Even though it feels like spring outside lately, the Calvert Marine Museum’s annual Winter Lights Festival is taking place this weekend.

The public can enjoy the beauty of lighthouses during the Calvert Marine Museum’s annual Winter Lights Festival, a celebration of Chesapeake Bay Lighthouses, taking place January 14 and 15, from 10am-5pm at the Calvert Marine Museum.

Peruse displays in the museum lobby and learn more about lighthouses from “keepers” and associations from across Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and New Jersey.

The Calvert Marine Museum has a variety of activities planned for this special lighthouse celebration. Tours of the Drum Point and Cove Point Lighthouses will be conducted both days. On Saturday, special presentations on lighthouse facts and lore will take place in the auditorium throughout the day.

On Saturday evening, lighthouse enthusiasts will are invited to a special event, Cove Point by Candlelight, offering appetizers, a cash bar, live entertainment by maritime musician Bob Zentz, lighthouse art, a lighthouse film showing in the new Fog Bell Signal mini-theater sponsored by Dominion, and more. Tickets are $15 each, and space is limited. For tickets, contact Melissa Carnes, 410-326-2042 ext. 17.

Sunday is Family Lighthouse Day, offering a slide presentation entitled Learning About Lighthouses at 1:00 pm, a Gingerbread Lighthouse Workshop at 12:30 for children ages five and up, lighthouse crafts for kids throughout the day, and an afternoon concert featuring The Scurvy Crew at 2:30 and maritime musician Bob Zentz at 3:00. The concert is free with admission to the museum.

Saturday, January 14, 2006
Lectures

10:30 – 11:00 am John Starling: “History of the Cape Henry Lighthouse”

11:30 – 12:00 noon Anne Puppa: “Volunteering for Lighthouse Duty: A Family Affair”

1:00-1:30 pm Al Smith: “New Jersey Lighthouse Society”

2:00 – 2:30 pm Sandy Clunies: “Keepers Finders: Researching Early Light Keepers and their Families”

3:00 pm Henry Gonzalez: “Chesapeake Bay Lighthouses/ Highlighting the Thomas Point Light”

Lighthouse Tours
4:00 – 4:30 pm Join Mrs. Yeatman as she gives her 1918 era Tour of Drum Point Lighthouse

5:30-8:00 pm Cove Point by Candlelight


Sunday, January 15, 2006: Family Lighthouse Day
Lighthouse Crafts All Day in the Discovery Room
Scheduled Tours of the Cove Point and Drum Point Lighthouse

11:30 am Join Mrs. Yeatman as she gives her 1918 era tour of Drum Point Lighthouse.

12:30-1:15 pm Gingerbread Workshop ages five and up in the classroom. Put together and decorate a light keepers house and/or lighthouse. Younger “wickies” can decorate lighthouse cookies. Materials fee $3.

1:30-2:00 pm Tom Wade-“Lighthouses and Lightships of the Chesapeake Bay”

Free Maritime Concert
2:30 pm Scurvy Crew
3:00 pm Bob Zentz

4:00 pm Story Time-Mrs. Yeatman will read stories to children of all ages in the Maritime History Hall.