SOLOMONS, Md. — Celebrate Southern Maryland traditions on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at the Calvert Marine Museum’s annual Solomons Maritime Festival. This free, family-friendly event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features a full day of maritime heritage, live music, food demonstrations, hands-on activities, and on-the-water experiences.
The museum’s waterfront comes alive with the sights, sounds, and flavors of the Chesapeake Bay. Guests can enjoy free 30-minute cruises aboard the Wm. B. Tennison, along with dockside tours of the Dee of St. Mary’s. Visitors can also take advantage of free boat rides, try rowing and pedal boats, and even operate radio-controlled model boats in the boat basin throughout the day. Children and families will especially enjoy toy boat building and other interactive activities.
Inside the museum, visitors can explore a variety of traditional and educational experiences, including the CMM Fossil Club, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, guided bird walks, and spinning and weaving demonstrations, along with a Quilts of Valor display honoring service members.
Food traditions take center stage with live cooking demonstrations held outside the Exhibition Building. Guests can learn regional culinary techniques such as preparing soft crabs, making crab cakes, oyster shucking, and stuffing ham, presented by local experts throughout the day.
The festival also features the popular Antique Boat & Marine Engine Show, along with the Solomons Small Craft Gathering, where enthusiasts display and discuss vintage vessels and engines. A Nautical Flea Market, hosted by the Patuxent Small Craft Guild, offers unique maritime finds and supports the guild’s programming.
Animal lovers can enjoy Chesapeake Bay Retriever demonstrations, while visitors across the grounds can engage with traditional craftspeople demonstrating skills such as wood carving and maritime toolmaking.
Live Music Lineup
Enjoy traditional music throughout the day at the Motto Mortgage Preferred & RE/MAX Waterside Pavilion:
• Folk Salad | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
• Patuxent High School A Cappella Group | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
• Dance Hall Ghost | 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
• The Paulverizers | 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Admission to the festival and museum is FREE, making it an accessible and engaging way for families and visitors of all ages to experience Southern Maryland’s rich maritime heritage.
The Solomons Maritime Festival is sponsored by the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners, Calvert County Watermen’s Association, Calvert Marina, LLC, and the Patuxent Small Craft Guild.
For more information, please call Sherry Reid, Volunteer & Events Coordinator, at 410-326-2042 ext. 8085, or visit the Calvert Marine Museum Facebook page or website at www.calvertmarinemuseum.com.
Explore how the prehistoric past, natural environments, and maritime heritage come to life and tell a unique story of the Chesapeake Bay. The Calvert Marine Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $11 for adults; $9 for seniors, military, and veterans with valid I.D, AAA and AARP members; $6 for children ages 5 – 12; children under 5 and museum members are admitted free. Proud participant in Museums for ALL. For more information about the museum, upcoming events, or membership, visit the website at www.calvertmarinemuseum.com or call 410-326-2042. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.