds and whites, including sweeter styles that have been visitor favorites for years.
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Food Vendors — Fat Kings BBQ, Squeaky's Café, Kona Ice. Local vendors bring a range of festival fare from barbecue through shaved ice. Food is priced separately from the ticket.
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Local Artisans. Handmade goods from local craft and artisan vendors give the festival a community-market feel alongside the wine and music.
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Family Activities — Petting Zoo, Hayrides, Bounce Houses. A petting zoo, vineyard hayrides, roving jugglers, and bounce-house activities make this festival genuinely family-friendly rather than adults-only.
What Does the $20 Ticket Include?
The $20 adult ticket covers event admission, a complimentary wine tasting, and a commemorative glass while supplies last. That covers the core wine experience and entry to the festival grounds with music, farm activities, and general entertainment.
What it doesn't automatically cover: food from the vendors (Fat Kings BBQ, Squeaky's Café, Kona Ice), any additional wine beyond the included tasting, and some individual activities may be priced separately. The commemorative glass is offered while supplies last — arriving earlier in the 12–4 PM window is the safer bet if the glass matters to you. Confirm exactly what's included on the official ticket listing before you buy.
Is the Maryland Wine Harvest Festival Family-Friendly?
Yes — the Maryland Wine Harvest Festival is genuinely family-friendly, with a petting zoo, hayrides, bounce-house activities, and roving entertainment alongside the wine and music. Unlike wine events aimed strictly at adults, this festival is built as a farm-and-vineyard day that gives kids their own activities while adults enjoy the tastings and music.
The Lazy Day Farms setting — nature trails, picnic areas, and open vineyard grounds — adds room to spread out and make a full afternoon of it. Some individual activities or food will carry additional cost beyond the ticket; plan accordingly if you're bringing children.
Where Is Layton's Chance Vineyard & Winery?
Layton's Chance Vineyard & Winery is located on Maryland's Eastern Shore in Vienna, Dorchester County, set on 14+ acres of vineyards at Lazy Day Farms. It's a family-owned winery with a relaxed, farm-focused atmosphere — nature trails, picnic areas, and vineyard grounds alongside the tasting room. On-site parking is available for festival visitors.
| Starting Point | Distance | Drive Time | Main Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | ~90–100 mi | 1h45m–2h | US-50 East across Bay Bridge |
| Annapolis | ~70 mi | 1h20m–1h30m | US-50 East across Bay Bridge |
| Washington, DC | ~110 mi | ~2h | US-50 East across Bay Bridge |
Why Make It a Wine-Country Day Trip?
Once you factor in the Bay Bridge crossing, you're already making a day of it — so the festival rewards treating it as the centerpiece of an Eastern Shore outing. Layton's Chance is on the Chesapeake Wine Trail, giving you the option to add other Eastern Shore winery stops on the way in or out. For a broader view of Maryland wine trails, our Chesapeake Wine Trail guide covers the Eastern Shore wine region in detail, and the Legacy Wine Trail covers Southern Maryland's wine route as a contrast for a future trip.
Why Group Transportation Makes Sense
For a group traveling from Baltimore, Annapolis, or DC, the transportation question is real: the winery is 70–110 miles away across the Bay Bridge, the event is a wine tasting, and the Bay Bridge backs up on return Sunday afternoons. Coordinating one vehicle for the group means nobody has to skip the tastings to drive — everyone participates fully, and the return trip across the bridge doesn't become the stressful variable at the end of a good afternoon.
For group wine tour transportation to the Eastern Shore — whether for the Harvest Festival alone or as part of a longer wine-trail day — our Maryland wine tour service covers pickup from Baltimore, Annapolis, and DC, handles the Bay Bridge crossing, and brings the group home at a fixed rate. No designated driver, no caravan, no rideshare from a rural winery.
| Couple, willing to drive | Drive yourselves — or combine with a B&B stay in the area to avoid the Sunday Bay Bridge return in one day. |
| Group of 4–8 friends | Pre-booked private van — everyone tastes freely, one vehicle to and from across the Bay Bridge, no caravan logistics. |
| Family with young kids | Drive and arrive at noon — petting zoo, hayrides, and bounce houses are the draw; arrive early to maximize the 12–4 PM window. |
| Adding other Eastern Shore wineries | Chartered vehicle covers multiple stops without the driving math — pair Layton's Chance with another Chesapeake Wine Trail winery. Call: (410) 451-0000 |
| Concerned about Bay Bridge traffic returning | Pre-booked vehicle departs on your schedule — driver handles the crossing while the group relaxes on the way home. |
What to Know Before You Go
A quick checklist for planning the trip:
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Tickets | Buy in advance — confirm availability and current 2026 details on the official listing |
| Return transportation | Plan before the day, especially for the Bay Bridge crossing — book or arrange in advance |
| Clothing | Outdoor farm event in October — bring a layer for the afternoon as temperatures drop |
| Extra costs | Food vendors, additional wine, and some activities are priced separately from the $20 ticket |
| Commemorative glass | While supplies last — arrive closer to the 12 PM opening if the glass matters |
Group Wine Tour Transportation to the Eastern Shore
Bayside Limousines has served the Maryland, D.C., and Northern Virginia area for over 33 years. For the Maryland Wine Harvest Festival at Layton's Chance — or any Eastern Shore wine outing — we handle the drive across the Bay Bridge both ways so everyone in the group can taste freely. Fixed rate, your schedule, pickup from Baltimore, Annapolis, or DC. We own every vehicle and employ every chauffeur directly.
Maryland Wine Harvest Festival FAQ
Event details confirmed from the Maryland Wineries Association listing and Layton's Chance Vineyard's official site. Festival-specific details (vendor lineup, activities, ticket inclusions) should be reconfirmed on marylandwine.com or laytonschance.com before purchasing tickets, as event listings update closer to the date.