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.

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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.

CBMM begins next phase of Master Plan upgrades

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is pleased to announce that it has broken ground on its new Welcome Center—a major milestone marking the start of Phase II of its ongoing Master Plan campus upgrades. 

 

Opening in 2023, the new, fully ADA accessible building will house CBMM’s Welcome Center, Museum Store, and two exhibition spaces.  

 

“The new building will immensely enhance the guest experience at CBMM and provide an even warmer welcome to campus,” said Kristen Greenaway, CBMM’s President & CEO. “Our Master Plan is designed to create increased space for CBMM’s core museum offerings—including exhibitions, education, and in the shipyard—and we can’t wait for you to see it!” 

 

CBMM’s Master Plan also includes a Phase III focus on utilization of outdoor space and an expansion of Shipyard facilities, designed to showcase the ever-expanding range of shipyard education, boatbuilding, and exhibitions. 

 

Three phases make up the Master Plan, with the scope and timeline contingent upon funding. Funding sources will come from individual donations and naming opportunities, grants, and operations. You too can support CBMM’s efforts to enhance campus and create better public offerings by donating to The Annual Fund. Visit cbmm.org/donate to learn how. 

 

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to preserving and exploring the history, environment, and culture of the entire Chesapeake Bay region, and making this resource available to all.  

 

Every aspect of fulfilling this mission is driven by CBMM’s values of relevance, authenticity, and stewardship, along with a commitment to providing engaging guest experiences and transformative educational programming, all while serving as a vital community partner. For more information, visit cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916. 

 

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The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum recently broke ground on its new Welcome Center, marking the start of Phase II of its Master Plan campus upgrades. This rendering shows what the new building will look like when completed in 2023. 

Fall into St. Michaels to return October 23 – 24, 2021

 
The change of the season brings excitement and vibrant color to the Town of St. Michaels, as residents and businesses celebrate their annual harvest festival “Fall into St. Michaels” October 23-24, 2021.    The change of the season brings excitement and vibrant color to the town, as residents and businesses celebrate Fall into St. Michaels.  Enjoy our fabulous restaurants, charming boutiques and galleries, or take a boat ride out on the water for some local history and sights.    Stay in our inns and B & B's for some much needed relaxation. The autumn months are a perfect time to visit St. Michaels for a romantic retreat or a family get away.     

Fall into St. Michaels festivities begin with the town-wide scarecrow contest starting on Saturday, October 16, 2021. Participating businesses will compete in the Scarecrow Contest, where each business will have the chance to win in one of the following three categories: Traditional, Whimsical or Humorous.

 The following weekend, October 23rd thru October 24th the Fall into St. Michaels festivities go into full swing on Saturday, October 22nd with the return of the highly anticipated Pumpkin Carving contest will return where participating St. Michaels Business Association businesses will sponsor the pumpkins, which are carved by experienced and novice carvers alike, each striving for the top spot in one of the pumpkin categories.  The pumpkin carving will be held at the St. Michaels Community Center on Saturday, October 23rd starting at 10:00am.  

Judging takes place 1:00pm - 1:30pm and then the pumpkins will remain on display until 6:00pm on Saturday and 10:00am thru 2:00pm on Sunday.  Winners for scarecrow and pumpkin contests will be announced on www.stmichaelsmd.org 

 The St. Michaels Community Center Annual Pumpkin Pie Competition will be held during the Pumpkin Carving Contest at the St. Michaels Community Center. The Pumpkin Pie Competition is open to professionals, home bakers and children. Each group will be judged on traditional or creative creations. Cash prizes will be awarded to top three winners in each category, and of course, bragging rights and a plaque go to the winners. Participating bakers must submit 2 – 3 pies of the same recipe.  The St. Michaels Community Center will be selling pieces and whole pies of those entered. Judging will begin at 10:00 am and sales will begin at 11:00am. Proceeds of the bake sale will benefit the programs and activities of the St. Michaels Community Center. Please contact the SMCC 410-745-6073 for more information or to register as an entrant. The St. Michaels Community Center is located on the corner of Railroad Street and Fremont Street.

The Galley Restaurant will host their first Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest on Saturday afternoon, visit their website to register.  www.thegalleysaintmichaels.com

Dog owners from all over Maryland join the residents of St. Michaels on Sunday on the lawn at the St. Michaels Inn for the annual Jack Russell Races. This year’s races will begin at 11:00 am. Registration is available online and at 10 a.m. that morning.  The proceeds from the benefit will go to St. Michaels Community Food Bank and Humane of Talbot, Caroline and Dorchester Counties.

