Maryland Renaissance
Festival, Crownsville, MD. Re-creation of a sixteenth century village draws
thousands. Performers, combat jousting, craft shops, food. Weekends, Labor Day
weekend through the end of Oct. Phone (800) 296-7304.
JANUARY
Heritage
of the Bay Festival, St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds, Leonardtown, MD. All you
can eat oysters and clams. Phone (301) 769-4951.
FEBRUARY
February
Freeze, Cape Charles, VA. A plunge into the frigid winter waters of the Chesapeake
Bay benefits the Shore Habitat for Humanity. Bonfire, pig roast, chili. Phone
(757) 331-2304.
National Outdoor Show, Golden Hill, MD. A tribute
to watermen, hunters, and trappers. Contests for muskrat skinning, trap setting,
log sawing, duck and goose calling, crab picking, and oyster shucking. Food and
exhibits. Phone (800) 522-TOUR.
MARCH
Artists of
the Chesapeake Annual Art Auction, Centreville, MD. Auction to benefit Queen
Anne’s County art organizations. Phone (410) 758-2520.
Decoy Waterfowl
Show and Auction, Bel Air, MD. Decoy and waterfowl artists, benefits American
Red Cross. Late Mar. Phone (410) 838-4568.
APRIL
Chincoteague
Island Easter Decoy and Art Festival, Chincoteague, VA. Carvers and artists
compete for awards and sell their work. Easter weekend. Phone (757) 336-6161.
Easter
Sunrise Service, Hampton, VA. Watch the day dawn on the Chesapeake Bay at
Fort Monroe’s Continental Park. Phone (747) 727-2611.
Maryland
Hunt Cup Race, Tufton Avenue, Glyndon, MD (Baltimore County). Oldest and most
difficult steeplechase race in the country. Phone (410) 833-4188.
Virginia
Waterfront International Arts Festival, Newport News, VA. Held at various
locations. Phone (757) 664-6492.
My Lady’s Manor Steeplechase Races
& Champagne Reception, Monkton, MD. One of Maryland’s best timber races.
Fund raiser for Ladew Topiary Gardens. Phone (410) 557-9466.
Waterfront
Festival, Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD. Food, music, family entertainment.
Late Apr. Phone (410) 837-4636.
Nanticoke River Shad Festival,
Vienna, Dorchester County, MD. Traditional shad planking, music, food, canoe and
kayak races, and Activities for children to celebrate the restoration of
the spring run of shad. Sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Phone (800)
522-TOUR.
Nanticoke River Canoe/Kayak Classic, Vienna, Dorchester
County, MD. An 8-mile canoe and kayak race down Barren Creek. Phone (800) 522-TOUR.
Historic
Garden Week on the Eastern Shore, Cape Charles, VA. Visit historic homes and
landmarks on the Eastern Shore of Virginia on the garden tour. Phone (757) 331-2304.
Delmarva Birding Weekend, Snow Hill,
MD. Worcester and Somerset counties celebrate the arrival of migrating shorebirds,
waterfowl, and many nesting birds. Boat and canoe trips, guided tours. Last weekend
in Apr. Phone (800) 852-0335 for Worcester County or (800) 521-9189 for Somerset
County.
MAY
Seafood Festival, Chincoteague, VA.
Seafood-lovers’ event on Assateague Island National Seashore. First Wednesday
in May. Phone (757) 787-2460.
International Migratory Bird Celebration,
Chincoteague, VA. Workshops, nature walks, bird-watching, drawing thousands to
the wildlife refuge. Phone (757) 336-6122.
Decoy, Wildlife Art and
Sportsman Festival, Havre de Grace, MD. Wildfowl carvers and artists, decoy
carving competitions, live decoy auction. Sponsored by the Havre de Grace Decoy
Museum. Phone (410) 939-3739.
Lock House Days, Havre de Grace,
MD. Festival, entertainment, historical presentations, health screening, sponsored
by the Susquehanna Museum. Late May. Phone (410) 939-5780.
Preakness
Celebration, Baltimore, MD. Week of events leads up to the Preakness, one
of Triple Crown’s thoroughbred races, on the third Saturday of May. Phone (410)
837-3030 or (410) 542-9400.
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge Spring
Fling, Cambridge, MD. Nature walks and bird walks, turtle races, storytelling,
carriage rides, children’s Activities, book signings. Refuge tours by bus,
bike, or canoe. Phone (410) 228-2677.
Hampton Roads Regional Chili
Cook-Off, Hampton, VA. Cooks from all over the country vie for the right to
represent Hampton Roads on the national level. Live music. Phone (757) 72706429.
Chestertown
Tea Party Festival, Chestertown, MD. Reenactment of the merchants’ revolt
against the British Tea Act, parade, arts and crafts, food booths, Chestertown
Classic Long Distance Run. Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Phone (410) 778-0416.
Bay
Bridge Walk, Stevensville, MD. Sunday-morning walk in early May across the
4.3-mile Bay Bridge. Craft exhibits, food, music. Phone (410) 228-8405 or (410)
643-8530.
