2008 Chesapeake Bay
  Calendar of Events

This is an annual calendar of events taking place on and around the Chesapeake Bay that are water related or related to the Bay's cultural, ecological, or maritime culture.  The calendar includes a wide variety of events including festivals, boat races, boat shows, fishing tournaments, exhibitions, seminars and workshops.  

July

July 4 -- Fireworks. 9:00pm   From Somers Cove Marina.  Crisfield, MD.

July 4 -- FIREWORKS, Waterfront, Solomons. Dusk. Come by boat or by land to enjoy this festive event in Solomons. More information.

July 4 -- Baltimore's Fourth of July Celebration.  Baltimore's July Fourth Celebration features an array of entertainment throughout the day culminating with a fireworks show at 9:30pm over Baltimore's Inner Harbor. 

July 4 -- Great American 4th of July Picnic and Fireworks Extravaganza. Town Point Park. More info.  Norfolk, VA.

July 12 -- Potomac Jazz & Seafood Festival.  St. Clement's Island Museum, Colton's Point.  4:00pm to 10:00pm.  Riverside venue offers three dynamic jazz groups and Southern Maryland seafood.  St. Mary's County, MD.

July 20 -22 -- Annual Screwpile Lighthouse Challenge Regatta.  The Chesapeake Bay premier sailing regatta held in Solomons on the third weekend of July. 175 boats are expected to take part in 2007. Boats from the entire Chesapeake region take part with boats from as far away as Florida and New York taking part. More Information.  Solomons Island, MD.

July 16 -- Annual J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake.  All you can eat steamed crabs, clams (steamed, raw, and fried), fresh fried fish, onion rings, fries, corn on the cob, watermelon, Pepsi, beer, and water.  Purchase tickets in advance.  More info.  Crisfield, MD.

July 26 - 27 -- Cambridge Powerboat Regatta.  American Powerboat Association Sanctioned World Championships of inboard hydroplane and flat bottom boat race.  Hambrooks Bay at Great Marsh Park.  Bleacher seating available.  Cambridge, MD.

 

August

August 1 - 2 -- Annual Governor's Cup Yacht Race.  St. Mary's City Waterfront.  One of sailing's Top 10 parties, with live music, food vendors and award ceremonies.  More information.  St. Mary's County, MD.

August 1 -- Annapolis Rotary Crab Fest.  5:00pm to 8:00pm.   This annual event serves steamed crabs to 2,500 to 3,000 people under the grandstand of the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.  Assortment of other foods, including corn on the cob, crab soup, hot dogs, beef barbeque, are available.  Activities.  More information.

August 2 -- Buyboat Rendezvous.  First annual Tangier Island Buyboat Rendezvous.  About 20 Chesapeake Bay buyboats will attend the event, parade around the island, and be available for public tours.  Noon to 5:00pm.  Tangier Island, VA.

August 2 -- Betterton Day.  Annual festival at this Chesapeake Bay beachfront community features live music, parade, food, games, and arts and crafts on the beach.  Betterton Town Park, Betterton, MD.  10:00am to 5:00pm.

August 2 - 3 -- Thunder on the Narrows.  Powerful hydroplane boats race at speeds over 100 mph.  Family event.  Food and entertainment available on the grounds.  No coolers.  Admission: $5 adults, kids under 10 get in free.  Races begin at noon on Saturday and Sunday.  Kent Island Yacht Club grounds.  10:00am to 5:00pm.  More Information.  Kent Island area, MD.

August 2 - 3 -- Mari*Fest -- The Havre de Grace Maritime Museum holds it's Grand Re-Opening, including new hands-on, state of the art exhibits and programs.  Festivities include live music, Native American representatives and crafts, boat building demonstrations, local foods and crafts, living history displays, kid's activities, a boat raffle and more.  Free.  Havre de Grace Maritime Museum.   Havre de Grace, MD

August 7 -- Celebration of Life Regatta.  This benefit regatta for the American Cancer Society features dining and dancing under the stars on the waterfront.  Rod N Reel Restaurant.  More Information. Chesapeake Beach, MD.

