Solomons Maritime Festival, May 10, 10am-5pm, Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons Island. Celebrate Southern Maryland traditions at the Calvert Marine Museum’s third annual Solomons Maritime Festival. Antique boats and motors, master maritime carvers, home crafts and cooking demonstrations, traditional music and storytelling, children’s games, and boat rides offer something for every member of your family. Come experience the special heritage of Southern Maryland. Visitors can learn how to make the famed Southern Maryland stuffed ham, shuck an oyster, mix up a crab cake, and sauté a soft shelled crab from local experts. Our traditional music stage will feature gospel, traditional maritime music with the well known Tom Lewis, folk and traditional, a barbershop quartet, and old time bluegrass. And at the storytelling tent, visitors will be regaled with tales of the sea for all ages.
Chesapeake Bay retriever demonstrations can be seen both in the water and on land. Model radio controlled boats will run a mock race course. Nearby, children can build toy boats under the watchful eyes of our small craft guild members. And all the while, boats are coming and going offering free rides on the historic bugeye, the Wm. B. Tennison, and the museum’s draketail. For those who like going under their own power, there are rowboats and canoes available too.
In front of the museum, the Antique Boat and Marine Engine Show, now in its 8th year, will take place. Over 60 different boats from across the country set up camp to display their lovingly preserved models. The unofficial engine swap is a great way to expand your collection.
Traditional Crafts are celebrated as well. Around the carving shed visitors can see how crab and eel pots are made, talk with fur trappers and the history of fur trapping, see model boat makers in action, and watch traditional carvers at work. And inside the museum will be demonstrations of quilting, embroidery, spinning, weaving, dress making, knitting, and other textile crafts. Come try your skill! Home baked goodies, complete with recipes will also be available as well as traditional foods for sale.
For information on the Solomons Maritime Festival, please call 410-326-2042 x 41, or visit the museum website at www.calvertmarinemuseum.com. Admission to the Festival and Museum is FREE.