The Kent Island Day, Kent Island, MD. Costumed craftspeople
commemorate the culture and heritage of Queen Anne’s County. Historic buildings
and homes tours. Coincides with the Spring Art Fair. Mid-May. Phone (410) 643-1690
or (410) 604-2100.
JUNE
National Trails Day,
Susquehanna State Park, Jarrettsville, MD. Early June. Phone (410) 557-7994.
Rockfish
Tournament, Rock Hall, MD. Rockfish anglers vie for large prizes. Phone (410)
778-0416.
Blackwater Eagleman Triathlon, Cambridge, MD. One of
14 qualifiers for the Iron Man Triathlon. Includes a 1.2-mile swim, a 13.1-mile
run and a 56-mile bike ride. Phone (410) 964-1246 or (800) 522-TOUR.
Eastern
Shore Chamber Music Festival, Easton, MD. Two-week event at Easton’s Avalon
Theatre. Phone (410) 819-0380.
Hampton Jazz Festival, Hampton,
VA. Top blues, soul, pop, and jazz musicians perform at the Hampton Coliseum.
Phone (757) 838-4203.
Waterman’s Festival, Kent Narrows, MD. Celebrates
the waterman and the Chesapeake Bay seafood industry. Competitions include docking,
anchor throwing, preparing crab soup. Phone (410) 604-2100.
Tilghman
Island Seafood Festival, Tilghman, MD. Seafood, live music, arts and crafts,
crab race, crab-picking contest, firefighters’ parade. Phone (410) 822-4653.
Fourth at the Fort, Hampton, VA.
Celebrate Independence Day with food, music, and fireworks at Fort Monroe on the
Chesapeake Bay. Live music includes the Continental Army Band. Phone (757) 727-2312.
Screwpile
Lighthouse Challenge, Solomons, MD. One of many racing events sponsored by
the Southern Maryland Sailing Association. Mid-July. Phone (410) 326-4364 or (301)
862-3100.
Unlimited Hydroplane Races, Norfolk, VA. Virginia Is
For Lovers Cup held at Willoughby Bay at Norfolk Naval Air Station. Phone (800)
368-3097.
Yacht Club Sailing Regatta, Rock Hall, MD. Phone (410)
778-0416.
Bay Country July 4th Festival, Cambridge, MD. Four-day
festival at Sailwinds Park on the Choptank River. Carnival, food, games, live
outdoor entertainment, fireworks. Phone (800) 522-TOUR.
Down River
Race, Chestertown, MD. This Chester River race begins at the Chester River
Yacht and County Club. Phone (410) 810-0707 or (800) 380-8614.
AUGUST
Drums
Along the Bay, Hampton, VA. Competition among internationally ranked drum
and bugle corps. Phone (757) 728-3200.
Eastern Shore Music Festival
and Chili Cook-off, Cape Charles, VA. Blues, rhythm and blues, country, and
rock music with legendary performers. Phone (757) 442-5175.
Havre de
Grace Seafood Festival, Havre de Grace, MD. Crabcake challenge, crab calling
contest. Mid-Aug. Phone (410) 939-1525.
Hampton Cup Regatta Power Boat
Race, Hampton, VA. The oldest continuously run powerboat race and the largest
inboard hydroplane race in the country, between Mercury Boulevard Bridge and Fort
Monroe. Free. Phone (800) 800-2202.
Governor’s Cup Yacht Race,
St. Mary’s City, MD. Overnight sailboat race from Annapolis to St. Mary’s College.
Phone (301) 862-0380.
Calvert County Jousting Tournament, Port
Republic, MD. Oldest tournament of Maryland’s official state sport. Last Saturday
in Aug. Phone (410) 586-0565.
Seafood Feast-I-Val, Cambridge,
MD. All-you-can-eat seafood feast at Sailwinds Park. Boat tours, live entertainment.
Phone (800) 522-TOUR.
Cambridge Classic Power Boat Regatta, Cambridge,
MD. Races between power boats include classes of hydroplanes, jersey skiffs, and
flatbottoms. Phone (800) 522-TOUR.
Party on the Bay, Rock Hall,
MD. Visitors arrive by land and sea on the third Saturday of Aug. to celebrate
the Eastern Shore’s Chesapeake Bay heritage. Phone (410) 778-0416 or (410) 639-7611.
SEPTEMBER
Artsfest, Solomons, MD. Fine arts at Annmarie Garden.
Mid-Sept. Phone (410) 326-4640.
IRHA President’s Cup Nationals,
Maryland International Raceway, Budds Creek, MD. Largest motorsports event in
Maryland. Phone (703) 791-8445 or (301) 449-RACE.
Hampton Bay Days,
Hampton, VA. Headline musical entertainment, seafood, exhibits, fireworks, juried
art show, sporting and water events, carnival. Phone (757) 727-6122.
Duck
Fair, Havre de Grace, MD. Exhibits by wildfowl carvers and artists, regional
duck and goose calling championship, retriever demonstrations, children’s decoy
painting, live and silent auctions, whittling contests. Mid-Sept. Phone (410)
939-3739.
