ALLEGANY COUNTY TOURISM'S EVENT CALENDAR SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Our goal is to provide visitors with a comprehensive and engaging calendar of events that highlights the diverse experiences available in Allegany County, the Mountain Side of Maryland. A visitor is described as a person who travels 50+ miles outside of county lines. Allegany County Tourism reserves the right to determine eligibility for inclusion on our website, prioritizing events that appeal to day trips and overnight visitors.

The approval/rejection of all submissions is at the discretion of Allegany County Tourism. We reserve the right to edit or refuse any listing at any time. These guidelines are designed to be helpful, so please contact us directly with any questions or concerns. We are happy to provide additional feedback and guidance.

What Can I Submit to the mdmountainside.com Events Calendar?

We encourage submissions for a wide variety of events that would be of interest to visitors, including:

• Festivals and Fairs: Community festivals, cultural celebrations, agricultural fairs, and seasonal events.
• Performing Arts: Concerts, theatrical productions, dance performances, and musical festivals.
• Arts & Culture: Art exhibitions, gallery openings, museum events, historical tours, and open houses of historic sites.
• Recreation: Sporting events (including races, tournaments, etc.), guided tours, nature walks, and recreational activities.
• Family-Friendly Events: Events specifically designed for families, including children's activities, educational programs, and holiday celebrations.
• Unique Local Events: Events that showcase Allegany County's unique character, history, heritage, or local traditions.
• Multi-Day Events: Events spanning multiple days that offer a variety of entertainment and activities for visitors.

What Does NOT Qualify for the mdmountainside.com Events Calendar?

The following types of events are generally not eligible for inclusion:

• Events outside of Allegany County, MD.
• Programming that is part of a business's normal daily operations (e.g., daily specials, happy hours, regular classes, new or ongoing sales). These can be promoted on your business listing, which you can manage in the extranet portal.
• Multi-week classes, workshops, or local-focused camps. These can be promoted on your business listing, which you can manage in the extranet portal. Events closed to the general public (e.g., private parties, members-only events).
• Fundraisers where the primary focus is fundraising rather than a public entertainment element. If the event has a significant entertainment component (concert, performance, etc.) it will be considered. Please describe this entertainment component in detail.
• Student-only events (e.g., school events, college events).
• Pageants, contests, and competitions where the primary focus is competition rather than spectator entertainment.
• Regular church services.
• Family reunions, class reunions, or similar private gatherings.
• Retail sales, craft shows, or yard sales not associated with a larger public event.
• Recurring club meetings or group gatherings (e.g., book clubs, networking events).
• Content promoting hostility, violence, or sexually explicit material.
• Civic and community meetings, conferences, and activities.
• Virtual Events.

Event Submission Guidelines:

• Accuracy: Ensure all event details (dates, times, locations, contact information) are accurate and finalized before submitting.
• Completeness: Fill out all required fields on the submission form. Incomplete submissions may not be processed.
• Description: Write a concise and engaging description of the event, focusing on what will interest visitors. Avoid including dates, times, or costs in the description (use the designated fields for that information).
• Images: Submit a high-quality, landscape-oriented image (if possible) that represents the event. Avoid using flyers or logos as primary images. You must own the rights to the image or have permission to use it.
• Timing: Submit events at least two weeks in advance of the event date to allow for processing and promotion.
• Review: Allegany County Tourism reserves the right to edit event descriptions for clarity, style, and length. We are not responsible for errors in submitted content. Submission does not guarantee acceptance.

HOW TO SUBMIT EVENTS

Share your event with us and get more eyes on it! There are two ways to submit your event to the Allegany County Tourism’s event calendar:

Important Notes About Submissions:

• All submissions go through a review process before being approved and appearing on the calendar. Please allow 3-5 business days for this process.
• Do not close your browser until the submission is complete. You will be directed to a "Thank You" page upon successful submission.

Editorial Content and Social Media:

Allegany County Tourism creates content for our website and social media channels to promote the region and attract visitors. While we strive to feature a wide range of events, inclusion in editorial content or social media posts is at the discretion of Allegany County Tourism.

Contact Information:

For questions or assistance with event submissions, please contact tourism@alleganygov.org.