SOLOMONS, Md. – Celebrate Southern Maryland traditions on Saturday, May 3 at the Calvert Marine Museum’s 19th annual Solomons Maritime Festival. Antique boats and marine engines, cooking demonstrations, traditional music, toy boat building, a kid-friendly obstacle course, and boat rides offer something for every member of the family. Free 30 – minute cruises on the Wm. B. Tennison and more. Admission to the festival and museum is FREE; 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The museum’s waterfront comes alive with the sights, sounds, and smells of Southern Maryland. Traditional food demonstrations will teach guests how to make crab cakes, fry softshell crabs, shuck oysters, and stuff a ham like the pros! See Chesapeake Bay retrievers in action, watch model boats skim the waters of the boat basin, hear waterfowl calling, and talk with traditional craftspeople as they demonstrate their skills. Children of all ages will especially enjoy toy boat building!
The Patuxent Small Craft Guild will offer rides to the public on multiple small crafts, including sailboats, power boats, and row and pedal boats. The museum’s skipjack, Dee of St. Mary’s, will offer dockside tours.
Traditional crafts are also celebrated! Visitors can examine how crab and eel pots are constructed. Inside the museum, demonstrations of quilting and other textile crafts will be on-going through the day. Local food vendors will be on-site throughout the festival!
The Antique Boat and Marine Engine Show, now in its 24th year, is a popular component of the festival. Enthusiasts from across the country will set-up camp to show off their vintage boats and engines. The unofficial engine swap is a great way to expand your collection. The Patuxent Small Craft Guild will also host a Nautical Flea Market, with all proceeds supporting the Guild.
Enjoy music all day long at the Motto Mortgage Preferred and Re/Max One Waterside Pavilion.
- 10 to 11 a.m. – The Bushmill Band
- 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. – Jane Meneely
- 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. – Neverland Band
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.