The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum will host OysterFest on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 10am-4pm, inviting the community to celebrate the Bay’s favorite bivalve with a day of fun for the whole family.

The OysterFest menu, of course, features fresh oysters served a variety of ways, plus other local fare, craft beer, and spirits. There’s also live music on two stages, an oyster stew competition, boat rides, a full schedule of demonstrations and presentations, children’s activities, and more.

Tickets for this rain-or-shine event, including a new VIP offering and CBMM Fall Festival Passes, are on sale now at cbmm.org/OysterFest, with discounted pricing for CBMM members.

Whether you prefer to sip, savor, or slurp Chesapeake Bay oysters, you’ll appreciate this beloved fall festival with oyster offerings from the Talbot Watermen Association and several local oyster farms, including raw and cooked options.

Guests can also purchase a variety of Chesapeake delicacies and other food offerings via local vendors on campus, plus a beverage selection that includes specialty cocktails and an array of local craft beer options. All food and drinks are an additional charge.

The always-popular oyster stew competition gives guests the chance to sample offerings from area restaurants in an OysterFest mug and then vote for their favorites to help decide which chefs claim the coveted title and local bragging rights.

The friendly competition continues with our annual oyster slurp-off contest. Interested participants can sign up on the day of the event.

All the oyster-themed fun will come with an upbeat soundtrack thanks to live music on both sides of campus all day long. An OysterFet staple, Electric Newgrass band Swamp Donkey will once again share their unique blend of originals and covers at the historic Tolchester Beach Bandstand. There will also be a stage on Fogg’s Landing, including a performance by local sibling trio The Folk Villains, to add to the festive atmosphere.

Throughout the day, the Van Lennep Auditorium will host a variety of guest speakers, including representatives from the Pocomoke Indian Nation, whose ancestral lands span much of lower Delmarva. In addition to their auditorium presentation, the Pocomokes will offer demonstrations throughout the day to share their history and traditions with guests near CBMM’s Shipyard.

Representatives from the American Chesapeake Club and their pups will be on hand to highlight Maryland’s official dog, the Chesapeake Bay retriever.

CBMM will also debut a new theater space on Navy Point, showcasing a selection from its library of historic and documentary films that includes the works of the celebrated environmental filmmakers Tom Horton, Dave Harp, and Sandy Cannon-Brown.

OysterFest programming, including presentations, demos, and performances from the Pocomoke Indian Nation, The Folk Villains, and the American Chesapeake Club, is supported by the Upper Shore Regional Folklife Center through the Maryland Traditions Program of the Maryland State Arts Council.

Children can explore life on the Bay through a range of themed, hands-on activities, including lawn games, model boat building, and more. The Phillips Wharf Fishmobile traveling aquarium will be on site, too.

Guests have a variety of ways to get out on the water at OysterFest, including free, drop-in cruises aboard CBMM’s floating fleet vessels. Patriot Cruises will offer a Narrated Historical Cruise on the Miles River at 12:30pm with combo tickets that include OysterFest admission and the cruise available.

CBMM is thrilled to welcome a pair of visiting tall ships to join in the fun. AJ Meerwald, a restored oyster dredging schooner that is New Jersey’s official tall ship, is offering free dockside tours from 10am-3pm and a ticketed public sail at 4pm, while Lady Maryland, a full-scale reproduction of a traditional 19th century Chesapeake Bay cargo schooner called a pungy, will be available for free deck tours during the festival before offering a ticketed sunset sail at 5pm.

Don’t miss the opportunity to purchase commemorative OysterFest gear in the Museum Store, showcasing this year’s featured historic oyster tin from CBMM’s collection. The one-gallon tin, featuring a silhouetted sailboat underway, was packed by Harrison & Jarboe Seafood Company in the 1950s on CBMM’s Navy Point and marketed as Miles River Brand Oysters. The design will be emblazoned on shirts and hats for purchase, as well as the mugs used for the oyster stew competition and the VIP tote bags.

This year, OysterFest is generously sponsored by PNC Bank and What’s Up Media.

OysterFest tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door. Admission is set at $22 for adults, $19 for seniors (65+) and students (17+), $10 for active and retired military members, and $9 for children ages 6-to-17, with all children 5-and-younger admitted free.

CBMM members receive discounted pricing to OysterFest and other annual festivals celebrating the best of the Bay throughout the year. Adult member tickets are $10, and all children of members (17-and-younger) receive free admission. CBMM members at the Family & Friends level and above can also receive the $10 discounted admission for two additional adult guests.

