Anne Arundel County will welcome a brand-new signature event this fall as the Riviera Beach Music Festival debuts this Saturday, September 20, at Riviera Beach Community Park. The full-day outdoor festival will feature a mix of Maryland-born talent, regionally loved acts, and a nationally recognized headliner, along with food trucks, beverages, and local vendors.
For Joanne Stableford – EMT, treasurer of the fire company, and one of the festival’s lead organizers – the festival is both a celebration and a lifeline.
“Our community has been through a lot in the past year, especially with several serious water-related emergencies,” Stableford said. “We couldn’t hold our annual Carnival because of the Key Bridge collapse affecting vendor logistics. We wanted to find a new way to bring people together in a positive way, while also strengthening our readiness as a fire company. The idea of a festival that celebrates local music while raising funds for life-saving equipment and training just clicked.”
The choice of Riviera Beach Community Park was intentional. “It felt like the perfect spot,” Stableford explained. “It’s right here in Pasadena, easy for families and neighbors, and already a place people associate with community gatherings. We wanted the festival to feel like it belongs to the neighborhood.”
Stableford described the event as more than just another music gathering. “Every ticket sold, every vendor that joins us, directly funds the fire company. That means better equipment, advanced training, and stronger community safety programs. The impact is immediate and local, and that’s not something every festival can say.”
The lineup reflects the area’s musical heartbeat, blending homegrown talent with regional favorites. Headlining is Joey Harkum, best known from his days with the band Pasadena, returning in the middle of his national tour. Rising Nashville country artist Brody Kean will take the stage, along with fan favorites like Sweet Leda and Higher Education, rounding out a total of 12 acts.
“We wanted the event to really celebrate our community,” Stableford said. “Having Joey Harkum come home to headline feels like a full-circle moment.”
Festivalgoers can expect an array of food trucks, local vendors, and family-friendly activities. Featured food partners include Jimmy’s Famous Seafood, Breaking the Burger Bus, Fiamme del Forno, Picante Annapolis, H&H BBQ Grill, Two Bold Chefs, Stony Man Coffee, and Kona Ice.
Children’s activities include free tickets for kids under 5, discounted admission for ages 5–13, play equipment at the park, and even a story-time reading by a local children’s book author.
The heart of the event remains its mission: supporting the Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Company. Proceeds from the festival will go toward purchasing life-saving equipment, funding specialized training, and expanding community education programs.
“Every ticket really does matter,” Stableford emphasized. “Funds raised mean faster response times, stronger coordination, and ultimately more lives saved.”
Organizers encourage attendees to plan ahead. On-site parking is available for $10 per car (pre-purchase recommended), with free parking and shuttle service provided from Pine Grove Village Shops and other local stops. Shuttles will run throughout the day from 10:15 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. More details can be found at www.rbvfc13.com/rbmf/parking.
Though this is the festival’s debut year, organizers already see the potential for it to grow into a long-term tradition.
“From the start, the idea was to create more than just a one-off event,” Stableford said. “We want this festival to become something the community can count on year after year — a day where Pasadena comes together to celebrate music, family, and local pride, while also supporting the volunteers who keep us safe.”
Sponsors including Bravo Emergency Services Team, Huff Insurance, Buck Distributing, Rumor Reel Restaurant, Browning Auto, ArtworXX Tattoo, and Baltimore Soundstage Presents helped make the inaugural event possible.
Stableford said she hopes future years will bring together volunteer fire companies from across Anne Arundel County. “If, down the road, we outgrow our community park, that will be a good problem to have.”
For now, Riviera Beach is ready for its own signature celebration. “It’s fun, it’s family, but it’s also deeply meaningful,” Stableford said. “In many ways, it’s the community building something together that we hope will last well beyond this first year.”
The list of bands and their performance times are as follows:
11:00am – School of Rock Annapolis House Band
11:40am – Red Fox Rebels
12:25pm – Mach 3
1:05pm – Aaron Hawkins
1:50pm – Higher Education
2:50pm – Turning Point Band
3:35pm – EMOtional Support
4:20pm – Bond & Bentley
5:10pm – The Grilled Lincolns
6:00pm – Sweet Leda
7:00pm – Brody Kean
8:00pm – Joey Harkum
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
Location: Riviera Beach Community Park, 131 Meadow Rd, Pasadena, MD
Tickets & Info: www.rbvfc13.com/rbmf
About the Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Company
The Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Company is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the Pasadena,
Maryland area. In partnership with Anne Arundel County Fire Department career personnel, the company provides fire suppression, emergency medical services, marine rescue, and community safety
education.
