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.