Mid-Atlantic Surf Fishing Tournament, Ocean City, MD.
Teams fish the surf for prizes. Phone (410) 213-2042.
Neptune Festival,
Virginia Beach, VA. Air shows, live entertainment, arts and crafts, sand sculpting
competition. Phone (757) 498-0215.
Poquoson Seafood Festival, Poquoson,
VA. Fresh seafood, arts and crafts, music, fireworks. Phone (75) 868-3580.
OCTOBER
Blessing of the Fleet, St. Clement’s Island, MD. Boat
tours provided by St. Clement’s Island Potomac River Museum to the island. Family
entertainment, food, exhibits, arts and crafts, fireworks. First full weekend
of Oct. Phone (301) 769-2222.
Fall Festival, Newport News, VA.
Long-running festival at Newport News Park. Phone (757) 926-8451.
Harvest
Festival at Sunset Beach Inn, Kiptopeke, VA. Eastern Shore feast, arts
and crafts, live music. Phone (757) 787-2460.
Willis Wharf Homecoming
and Waterman’s Festival, Willis Wharf, VA. Aquaculture exhibits, demonstrations
of waterman skills, boat rides, hay ride tour of Hog Island homes, seafood. Phone
(757) 442-9472.
Phoebus Days, Hampton, VA. A three-day block party
includes music, a fish fry, a parade, sporting events, and more. Phone (757) 722-0625.
Chestertown
Wildlife Exhibition and Sale, Chestertown, MD. Wildlife art, carvings, music,
food, entertainment, carving demonstrations, retriever demonstrations, state and
regional duck and goose-calling championship. Phone (410) 778-0416.
St.
Mary’s County Oyster Festival, Leonardtown, MD. Folk festival draws thousands
for oysters and other seafood, National Oyster Cook-off, oyster shucking contest,
music, pony rides, clowns, arts and crafts. Third weekend in Oct. Phone (301)
863-5015.
Annual Sailboat Show and Annual Powerboat Show, Annapolis,
MD. Nation’s oldest and largest sailboat show, followed by oldest and largest
in-water powerboat show. Mid to late Oct. For more information, call (410) 268-8828.
Upper
Shore Decoy Show, North East, MD. Expert carvers compete for best decoys.
Educational exhibits. Phone (410) 287-2675.
Tilghman Island Day,
Tilghman Island, MD. The entire island turns festive. Watermen exhibits, fresh
seafood, auction, live music, boat-docking contests, and skipjack and workboat
races. Phone (888) BAYSTAY.
Woodland
Indian Culture Days, St. Mary’s City, MD. Storytelling, flintknapping, archery.
Phone (301) 862-0990.
Chincoteague Oyster Festival, Chincoteague,
VA. All the oysters you can eat. Phone (757) 336-6161.
The Great Chesapeake
Bay Schooner Race, Norfolk, VA. Race of classic vessels ends at Town Point
Park during the Virginia Wine Festival. Phone (757) 588-6022.
NOVEMBER
Waterfowl
Festival, Easton, MD. Renowned event features some of the world’s best decoy
carvers and wildfowl artists. Phone (410) 822-4567.
Chili Night in
November—A Chili Cook-Off, Hampton, VA. Cast your vote for the best chili.
Live music. Phone (757) 727-6429.
Christmas Boat Parade, Kent Narrows,
MD. Sailboats, work boats, and motorboats decked out for the season are judged
as they parade through Kent Narrows. Phone (410) 827-8200 or (410) 827-4322.
Grand
National Waterfowl Hunt, Cambridge, MD. Celebrity waterfowl hunt held throughout
the county. Luncheon at Sailwinds Park in Cambridge. Phone (410) 228-0111.
Chesapeake
Wildlife Showcase, Salisbury, MD. Ward Foundation exhibition at the Ward Museum
with an auction of antique decoys and a buy-sell trade area. Phone (410) 742-4988.
Assateague
Island Waterfowl Week, Chincoteague, VA. Open house at the National Wildlife
Refuge. Phone (757) 336-6122.
Fantasy of Lights, Edgemere, MD.
See more than 40,000 lights on stunning 1.5-mile drive through historic Fort Howard
Park. Three weekends, beginning in late Nov. Phone (410) 887-3873.
DECEMBER
Candlelight Tour of Historic Havre de Grace, MD. Tours
of private historic homes, shops, B&Bs. Sponsored by the Susquehanna Museum.
Phone (410) 939-3947. Mid Dec.
Solomons Christmas Walk, Solomons,
Calvert County, MD. Island-wide tree-lighting ceremony, boat light parade, breakfast
with Santa, live nativity scene, island wagon rides, concerts. 2nd weekend in
Dec. Phone (800) 953-3300 or (410) 326-3366.
Christmas on Cockrell’s
Creek, Reedville, VA. Victorian mansions are opened for candlelight
tours. Phone (804) 453-6529. Mid Dec.
First Night in Norfolk, Norfolk,
VA. Welcome the New Year with classical to avant-garde performances throughout
the evening, ending with fireworks over the Elizabeth River. Phone (757) 441-2345.