The races will be broken down into categories: Jack Russell, Dachshund Dash and the famous “So Your Dog Thinks He’s a Jack” race. All dogs are welcome at the event, big or small, racing or not, to mingle with other dog lovers in Talbot County. Dogs under 25 pounds are welcome to race.
The event will be held, rain or shine! Refreshments, including Coffee & Donuts and a Bloody Mary & Mimosa Bar, will be available on site. There will be live raffles of items from area restaurants and retailers between races! Registration can be made ahead of time or at the event.   Mimosas and Bloody Mary bar will be available, as well as a great time watching the races.  The Jack Russell races will not happen if there is inclement weather. 

For this and more events happening around St. Michaels this Fall and Winter season please visit our website www.stmichaelsmd.org. 

 

Save the Date for our Midnight Madness event on Saturday, December 4, 2021.

Christmas in St. Michaels goes virtual, raises community funds

Christmas in St. Michaels is re-focusing its 34^th year of fundraising festivities into a virtual celebration beginning this fall, with numerous online activities and holiday-themed packages and kits to help embrace the Christmas spirit while raising funds for Bay Hundred non-profit organizations. The reformatting is in response to the social distancing measures brought on by the COVID pandemic, which limit the large gatherings that traditionally come with Christmas in St. Michaels events.

The goal for this year’s virtual Christmas in St. Michaels events is to raise enough funds to be able to distribute grants to the same beneficiaries they have supported in the past. 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.

A Christmas in St. Michaels Online Raffle kicks off on Oct. 15, with details on Christmas in St. Michaels’s website and a drawing to take place on Nov. 15. An Online Silent Auction will take place beginning Nov. 27 and continuing through Dec. 8, with a preview of the auction items scheduled for Nov. 20 – 26. 

Gift certificates for a three-course champagne toast dinner at the Inn at Perry Cabin will be available for purchase beginning in October and valid Dec. 1 – Dec. 30 to serve as a virtual Yuletide Celebration Dinner. An Online Marketplace will help supporters find the perfect gifts while helping to raise the critical funds needed by local service organizations.

Children’s favorites like Breakfast with Santa and Santa's Favorite Cookies will now be available to purchase as kits online for either pick-up or by shipment. Adults can indulge in online shopping with a cause by purchasing “Cheers to a New Year!” wine and hors d'oeuvres packages, and “Spirits with Saint Nick” whiskey and dessert packages, both available by local pick-up.

Free and open to the public will be a “Light up the Night” drive-by house and harbor tour, with a boat parade in the planning stages. The dates and best routes for spectators will be posted on the Christmas in St. Michaels website. Union United Methodist Church is also participating in Christmas in St. Michaels fundraising, with carryout holiday dinners available for purchase.

This year’s Christmas in St. Michaels Collector’s Ornament features an osprey, adapted from an original drawing by local artist and graphic designer Scott Sullivan. The Limited-Edition Ornaments are packaged in a keepsake box and are now available for purchase at select area stores and on the Christmas in St. Michaels website.

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.

 

Midnight Madness in St. Michaels, Saturday, December 1st

The 17th Annual Midnight Madness will be held on Saturday, December 1, 2018!

Great shops will be open 'til Midnight with refreshments and snacks, and special sales all day and night during Midnight Madness and enter a chance to win raffle prizes valued at over $15,000 with every purchase from participating sponsors.   Look for Midnight Madness sponsor posters at your favorite shop, restaurant or lodging location.

Each year, the town of St Michaels is transformed into a picture perfect holiday postcard, the shops, restaurants and B&B’s are decorated with stunning greenery, lights and festive cheer.  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.  

Midnight Madness is a reminder of how important the small-business sector is to our economy and why it’s so important to “Shop Local” all year round.   The movement to “Give Big and Shop Small”, especially during the holidays, is needed to help support the locally owned small businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve our hometown businesses. 

Best of all, with every purchase you'll receive raffle tickets to WIN fabulous prizes! 

Last year lucky ticket holders won over $17,000 in gift baskets and special bonus prizes.

Drawings start at 11:30 p.m. and you must be present to win.   Drawing will be held in the heart of St. Michaels at The Galley restaurant located at 305 S. Talbot Street.

Thanks to the many participating Midnight Madness sponsors and donations from businesses, Midnight Madness would not happen without them! 

