Calvert County and state officials have their plans in place for the Friday, April 25 season opening of Solomons Island’s famous Tiki Bar. Despite a very good chance of thunderstorms late Friday afternoon, a huge crowd is expected to be on hand for the festivities.
According to Lt. Todd Ireland of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, at high noon Friday eastbound Route 2 will be blocked off at Charles Street and Patuxent Street will be used by motor vehicle traffic to access the southernmost part of the island. Police officers will then be advising motorists regarding driving and parking on the island. Ireland said there is free parking available in four locations in Solomons—under the Gov. Thomas Johnson Bridge, Calvert Marine Museum, the Urgent Care Center and Our Lady Star of the Sea Church.
The Tiki Bar King will be arriving with the Budweiser Clydesdales at approximately 4 p.m. Ireland said plans are being crafted today for the route the horses will be taking to get to the bar.
Ireland said nearly 50 officers—sheriff’s deputies and Maryland State Police (MSP) troopers—will be on patrol during the Friday event.
The sheriff’s office Mobile Command Unit will be in the area and used for the coordination of police activity.
According to Sgt. Brian K. Albert of the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP), the agency will have “a large presence” on the area waterways—Solomons Harbor, the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay—to make sure attendees accessing the festival by boat adhere to all safety laws. “We’ll be looking for major violations—operating while impaired, safety issues.”
Albert indicated the NRP always has patrols in the area during boating season and the units are increased during the Tiki Bar’s opening weekend. He said the agency would have “at least three to five boats,” each manned by two officers on patrol in the Solomons vicinity. Last year, boaters were well behaved. “I’m not aware of any incidents last year, maybe some minor infractions,” said Albert.
The highly successful designated driver program will again be utilized during the Tiki Bar’s opening weekend. The program is a partnership among Bob Hall, LLC and Anheuser Busch, the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, MSP, Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse and the Traffic Safety Programs of Calvert and St. Mary’s counties.
The Tiki Bar’s opening won’t be the only big event in Solomons this weekend. On Sunday, April 27 The Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen’s Association’s annual Parade will be held starting at 1 p.m. The procession will start at the Urgent Care Center and proceed north on H.G. Trueman Road, ending at Newtown Road. The Budweiser Clydesdales will be one of the units in the
