City Life At a Glance

Make the most of city life with the best in history, culture, arts and entertainment Hagerstown has to offer. Start your explorations at the heart of our City Center and work your way around to enjoy the sights, sounds and unique experiences that make us love city life. 

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Arts and Entertainment:

Our City Center is home to the Arts and Entertainment (A&E) District, the first of such districts to be designated in the state of Maryland. The streets literally glitter in the sun and capture images of art, drama and music. Check the marquis at the Maryland Theatre, home of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra and the Miss Maryland Pageant. Enjoy a show or performance in the historic theatre, which has been a landmark in Hagerstown since 1915. Next door to the Maryland Theatre is the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, the first arts magnet school in Washington County and Western Maryland. The Washington County Arts Council showcases the work of local artists, with a new exhibit each month in their gallery that’s housed in a renovated historic building. You’ll also find a new and transformed Washington County Free Library. In addition, the A&E District features several art galleries, unique urban architecture, museums and restaurants.

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Dining:

Whether you’re in the mood for casual or fine dining, local restaurants offer tastes for every palette. You’ll find cuisine from around the world right in our City Center, from Mexico and Panama to Italy and Thailand. You can even take a sampling of Hagerstown’s German heritage. Take your eating experience outdoors and enjoy your meal al fresco style in one of the many outdoor dining areas. Our downtown also boasts many eateries with interesting local favorites like the “Lettuceless Salad,” “The Burkinator” and a “Braunschweiger.” Grab a bite to go and make it a picnic at the University Plaza, a quiet park located next to the University System of Maryland atHagerstown.

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Parks and Outdoor Amenities:

Hagerstown has over a dozen scenic and picturesque parks throughout the City, but perhaps most noted is our City-Park, which has been hailed as the “second most beautiful natural municipal park.” Between its man-made lake, wooded walking trails, picnic facilities and recreation amenities, City Park is the crown jewel of the City’s park system. It is also home to the Jonathan Hager house, the homestead of our City’s founder, which is open for self-guided tours on the weekends. Just across the City Park Lake you’ll find the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, which showcases a variety of exhibitions, concerts, lectures and films. There’s even more to see and do around the Hagerstown Railroad Museum and the Mansion House Art Gallery, also located at City Park. Fairgrounds Park is a haven for activity and recreation with its walking paths, baseball fields, basketball courts, play areas, and even a BMX course. Spanning over 60 acres, there’s plenty of space to make your own fun or put together a team for a pick-up game.

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City Golf Championship Recreation:

There are so many ways to take different and unique views of Hagerstown, like from a bicycle! The City has mapped out a 10-mile bicycle-friendly course that connects several parks, neighborhoods and points of interest. You can safely navigate the route by using designated bike lanes and multi-use paths. Take a more relaxed approach to your sight-seeing with several walking trails of varying distance around the city. You can even incorporate a brief history lesson; there are a series of 50 historical markers that chronicle significant people and happenings during the Civil War and other landmark events from our heritage. 

Make a getaway to the Greens at Hamilton Run, a City-managed golf course that has recently undergone significant improvements and upgrades. The Greens is popular for its nine-hole par 34 course that offers a quick round of golf at extremely reasonable prices. You can relax in the clubhouse’s comfortable indoor seating area complete with a big-screen TV, or you can enjoy a bite to eat between rounds on the deck that overlooks the course while you take in the scenic views of South Mountain. Even if you’re not a golfer, it’s a great spot to unwind for lunch.