The appealing planned community of St. Charles, Md., lies approximately 23 miles southeast of downtown Washington, D.C. near the attractive small city of Waldorf, Md.

This scenic region, home to more than 67,000 people, gets even more attractive, lovely and charming every year during the Sunset Concert Festival and Farmers’ Market. These tasty and harmonious events take place on Fridays from May through August.

The Farmers’ Market is held at O’Donnell Lake and opens for business on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and at 8 a.m. Saturdays. Concerts take place in the O’Donnell Lake Restaurant Park (located adjacent to the Hilton Garden Inn in St. Charles). In anticipation of the setting sun and all of its attendant kaleidoscopic natural beauty, the performers typically take the stage at about 7 p.m.

According to the community of St. Charles’ city website, the Farmers’ Market is expanding to include Wednesday afternoons. Additionally, the Farmers’ Market that used to take place at the Festival in Waldorf site is relocating to a spot near St. Patrick’s and Smallwood Drive.

Friday, May 11, 2012, kicked off the outdoor music festival’s fourth consecutive year, serving up live performances from a wide variety of regional bands, playing an equally wide variety of musical genres.  

This summer’s roster of performers pops up when you click here and surf over to the St. Charles community’s website, or you can just peruse the list right here (excluding the May 11th show):

  • May 18 – U.S. Navy Band
  • May 25 – BI Richardson & the Black Coffee Experience
  • June 1 – Jennifer Cooper & GrooveSpan
  • June 8 – USAF Rock Band – Max Impact
  • June 15 – Lynn Hollyfield Band
  • June 22 – Steve Cavanaugh Band
  • June 29 – US Navy – Cruisers
  • July 6 – John OLoughlin and the Blarney Stones Band
  • July 13 – Jennifer Cutting and OCEAN Celtic Band
  • July 20 – Higher Hands
  • July 27 – Kajun Kelley Band
  • Aug. 3 – Singer-Songwriter Showcase with Matt Silkworth
  • Aug. 10 – Deanna Dove
  • Aug. 17 – Anthony Swampdog Clark
  • Aug. 24 – Karen Collins and the Backroads Band
  • Aug. 31 – Eric Scott Band