21st Annual Midnight Madness to be held Saturday, December 3, 2022 in St. Michaels

 Celebrating the holidays in St. Michaels is a tradition for many, and this year is no different. Maryland’s Eastern Shore is home to many picturesque towns, but none embody an old-fashioned holiday feel quite like St. Michaels.  With our quaint shops, world-class dining and jolly spirit, St. Michaels is transformed during the holidays into a Christmas Village. The holiday spirit is felt throughout town, which makes coming to St Michaels during the holiday season a special experience, year after year, and provides a wonderful backdrop to shop for the holidays. 

Our Countdown to Christmas starts with Small Business Saturday on November 26^th, followed by the 21^st Midnight Madness on December 3^rd where you can Shop, Dine and Stay at participating businesses to receive tickets for your chance to win amazing gift baskets. 

The second weekend in December brings the 36^th Christmas in St. Michaels to town December 9th-11th with Breakfast with Santa, home tours, lighted boat parade, parade through town and much more.  On December 17^th and 18^th we will celebrate “It’s a Wonderful Life in St. Michaels” with participating stores offering specials and refreshments and will donate a portion of their sales to the St. Michaels Community Center.

This year’s 21st Annual Midnight Madness event starts with the lighting of the Christmas Tree at St. Luke's Church on Friday, December 2nd.  The tree lighting started in 2021 to show support for the businesses in town and adorns ornaments representing the town’s businesses. 

Start collecting your tickets at participating retailers on November 12^th through December 3^rd and on December 2^nd at participating restaurants and lodging partners.  On the morning of Midnight Madness, start your day out with a brisk run or walk with St. Michaels Running Company's Holiday Hustle, a scenic 5k Run/Walk along St. Michaels Nature Trail (weather permitting).  New this year, the elves will put on a special event during the day from 1pm - 4pm at St. Luke's Church which will include a Cookie Contest and Ugly Sweater Contest for humans and dogs!   There will also be a jewelry sale at St. Luke's Church during the special event. 

As day turns to night, St. Michaels becomes a beautiful twinkling Christmas Village.  Shops will be open late with refreshments and snacks, and special sales during Midnight Madness, plus each purchase at participating businesses gives you a chance to win raffle prizes valued at over $15,000.   Look for Midnight Madness sponsor posters at your favorite shop, restaurant or lodging locations.  Drawings start at 11:00pm at The Galley Restaurant and participants must be present to win. 

Details can be found on the SMBA website www.stmichaelsmd.org

Christmas in St. Michaels ornament features Maryland Blue Crab

The nineteenth annual Christmas in St. Michaels Limited Edition Collectors Ornament celebrates the consummate Chesapeake icon, the Maryland Blue Crab. The ornament was adapted from an original drawing by local designer and artist Scott Sullivan.

“This year’s ornament is a celebration of our favorite crustacean,” said Christmas in St. Michaels Board President Pat Martin. “Our limited-edition ornament pays homage to the summertime staple of cracking and eating steamed hard-shells or feasting on soft-shells in St. Michaels and throughout Maryland’s Eastern Shore.”, and this year’s ornament is a celebration.”

The ornaments are crafted in 24k gold-plated brass and delivered in a gift box. Included in each box are a description and historical information pertaining to the theme of the ornament. The cost of each ornament is $26.50 including shipping.

The ornaments are available for purchase online, at the Christmas in St. Michaels Marketplace and Sweet Shoppe, and at select retail locations including American Holiday Home, Brackish Life, Charisma, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Store, Chesapeake Trading Company, Pemberton Pharmacy & Gifts in St. Michaels, Sea Captain’s Cottage, Shore United Bank’s St. Michaels office, St. Michaels Harbour Inn, Marina & Spa, The Christmas Shop, The Preppy Redneck, and Trade Whims in Easton.

The Dec. 9-11 Christmas in St. Michaels events include a Lighted Boat Parade and festive Talbot Street Parade; a Tour of Homes; Breakfast with Santa; Holiday Music and Meals; a Santa Dash; a Marketplace and Sweet Shoppe, and more.

 

Proceeds from Christmas in St. Michaels help the people served by local non-profit organizations, with more than $1.4M in support provided since the event began in 1987. Event updates, online purchases, and more about Christmas in St. Michaels are at christmasinstmichaels.org.

Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival returns to CBMM

ST. MICHAELS, Md., Oct. 25, 2022 – On Saturday, Nov. 19, and Sunday, Nov. 20, the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival will return to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum for its annual holiday edition.