August 8 -- USS Constellation Turn-Around Cruise.  USS Constellation will get underway for her annual Turn-Around Cruise on Friday, August 8th, at 6:00 p.m. The ship will be moved from her berth on Pier 1 to the Locust Point Cruise Ship Terminal to participate in the commissioning ceremonies for USS Sterett, DDG 104. Spectators may view this event from the Inner Harbor Promenade, Federal Hill, Fells Point and Ft. McHenry.  Baltimore, MD.

August 8 - 10.  Hampton Cup Regatta.  East Mercury Bridge, Fort Monroe, VA.  Annual hydro-plane boat races.  More Information.  Hampton, VA.

August 9 -- Annual Seafood Fest-I-Val.  Steamed crabs, crab soup, fried fish, fried clams, BBQ chicken, hot dogs, sliced tomatoes, corn on the cob, watermelon, ranch fries, sweet potato fries, sodas, beer (sold by the glass).  Entertainment and vendors.  Sailwinds Park.  1:00 to 6:00pm.  More Information.  Cambridge, MD.

August 9 -- Leonardtown Beach Party.  Leonardtown's annual beach party with live music, games, antique cars, dancing, and food.  4:00pm to 9:00pm.  Leonardtown, MD.

August 9 -- U.S.S. Sterett Commissioning.  Commissioning ceremonies for the the new DDG-104, Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer, U.S.S. Sterett will be held at the South Locust Point Cruise Terminal in Baltimore.  7:00pm.  Baltimore, MD.

August 9 - 10  -- Annual Seafood Festival.  Tydings Park; Free family event on the Bay with food, artisans, crafters and entertainment.  More Information.   Havre de Grace, MD.

August 9 - 10 -- Rock Hall Pirates and Wenches Weekend.  Pirate themed fun in the streets of Rock Hall.  Fun for buccaneers of all ages.  Featuring a real treasure hunt, decorated dinghy contest and race, buccaneer ball, beach party, pub crawl and chantey singing, cruises aboard pirate ships, and more.  More information.  Rock Hall, MD.

August 9 - 10 --  Annual Log Canoe Regatta.  See these sleek sailing vessels race.  Tred Avon Yacht Club.  Saturday at 10:00am and 2:00pm and Sunday at 10:00am.  Oxford, MD.

August 16 -- Susquehanna Crab Feast.  All-you-can eat crab feast and tours of old town Port Deposit, live music, and dancing.  4:00pm to 8:00pm, band plays until 10:00pm.  Port Deposit, MD.

August 16 - 17 --  Annual Havre de Grace Art Show.  Tydings Park; Presented by the Soroptimist International. Over 250 artists and crafters from throughout the U.S. display and sell work, food and entertainment. Free shuttle from designated parking to the show, downtown, and attractions. Boat accessible. 10am-5pm Sat. and Sun.  Havre de Grace, MD.

August 23 -- Dinghy Poker Run.  A poker run for dinghies, held in the confines of Bear Creek, off the Patapsco River.  Benefits the Norris Lane Foundation. Pre-registration is required.  More Information. 

August 23 - 24 -- BayFest.  This annual North Beach event takes place on the waterfront boardwalk and features crabs, kids' corner, antique cars, and live music.  Noon to 6:30pm.  North Beach, Md. 

August 23 - 24.  Cape Charles Cup.  Cruisers and racers are invited to join this annual regatta which races between Little Creek in Norfolk to Cape Charles on Saturday, and back to Fort Monroe on Sunday.  There will be post race parties with food, drink, live music and entertainment on both nights.  More information. 

August 23 - 24 -- Myers Heritage Regatta.  Log canoe races at Tred Avon Yacht Club.  Saturday at 10:00am and 2:00pm and Sunday at 10:00am.  Oxford, MD.

August 23 - 24 -- Seawall Art Show. An outdoor juried art show that features the work of nearly 100 of the finest artist from the southeast and beyond. 10am to 6pm Sat, 10am to 5pm Sun.  Portsmouth, VA.

