point lookout lighthouse

visit the historic point lookout lighthouse today (and every first saturday thru november). oh, yeah: it's haunted.

downrigging

bay events always seem to start on thursdays....so, you are a day late for a downrigging extended weekend in chestertown. this weekends celebration marks the end of the sailing season and is filled with lots of boat-centric shiz including fireworks! chestertown has an amazing history and should be checked out.

chesapeake bay weekend events calendar

we have had stellar weather for many days...now the weekend begins...

september 10-12 

•though classic hatteras yacht owners will meet up in cambridge this weekend to show off their beautiful boats,  everyone is invited to celebrate the hatteras  style by attending  the yacht open house saturday at the cambridge yacht club.

•mathews market days    

mathews county's fall festival will feature an art show, crafts demonstrations, live entertainment with outdoor dancing, children's activities and more. 

•maryland seafood festival    

sandy point state park hosts the annual seafood festival again. besides seafood, there will  be arts and crafts vendors, wine tastings, beer tastings, a crabcake eating contest, a crab-picking contest as well as a crab soup cook-off: delicious! Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 

•hampton bay days    

celebrate the chesapeake bay at hampton bay days with an indoor juried art show, arts and crafts vendors, two carnivals, live music and fireworks. educate yourself at the exhibits and display workboats and research vessels, sat. 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; sun. noon-6 p.m.


•its a star spangled banner weekend!

commemorate the writing of our national anthem in baltimore at fort mchenry, where visiting ships, military re-enactments, concerts and a symbolic naval bombardment complete with fireworks will round out the weekend. Sat. 10 a.m.-10 p.m., concert 6 p.m., fireworks at dusk. sun. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 

•september 12 

watermen's rodeo
taylors island works it out with a  workboat docking contest hosted by the local volunteer fire departments. there will also be an after party with live entertainment, food and games. 

weekend water events

65th annual annapolis rotary crab feast
you are late, so hurry to annapolis for the rotary club's annual crab fest and feast!  3,000 people will join you to eat steamed crabs, crab soup, corn-on-the-cob and barbecue til 8 tonight.

free fridays at the calvert marine musuem
it's a free evening at the museum! 

August 6-7 st. mary's college of maryland governor's cup yacht race
St. Mary's College of Maryland hosts the oldest overnight sailing race on the chesapeake bay. this annual 70-mile overnight race starts in annapolis and ends in st. mary's city. there is an  all-day celebration to honor the racers as they cross the finish line on saturday. the race begins friday at 6 p.m., and continues saturday with festivities starting at 10 a.m.

betterton day
kent county claims to be nettle-free for the betterton day held at betterton beach today 10-5. dont miss the parade at 10:30 a.m.

leonardtown's beach party 

it's an annual thing, 4-9 p.m

gadsby's tavern day
meet and greet george washington, thomas jefferson and the marquis de lafayette at the historic gadsby's tavern in old town alexandria. its free and there will be costumed tour guides, period music and light refreshments 1-5 pm

national lighthouse day
there are many lighthouses to celebrate during national lighthouse day. join the calvert marine museum to rally 'round the cove point and drum point lighthouses with special activities, crafts, music and a special sale at the museum store from 10-4 p.m.

thunder on the narrows
watch the wild ride of the hydroplanes and jersey skiff boats as they race at speeds over 100 mph in kent narrows, 10-5...if you cant make it, check it out on ustream like me, on my Iphone.

market day in yorktown
market day in yorktown will feature local produce, fresh seafood, baked goods, as well as live entertainment and local artwork at riverwalk landing, 8-noon.

weekend boating events

it's the dog days, people: enjoy it while it lasts!

saturday    

•watch fresh-built boats race and eat fried stuff at the wright skiff race and fish fry in deltaville, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

•the wooden boat festival on tom's river in new jersey starts at 9 today. wooden boats,  nautical vendors, marine artists, and boat rides accompany many boatbuilding activities.

•the lower eastern shore antique and classic boat show is hosted by the wicomico yacht club and features antique and classic boats, a barbecue, a boat parade and live music.

sunday   

•solomon's puts on the screwpile regatta challenge sunday through tuesday.

chesapeake bay weekend events

it is so hot here in the mid-atlantic, but it is finally breaking and cooler weather will prevail for the next few days...

so go check out a festival on the water this weekend...

Nanticoke Riverfest
it started thursday and continues through saturday, the nanticoke river festival in seaford features canoe and kayak races, a treasure hunt, live entertainment, a carnival and more. tonight, 4:30 - 11 p.m.; Sat. 7:30 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Blackbeard Festival
tall-ships head for hampton where re-enactments of blackbeard's sea battles, pirate folklore, pirate songs and music lively up the waters saturday 10am-11pm and sunday noon-6pm. argh: check it out!

Junior Olympics Sailing Festival
the rock hall yacht club hosts junior olympic sailing hopefuls from around the country for this competition in the upper bay.