 Following a successful April event, the festival is back at CBMM’s waterfront campus for a fun-filled fall weekend, running 10am–4pm Saturday and 10am–3pm Sunday, with all tickets valid for admission on both days.

 “We’ve had such a great response to last year's fall festival that we decided to have one in November again,” said Eastern Shore Sea Glass and Coastal Arts Festival Founder and Organizer Kim Hannon. “It's a great way to help people get a jump on their holiday shopping and enjoy some fabulous art, food, and fun.”

 

This edition of the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival, now in its 11^th year, will highlight artisans and craftspeople who will exhibit and sell coastal and sea-glass related jewelry, home décor, art, and more. An emphasis for the event will be placed on festive arts and crafts heading into the holiday season. A full listing of vendors and more information can be found at seaglassfestival.com.

 

Each two-day festival ticket includes entrance to the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival, live music, and all the exhibitions and historic structures on the CBMM campus. Food and beverages will also be available for purchase, including beer, wine, and cocktails.

 

CBMM’s Tolchester Beach Bandstand will host a full schedule of live music over the two days. Anna Burgess (10am–12:30pm) and Nelly’s Echo (1–4pm) are set to perform on Saturday, while Chris Sacks (10am–12:30pm) and Dave Hawkins (1–3pm) take the stage on Sunday.

 

Executive Director of The Beachcombing Center and sea glass expert, Mary McCarthy, will be available for shard ID under the Hooper Straight Lighthouse on Navy Point both days.

 

On Saturday, festival guests are invited to view a live iron pour demonstration in the Shipyard, beginning at noon, as part of Pour on the Shore hosted by CBMM and Butter Pat Industries.

 

The two-day festival ticket is $6 for CBMM member adults and active members of the military (with ID); $18 for non-member adults; $15 for seniors (age 65 and up), college students and retired military (both with ID); $6 for non-member children ages 6–17; and free for member children 6–17, and all children 5-and-under. CBMM members at the Family & Friends level and above can also receive the $6 discounted admission for two adult guests.

 Advanced admission tickets can be purchased online at cbmm.org/seaglassfestival, with tickets also sold at CBMM the day of the event. No single-day tickets will be sold.

 Additional free event parking will be available at St. Michaels Middle/High School, with a complimentary shuttle service to and from CBMM running throughout the day.

 

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PHOTOS: 

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PHOTOS BY GEORGE SASS

 On Saturday, Nov. 19, and Sunday, Nov. 20, the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival will return to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s waterfront campus. For tickets and more information, visit cbmm.org/seaglassfestival.

Celebrate all things oyster October 29 in St. Michaels

 Get ready to celebrate the Bay’s favorite bivalve at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s OysterFest on Saturday, Oct. 29.

 

Running 10am-4 pm, CBMM’s OysterFest features oysters served a variety of ways, along with other local fare, craft beer, and spirits, plus live music, an oyster stew competition, a full schedule of oyster-themed demonstrations and presentations, children’s activities, and more.

 

At the rain or shine event, festivalgoers can savor Chesapeake Bay oysters, with both raw and cooked options available, from the Talbot Watermen Association and other local oyster farms. There will also be a variety of Chesapeake delicacies and other food offerings via local vendors available for purchase, plus a beverage selection that includes specialty cocktails featuring Windon Distilling Lyon Rum, Chesapeake-style Bloody Marys featuring George’s Beverage Company mix, and an array of local craft beer options.

 

The always-popular oyster stew competition begins at 11am and invites guests to sample offerings from various local restaurants and vote for their favorite, while the American Chesapeake Club will be on hand to discuss Maryland’s official dog, the Chesapeake Bay retriever, and showcase its retrieving ability.

 

One Hundred Shores project is offering a unique workshop that allows guests to connect with the Bay’s water from 100 different locations across the Chesapeake estuary in a dyeing process to create shirts which illustrate a map of the watershed itself. Registration is available now at bit.ly/OysterFestOneHundredShores.

 

In its fourth OysterFest appearance, Maryland-based Swamp Donkey Newgrass will be playing the Tolchester Beach Bandstand all day long, delivering an exciting combination of original songs and unique covers that span many genres in a style they have made all their own. 

Throughout the day, Van Lennep Auditorium will host a variety of guest speakers and oyster-related presentations sponsored by the Upper Shore Regional Folklife Center, starting at 11am with a cooking demonstration from Executive Chef Gregory James from Stars Restaurant at the Inn at Perry Cabin.