August 29 - 31 --  Annual Hard Crab Derby and Fair.  The Crisfield Crab Derby is held at Somers Cove Marina.  Crab Races, Crab Cooking Contest, Crab Picking Contest, Parade, Boat Races, Boat Docking Contest, Crafts, Carnival, Games, Swim Meet, Entertainment, Great Seafood, Beverages and more.  More Information.  Crisfield, MD.

August 30 -- Pocomoke Riverfest.  A new festival on the Pocomoke City waterfront, featuring boat rides, tubing and kayak races, arts and craft vendors, plenty of food (including locally caught catfish), drinks, and activities for the family.  Free transient dockage available.  Pocomoke City, MD.

August 30 -- Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Boat Auction.  Annual auction featuring everything from wooden rowing skiffs to classic sailboats.  Come bid on the boat of your dreams.  At the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michaels, MD. 

August 30- 31 -- Outrigger Races.  The annual Kent Island Cup outrigger canoe races, held at the Kent Island Yacht Club.  Relay and sprint races.  There will also be a luau, with great food and music following the races on Saturday evening.  Saturday races start at 7:15am, Sunday races start at 10:00am.  More Information.  Kent Island, MD.

August 30-31 -- Ragin' on the River.  Hydroplanes and Jersey skiffs compete in these annual American Power Boat Association inboard races at Port Deposit, MD.  Takes place at Marina Park on the Susquehanna River, Gates open at 10:00am.  Port Deposit, MD. 

August 31 - September 1 -- Deal Island Skipjack Races and Land Festival. See historic skipjacks race, plus car show, kayak races, boat docking contests, and music.  More Information.  Deal Island, MD.

 

September

Sept. 6.  Day Cruise on the Liberty Ship John W. Brown.  Voyage into history on the John W. Brown.  Featuring music of the 40's by a live big band.  Re-enactors demonstrate equipments and vehicles.  Airshow with flybys of WWII aircraft, continental breakfast and all-you-can-eat lunch buffet.  Tour the ship including engine room, museums, cargo holds, crew's quarters, and bridge.  Cruise profits maintain this Liberty Ship Memorial.  Departs from Baltimore, MD.  More Information.

September 6 - 7 -- 1st Annual Deale Pr-Am Fishing Tournament.  A no limit tournament with participants allowed to fish the entire Chesapeake Bay.  Anglers may leave from any port on the bay.  There will be no Captains Meeting and no morning check-in. There will be no limit on the number of people per boat, since each boat can only check in one fish per category per day at Deale Marina, Rockhold Creek, Deale, Maryland. There will an Awards Party at 4 pm on Sunday at the Deale Elks. Sponsored by the Deale Captains Association.  More Information.  Deale, MD.

Sept. 5 - 7 -- Hampton Bay Days.  Hampton's largest festival pays tribute to the Chesapeake Bay.  This year's festival features free concerts by Bruce Hornsby and Ricky Skaggs on Sunday afternoon.  Hampton, VA.  More Information.

September 12 - 14 -- Virginia In-Water Boat Expo.  Town Point Park and Waterside Marina.  More info.  Norfolk, VA.

September 20 - 21  -- Maryland Lighthouse Challenge.  8:00am to 6:00pm both days.  Visit some of the most scenic spots in the state during this educational and fun-filled event showcasing Maryland's land accessible lighthouses. Visit one of more of the Challenge lights and receive a souvenir at each. Visit all ten Challenge stops and receive a special commemorative souvenir to mark your accomplishment. Chesapeake Bay authors, artists and other special guests!   More Information.

September 15 -  Deale Bluegrass Festival & Car Show.  Herrington Harbour North.  Noon to 7:00pm.  Gates open at 10:00.  More Information.  Deale, MD.

Sept. 20 -- Wooden Canoe Rendezvous.  9:00am to 5:00pm.  Havre de Grace Maritime Museum.  Chesapeake wooden boat builders show exhibits, demonstrations, old canoe identification. Bring and show your own classic wooden canoe.  www.hdgmaritimemuseum.org.  Havre de Grace, MD.

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January through March

April through June

October through December

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