2018 Midnight Madness sponsors

Midnight Madness Ticket distribution for retailers and restaurants going on now!  Lodging tickets start Friday, November 30th and Saturday, December 1st
 Please be sure to shop, dine and stay at the following sponsors to receive your tickets.
Thank you sponsors!

Shopping & Museums

1 Oak

American Holiday

Antiques on Talbot

Bella Soul

Broken Rudder Sportswear

Candleberry Galleria

Charisma Clothing Boutique

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

Chesapeake Bay Outfitters

Chesapeake Trading Company

Classic Motor Museum

Come By Chance

Creative Xpressions

Flamingo Flats

Guilford and Company

Diana's Tilton Hilton

Justamere Trading

Olivins

Ophiuroidea  "The O"

Pemberton Pharmacy

Port of Call Cigars

Silver Linings

Simpatico

St. Michaels Essentials

St. Michaels Pet Supplies

Sunnyside Shop

Take Me Home

The Christmas Shop

The Preppy Redneck

The Shops at Sea Captain's Cottage

Woodcraft Artisans

Eating & Drinking

208 Talbot 

Ava's Pizzeria & Wine Bar

Awful Arthur's Seafood Company

Bistro St. Michaels

Blackthorn Irish Pub

Blue Heron Coffee

Carpenter Street Saloon

Crab-n-Que

Harbor Lights

Lighthouse Oyster Bar & Grill

The Blue Crab Coffee

The Galley

Theo's Steaks, Sides and Spirits

St. Michaels Crab & Steak House

Lodging

Inn at Perry Cabin by Belmond

Old Brick Inn

Parsonage Inn

St. Michaels Harbour Inn and Marina

St. Michaels Inn

Small craft, big fun at Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival XXXV October 6, 7

On Saturday, October 6, and Sunday, October 7, 2018, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum will host one of the nation’s largest gatherings of small boat enthusiasts and unique watercraft at Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival XXXV.

During the festival, CBMM guests can marvel at the craftsmanship and innovation used in traditional and contemporary small craft while enjoying the museum’s waterfront campus and indoor and outdoor exhibitions. Hundreds of amateur and professional boatbuilders and enthusiasts come from all over the region to display their one-of-a-kind kayaks, canoes, and other traditional small craft.

  

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. Small craft owners hailing from all over the country will also be available to share their knowledge and boating experiences with guests. 

The festival was previously combined with CBMM’s Maritime Model Expo, which now takes place during CBMM’s free Community Day in May.

Scenic river cruises aboard the 1920 buyboat Winnie Estelle, live music, along with food and beverages will be available to round out the weekend festival. 

On Saturday, CBMM Shipyard staff and Chesapeake Wooden Boat Builders School instructors will be on hand to offer boatbuilding workshops and maritime demonstrations. Also beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday will be a lively Miles River race of small craft, which can be viewed from CBMM’s waterfront and docks. Festival-goers can also vote for their favorite boat, with the People’s Choice award and others announced among participants on Saturday evening. 

On Sunday, festival-goers are invited to bring nautical items to swap or sell at a traditional swap meet before heading home.

For safety reasons, dogs are not permitted on museum grounds during CBMM festivals, with the exception of certified service dogs. Leashed dogs from boat and land are permitted on CBMM grounds on non-festival days.

The Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival is free for CBMM members and children 5 and under, otherwise admission is good for two consecutive days and is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $6 for children ages 6 to 17, with all museum exhibitions open throughout the event. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 6, and 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 7. See photos at bit.ly/mascfphotos, and for more information, visit cbmm.org/mascf  or call 410-745-2916.

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See photos at bit.ly/mascfphotos, with more information at cbmm.org/mascf or by calling 410-745-2916.

See Lady Maryland in St. Michaels October 20-23

Guests to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md. can see Lady Maryland dockside from Friday, October 20 through Monday, October 23.

Built in 1985 by the Living Classrooms Foundation, Lady Maryland is a replica of a Chesapeake Bay pungy schooner. Pungies were considered fast sailing vessels in the 1800s, and were primarily used as workboats carrying perishable cargo such as oysters, watermelons, tomatoes, fish, peaches, and grain.

Throughout the warmer months, CBMM's marina is host to numerous visiting tall ships and vessels, with on-board programming and dockside tour opportunities. For more information about docking at CBMM, visit cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916. For more about Lady Maryland and the Living Classroom Foundation, go to livingclassrooms.org.

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Replica Chesapeake pungy schooner Lady Maryland will be docked at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md., from Friday, October 20, to Monday, October 23, 2017. To learn more, visit cbmm.org.