 

At 12:45pm, Bivalve Trail podcast host Lexi Hubb will offer a presentation on Thomas Downing, a Black American born free on Virginia’s Eastern Shore who helped make New York City the Oyster Capital of the world in the mid-1800s. Later, Hubb and co-host Bill Troxler will describe how they created the narrative, music and soundscape for Downing’s story, illustrating time periods, settings, and emotions without visual cues. 

 As part of CBMM’s partnership with The Great Maryland Recipe Hunt, food historian Joyce White will offer a culinary history of Chesapeake Bay oysters, beginning at 1:30pm. The foodways documentation project, One Hundred Shores, and the Bivalve Trail programming are presented by the Regional Folklife Center through the Maryland Traditions Program of the Maryland State Arts Council. 

Family activities include Chesapeake-themed games, activities, and demonstrations, and a chance to build a take-home model boat.

 

Guests will also be able to explore CBMM’s exhibitions, including Oystering on the Chesapeake and Waterman’s Wharf, where they can try tonging or nippering for oysters.

 

They’re also invited to participate in an oyster slurp-off contest, tour one of the visiting Chesapeake Bay buyboats and vessels within CBMM’s historic floating fleet, watch an antique diving demonstration, and visit the Phillips Wharf Fishmobile.

 

This year, OysterFest is generously sponsored by Glenmede and Patriot Cruises and supported by What’s Up Media, Eastern Shore Tents & Events, Windon Distilling, George's Beverage Company, and Kelly Distributors.

 

OysterFest admission is $6 for CBMM member adults and active members of the military (with ID); $18 for non-member adults; $15 for seniors (age 65 and up), college students and retired military (both with ID); $6 for non-member children ages 6–17; and free for member children 6–17, and all children 5 and under. CBMM members at the Family & Friends level and above can also receive the $6 discounted admission for two adult guests.

 

Food and drinks are available for an additional cost, with carry-on alcohol prohibited. Proceeds from the event support CBMM’s education, restoration, and exhibition programs.

 

For safety reasons, non-service dogs need to be kept home during CBMM festivals, including OysterFest. Carry-on alcohol from dock or land is prohibited.

 

Purchase your tickets in advance now and learn more at cbmm.org/oysterfest.

Christmas in St. Michaels celebrates joy December 9-11

Christmas in St. Michaels is celebrating its 36^th year of fundraising festivities with the return and expansion of its weekend of holiday events taking place on the water and in the heart of historic St. Michaels, Md. this Dec. 9 - 11. This year’s events include a Lighted Boat Parade and festive Talbot Street Parade; a Tour of Homes; Breakfast with Santa; Holiday Music and Meals; a Santa Dash; a Marketplace and Sweet Shoppe, and a Light up the Night drive-by house and harbor tour. 

The goal for this year’s Christmas in St. Michaels events is to raise funds to distribute grants to local beneficiaries. More than 25 family services, education and child development, and community enhancement organizations depend on Christmas in St. Michaels funds to support their programs and activities.

 

The Marketplace and Sweet Shoppe located at St. Mary’s Square’s Granite Lodge kick off the weekend event at noon on Fri., Dec. 9. Proceeds from every sale benefit local nonprofits, with shoppers finding one-of-a-kind, artisan-crafted items and culinary delights available only during this weekend event. The Marketplace and Sweet Shoppe are open for select hours through Sun., Dec. 11 at 3:00 p.m.

 

Holiday music will fill the air throughout the weekend event, including music provided by Christ Church St. Michaels beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. A complete list of entertainment will be provided on Christmas in St. Michaels’ website.  

Family-favorite events include Saturday’s Breakfast with Santa for children ages 4 to 9 years old, which takes place from 8-10:00 a.m. at the waterfront Foxy’s Harbor Grille, with limited $10 tickets available for online purchasing. The 10:30 a.m. Talbot Street Parade, Santa Dash, and beginning of the Tour of Homes are wonderful mid-day events, with the Lighted Boat Parade beginning along St. Michaels Harbor at 6:00 p.m. Parade routes, event details, online tickets, and more are at christmasinstmichaels.org.

 

“We love to see local people and those from throughout the Mid-Atlantic return to our events year after year, especially for our homes tour,” says Christmas in St. Michaels Board President Pat Martin. “Christmas in St. Michaels includes one of Maryland’s longest-running home tours and features beautifully decorated homes in our historic district and among the area’s wide expanses of country and watersides.”