Swim for Life
swim one, two, three, four or a five mile course on the chester river to raise money for HIV/AIDS research. registration begins at 7 a.m. and the swim starts at 9 a.m.


Taste of Cambridge
who will be top chef of Dorchester County? all will be revealed during the crab cook-off which is the highlight of the taste of cambridge annual street festival. there will also be a professional crab-picking contest, live entertainment and more.

Runoff Rundown
so far more than $13,000 has been raised to benefit the james river runoff rundown. the paddle starts tomorrow when volunteers traverse the entire 340-miles of the james river in one day as a benefit for the James River Association. join them!


Birthday Bash
celebrate alexandria's birthday in conjunction with america's! fireworks start at dusk and will be accompanied by the alexandria symphony orchestra. starts at 4 - 10pm


Leukemia Cup Regatta
head to deltaville for the leukemia cup regatta, a silent and live auction, a gala and two days of yacht racing. the fishing bay yacht club races start at 11am on saturday, and follow up with the auction and dinner beginning at 5:30 pm. races start on sunday @ 11 a.m.


Log Canoe Races
the chester river yacht club and the rock hall yacht club sponsor annual log canoe races in the chester river off langford creek: paddle up! saturday races begin at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; the sunday race starts at 10:30 a.m.


Watermen's Heritage Celebration
enjoy the workboat parade...pray as the fleet is blessed...secretly bet on your favorite workboat in the races...watch entertainment...buy arts and crafts...and eat lots of seafood at this annual celebration at the watermen's museum in yorktown, 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. July 11


Thomas Point LighthouseTours
check out the chesapeake bay's most infamous lighthouse at thomas point. reserve a seat through the annapolis maritime museum beginning at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. 

chesapeake bay weekend events

like you need something to do on the bay this weekend...

June 25-27 
Smithfield Olden Days    
This festival kicked off last night with a classic car show, but enjoy concerts, the Pagan River raft race, a parade, barbecue cook-off, petting zoo, military re-enactments and ghost walks at this annual weekend event in Smithfield, Va. saturday 9-8 and sunday 10-6
www.smithfield-virginia.com

June 25-27 
Hampton Jazz Festival   
Celebrating its 43rd year, you missed gladys knight and keith sweat on friday, but charlie wilson  will headline saturday night bolstered by the still funky teena marie...do not miss maze on sunday! all @ Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, Va. Sat. 7 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m. www.hamptonjazzfestival.com

June 25-27 
Leukemia Cup Poker Run 
the Chesapeake Bay Power Boat Association raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society with their annual poker run: join them and register on line at www.cbpba.com

June 26 
Flounder Bowl    
win $5,000 at the flounder bowl flounder tournament. boats are allowed to fish from any port, but must bring fish back to dare marina for weigh-in. www.pswsfa.com

June 26 
Kilmarnock Farmer's Market  
Find fresh local produce, flowers and more at this Main Street farmer's market plus the second annual wine festival: be there! Kilmarnock, Va. 9 a.m.-1 p.m.www.lancasterva.com

June 26 
Cardboard Boat Races    
the annual cardboard boatbuilding and racing spectacle held to benefit Special Olympics of Maryland is today at The Strand, Oxford, Md. Inspection at 9 a.m., races at 11 a.m. www.somd.org

June 26 
Tilghman Island Summer Seafood Festival    
gorge yourself on blue crabs...taste test balsamic vinegars...cheer for your favorite crab at the races and participate in the parade at the tilghman island summer seafood festival in Tilghman, Md. 11 a.m-6-ish www.tilghmanmd.com

June 26 
Eastport-a-Rockin'    
the 14th annual music festival in eastport seeks to promote local musicians with this one-day event. 27-bands on three-stages, plus  food, drink, crafts, etc, =fun...or hell if you live there. 723 Second Street, Eastport, Annapolis. 11 a.m.-8 p.m.  www.eastportarockin.com

June 26 
Tim's Not-on-the-4th-of-July Fireworks    
not sure why its early, but its virginia, so get the jump on the fourth of july pyrotechnics at Tim's Rivershore Restaurant and Crabhouse. the skies light up in Dumfries, Virginia @ 9p.m, although it really isnt dark yet...more info @ www.timsrivershore.com


June 26 
Summertime Blues Festival  
get the blues at this annual outdoor event in the upper bay at Steppingstone Museum, Havre de Grace, Md. 2-8 p.m.steppingstonemuseum.org

June 26 
Canal Day    
commemorate the founding of the C&D Canal with  Arts, crafts, food and entertainment galore. Chesapeake City, Md. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. www.chesapeakecity.com

June 26 
Gwynn's Island Festival   
the 61st annual festival at gwynn's island features food, music, arts and crafts, lawnmower races and the farmer's market...there is also a wetland wonders and a full moon tour...runs 9 a.m.-3:45 p.m. www.visitmathews.com

June 26-27
Log Canoe Races
Head to the shores of St. Michaels to watch the first log canoe series of the summer at miles river in St. Michaels, Md. Sat. race 2 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. this link is not working for me, but... www.milesriveryc.com