By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

(June 18, 2026) The Berlin mayor and Town Council last week approved a request from the Berlin Chamber of Commerce to change the dates of the 2026 Fiddlers Convention and to confirm plans for the return of the town’s Jazz and Blues event in 2027.

The date change comes after the cancellation of the Maryland Folk Festival in Salisbury, which had prompted organizers initially to move the Fiddlers Convention to a later weekend in September.

Departing Chamber President Garrett Neville told council members the Fiddlers Convention was originally scheduled for Sept. 25-26, 2026, in an effort to avoid conflicting with the Maryland Folk Festival.

While the later September time slot coincided with the Oceans Calling music weekend in Ocean City, the chamber felt that given the nature of the Fiddler’s Convention, it would be best not to occur on the same days as the similar folk festival.

“Since approval, [the Maryland Folk Festival] has been canceled,” Neville said. “We’re hoping to move it to Friday, Sept. 18 and Saturday, Sept. 19 in an effort to not conflict with Oceans Calling in Ocean City.”

Under the approved change, Sept. 25-26 will now serve as the event’s rain dates.

Councilman Steve Green voiced support for the adjustment.

“I was concerned about it conflicting with Oceans Calling,” Green said.

The Maryland Folk Festival was recently canceled after organizers cited funding challenges. Salisbury officials have described the decision as a pause while they explore future programming for fall 2027.

Berlin Council members also approved a request related to the town’s Jazz and Blues event, which organizers announced last year would take a one-year hiatus in 2026.

Neville said the event was postponed to provide a break for town staff and volunteers while allowing organizers additional time to secure entertainment and sponsorships.

“Jazz and Blues [is] postponed to 2027 to give a break to staff and bring it back in 2027,” Neville said. “We’re asking for approval of the date of Saturday, May 15, [2027] in an effort to secure the best sponsorships.”

The chamber’s letter noted that plans to postpone the festival were first presented to town officials in October. To move forward with booking performers and sponsors in a timely matter, organizers requested official approval of May 15, 2027, as the event date, with May 22, 2027 designated as the rain date.

The council unanimously approved the revised Fiddlers Convention dates and the 2027 Jazz and Blues schedule.