 

The Tour of Homes takes place during select hours on Saturday and Sunday, with limited tickets available for advanced online purchase. The $25 per person ticket includes a one-time admission to all tour homes; transportation to the countryside homes; a detailed tour guide booklet with local information, detailed home and other major St. Michaels landmark descriptions; and free admission to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, the Classic Motor Museum, and the St. Michaels Museum at St. Mary’s Square for Saturday and Sunday.

 

Christmas in St. Michaels’ Old Fashioned Eastern Shore Christmas Dinner takes place on Sat., Dec. 10 starting at 11:00 a.m. and lasting until 3:00 p.m., or when the meals are sold out. Dinners include sliced roast turkey, Maryland fried oysters, and a large assortment of sides and desserts. The event will be held at the Union United Parish Hall on Fremont Street in St. Michaels with dine-in and carry-out dinners available at $20 per person, with tickets sold at the door, on the day of the event.  

 

This year’s 19^th Christmas in St. Michaels Collector’s Ornament features the Maryland Blue Crab and is adapted from an original drawing by local designer and artist Scott Sullivan. In 1989, the Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) was designated the Maryland State Crustacean and is the state’s most valuable commercial fishery. The Limited-Edition Ornaments are packaged in a keepsake box and are available for purchase at select area stores and on the Christmas in St. Michaels website beginning Sept. 25.

 

Christmas in St. Michaels began in 1987 when a group of energetic volunteers recognized the need for daycare services in the community. Funds were raised through community support, and a daycare center was established, now known as Critchlow Adkins Children Centers. Sponsors and patrons of Christmas in St. Michaels since that time have helped raise more than $1.4M in support of numerous local non-profit organizations.

 

Proceeds from Christmas in St. Michaels help the people served by local non-profit organizations. Event updates, online purchases, and more about Christmas in St. Michaels are at christmasinstmichaels.org.

Photos/Cutlines:

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The Lighted Boat Parade begins along St. Michaels Harbor at 6:00 p.m. on Sat. Dec. 10 as part of Christmas in St. Michaels. The weekend event includes family-favorites like Saturday’s Breakfast with Santa, which takes place from 8-10:00 a.m. at the waterfront Foxy’s Harbor Grille, with limited $10 tickets available for online purchasing. The 10:30 a.m. Talbot Street Parade, Santa Dash, and the Tour of Homes are wonderful mid-day events, with parade routes, event details, online tickets, and more at christmasinstmichaels.org. Photo Courtesy George Sass, CBMM Volunteer.

 

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The Tour of Homes takes place during select hours on Dec. 10 & 11 during Christmas in St. Michaels, with limited tickets available for advanced online purchase. The $25 per person ticket includes a one-time admission to all tour homes; transportation to the countryside homes; a detailed tour guide booklet with local information, detailed home and other major St. Michaels landmark descriptions; and free admission to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum for Saturday and Sunday. Photos Courtesy William Willhelm.

 

 

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One of Christmas in St. Michaels’ key events is a holiday street parade, which begins along Talbot Street in St. Michaels at 10:30 a.m. on Sat., Dec. 10. Christmas in St. Michaels is celebrating its 36^th year of fundraising with a full menu of events taking place from Dec. 9 – 11, with more at christmasinstmichaels.org. Photos courtesy William Willhelm.

 

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Breakfast with Santa takes place on Sat., Dec. 10 from 8-10:00 a.m. at the waterfront Foxy’s Harbor Grille, with limited $10 tickets available for online purchasing. Christmas in St. Michaels’ Old Fashioned Eastern Shore Christmas Dinner takes place on Sat., Dec. 10 starting at 11:00 a.m. and lasting until 3:00 p.m., or when the meals are sold out. Dinners include sliced roast turkey, Maryland fried oysters, and a large assortment of sides and desserts. Details are at christmasinstmichaels.org.

 

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This year’s 19^th Christmas in St. Michaels Collector’s Ornament features the Maryland Blue Crab and is adapted from an original drawing by local designer and artist Scott Sullivan. The Limited-Edition Ornaments are packaged in a keepsake box and are available for purchase at select area stores and on the Christmas in St. Michaels website beginning Sept. 25. 

Plenty for youth to learn & explore at CBMM this fall

 ST. MICHAELS, Md., Sept. 22, 2022 – It’s a great time to learn and explore at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum with a variety of youth programming on tap this fall designed to engage children of all ages.

