ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. – Celebrate the St. Mary’s River at the 18th annual RiverFest! Join the St. Mary’s River Watershed Association (SMRWA) on Saturday September 27th, 2025 from 10 am to 3 pm at Historic St. Mary’s City—rain or shine for a fun‐filled, family‐friendly day!
Don’t miss the ceremonial river wade‐in in honor of Bernie Fowler at 2 pm, step aboard the Maryland Dove and the Rainbow for a tour and learn about the life of a waterman with oyster tonging demonstrations!
Our headliners, the Eastport Oyster Boys, will perform from 12 pm to 2 pm on the main stage under the Margaret Brent Pavilion. The “Boys” infuse tales, jokes, and historical narratives from around the Chesapeake Bay with their unique island rhythm tunes.
The live music and storytelling don’t end with our headliners! The Chesapeake Public Charter School fourth graders will perform songs and narratives about the importance of protecting our Bay from 11 am to 12 pm and Indian Summer, who has performed at every RiverFest, will take the stage from 2 pm to 3 pm.
For our nature lovers, Raptor’s Eye will bring their live birds of prey and talk about the importance of raptors to our ecosystem. Chad Day will show off his talented Chesapeake Bay Retriever during demonstrations at 12 pm, 1 pm, and 2:30 pm on the State House lawn. Get up close with snakes, turtles, and other native critters under the pavilion with the Forrest Technology Center’s Natural Resource Management Program and the NAS PAX Natural Resources Department. Then, head down to the waterfront to try kayaking with Team River Runner Southern Maryland and fish seining with experienced experts.
Meet us under the pavilion after the Eastport Oyster Boys perform at 2 pm. We will process together down to the waterfront and wade into the water until we can no longer see our feet in honor of Sen. Bernie Fowler. Remember to bring a change of clothes and your water shoes!
Bring the family to enjoy balloon animals, face painting, crafts and other hands‐on activities. Enjoy lunch from Southern Maryland’s first Puerto Rican restaurant, El Coqui, and stop by and see over 25 of Southern Maryland’s finest vendors and exhibitors along the path from the pavilion to the State House.
Discover 101 ways to protect and enjoy our waterways! Make your own Secchi Disk with St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s Biology Department, participate in the marine scene stamp & splash activity, or plant some native seeds and take them home.
Explore our river’s past with free admission to Historic St. Mary’s City Museum and their living history exhibits. Experience the sights, sounds, and smells of a 17th‐century militia assembly as re‐enactors prepare to defend the colony against Virginians and pirates during the St. Maries Citty Militia’s annual muster, held in conjunction with RiverFest.
RiverFest is free, open to the public, and family friendly. Thanks to our sponsors and volunteers, most activities including face painting, balloon animals, SMRWA‐led crafts, kayaking, and drinks are free.
For more info visit http://www.SMRWA.org/riverfest.html or email at emmasmrwa@gmail.com