 

CBMM’s after-school programs – Rising Tide and Free Fishing – are back this month, a four-lesson STEAM Team series kicks off Oct. 8 and Lighthouse Overnight Adventures remain available for groups through October. That’s in addition to fall field trips for student groups, including school, Scout, and other youth programs.

 

Targeted at sixth-through-ninth graders, Rising Tide teaches the basics of tool use, following a build plan, and woodworking techniques. This fall, the program continues work on building two stand-up paddleboards as well as a few other smaller projects.

 

Rising Tide resumed Sept. 19 and is offered on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30-5:30pm. Transportation is offered from the Easton YMCA and from St. Michaels Middle/High School (SMMHS). Register at bit.ly/RisingTide2022 or email risingtide@cbmm.org for more information.

Running Sept. 28 through Nov. 2, CBMM’s Free Fishing program invites community members of all ages for catch-and-release fishing on Wednesdays this fall from 3:30-5:30pm.

 

No fishing license or equipment is required to participate. Fishing rods and bait are provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own fishing pole. Children under 10 must be accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult. For middle and high school students, transportation from SMMHS to CBMM is provided.

 

This is a weather-permitting, drop-in program, but if you are interested in attending, please contact Youth Programs Coordinator Sophie Stuart at 410-745-4974.

 

In October and November, little mariners are invited to join CBMM’s STEAM Team! Led by an experienced educator in each Saturday session, children will explore Chesapeake-related topics that incorporate a variety of activities related to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math).

 

Sessions are available for ages 4-6 and 6-9, beginning with an Oct. 8 program on Lighthouse Life. Other program themes include Shipwreck Scientists (Oct. 22), Simple Machines Move the Maritime World (Nov. 5), and Boats of the Bay (Nov. 12).

 

Class sizes are limited, with advanced registration needed. The cost per class is $15, with a 20% discount for CBMM members. Register online for all four sessions for an additional discount. Need-based scholarships for individual classes are available by emailing registration@cbmm.org. For more information and to register, visit bit.ly/FallSTEAMTeam22.

 

Last but not least, groups can plan a Lighthouse Overnight Adventure this fall! Step back in time to experience the life of a lighthouse keeper and spend the night in the Hooper Strait Lighthouse at CBMM. Participants can try their hand at the keeper’s traditional duties, listen to stories and discover facts and clues about lighthouse living, navigation, and Bay history through hands-on activities.

 

Lighthouse Overnights are available on select Fridays and Saturdays throughout September and October. Request a date or check availability by completing the inquiry form at bit.ly/LighthouseOvernight2022 or contact CBMM’s education staff at registration@cbmm.org for more information.

Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival XXXIX is Sept. 30–Oct. 2

ST. MICHAELS, Md., Sept. 6, 2022 – From Friday–Sunday, Sept. 30–Oct. 2, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum will once again host one of the nation’s largest gatherings of small boat enthusiasts and unique watercraft at Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival XXXIX.

 

Over the three days, CBMM guests can marvel at the craftsmanship and innovation used in traditional and contemporary small craft while enjoying CBMM’s waterfront campus and indoor and outdoor exhibitions. Hundreds of amateur and professional boatbuilders and enthusiasts, hailing from near and far, are set to showcase their boats at the 39th annual festival.

  

Sailing skiffs, rowing shells, kayaks, canoes, paddle boats, prams, and one-of-a-kind boats will be on display and in the water throughout this family-oriented event, and small craft owners from across the country will be available to share their knowledge and boating experiences with guests.

 

On Saturday, CBMM Shipyard staff and Chesapeake Wooden Boat Builders School instructors will be on hand to offer boatbuilding and maritime demonstrations. Also, beginning at 1pm on Saturday, there will be a lively Miles River race of small craft, which can be viewed from CBMM’s waterfront and docks.

 

Festival-goers will be able to vote for their favorite boat, with the People’s Choice award and others announced among participants on Saturday evening. Limited offerings will be available for the public to see on Sunday.

 

For safety reasons, dogs are not permitted on museum grounds during CBMM festivals, with the exception of certified service dogs.

 

Public entrance to the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival is included with CBMM’s general admission, which is good for two consecutive days and free for CBMM members. Hours are 10am–5pm each day. For more information, visit cbmm.org/smallcraftfestival. Anyone looking to participate as an exhibitor should visit cbmm.org/mascfparticipants.