To level up the fun, VIP tickets include festival admission, entry into the oyster stew competition with commemorative mug, access to the VIP Hospitality Lounge with a complimentary beer and wine bar, an exclusive OysterFest tote bag with a list of vendor specials, and discounts at the festival bars. The cost is $50 for CBMM members and $80 for non-members.

The CBMM Fall Festival Pass offers entry to three upcoming signature festivals, including OysterFest, the Holiday Edition of the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival (Saturday, Nov. 22), and Winter on the Chesapeake (Saturday, Dec. 13). The cost is $20 for CBMM members and $44 for non-members.

CBMM members become a part of the Chesapeake story, joining CBMM’s mission as stewards of the region’s rich cultural heritage. To discover all the terrific benefits of membership and join today, visit cbmm.org/memberships or contact Membership Services Coordinator Debbie Ruzicka at 410-745-4991 or [email protected].

During the festival, additional free parking will be available at St. Michaels Middle/High School, with a complimentary shuttle service running to and from CBMM.

For safety reasons, non-service dogs must be kept home during CBMM festivals, including OysterFest. Carry-on alcohol from dock or land is also prohibited.

 The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s Shipyard celebrated the graduation of Seip Family Foundation Shipwright Apprentice Daniel Gutierrez from its state-accredited program last week.

Gutierrez took a break from his on-going work readying 1909 crab dredger Old Point for a return to the water to receive his official certification and congratulations from an enthusiastic crowd of staff, friends, and state officials.

“I’m extremely grateful to Daniel for his commitment to this program these past two years,” CBMM’s Vessel Conservation Manager Sam Hilgartner said. “He came here and dove in with both feet determined to get the most out of this experience. He’s worked hard, and he’s embraced being part of this community. As he graduates, I’m more than confident in his ability to carry on this tradition in the legacy of the CBMM Shipwright Apprentice Program.”

A Houston native, Gutierrez had spent several years lifeguarding on the beach in Galveston, Texas, when he decided to pursue a career in boatbuilding. He completed Cape Fear Community College’s Wooden Boat Building program before arriving at CBMM in August 2023 on a recommendation from his instructor Walter Atkins, who has recently joined CBMM’s Shipyard crew.

Gutierrez knew he was in the right place when he was asked to jump right in assisting on repairs for skipjack Rosie Parks. He spent his early weeks working on the historic vessels portside planking, deck boards, and sheer clamp, and since then, he’s continued his education while working on most of the vessels in CBMM’s fleet.

“It’s been really great,” Gutierrez said. “It’s kind of crazy to look back and see the progress I’ve made. You don’t really notice it day-to-day, but there’s so much that I’ve gotten to learn here.”

CBMM’s Shipwright Apprentice program is unique in its scope and ambition as the nation’s only state-certified apprentice program in the trade of traditional wooden boat building and maintenance. Gutierrez has completed 4,000 hours of hands-on experience, plus additional skill development training, to prepare him to take on an entry-level shipwright position.

For Gutierrez, CBMM’s Shipyard has provided the right atmosphere to grow his skills and confidence. He’s learned under Hilgartner, Shipyard Educator Steve Garrand, Floating Fleet Shipwright Alex Bell, and other talented shipwrights on the CBMM team. Lately, he’s tried to pass those lessons along to first-year apprentices Caden Lewis and Austin Benshoff while working together on Old Point.

“Being here, you appreciate the ability to make mistakes,” Gutierrez said. “All the people you’re learning from, they’ve been there, and they understand that it happens. You’re never too stressed because they have patience and want you to get it right.”

Along the way, Gutierrez has discovered a passion for life on the Eastern Shore far from home. He’s bought two different boats through CBMM’s Charity Boat Donation Program, spent weekends surfing at area beaches, traversed trails with his dog Goobie, honed his skills as a fisherman on local waterways, and even logged time last fall dredging oysters with Capt. Ed Farley aboard skipjack HM Krentz.

“The culture of the Chesapeake is interesting to me,” Gutierrez said. “I really like it over here. I’ve tried to do as much exploring as I can.”

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CBMM’s Shipwright Apprentice Program will continue to pass on these traditional skills to the next generation of Chesapeake shipwrights and grow its unique impact in the local workforce with the addition of two more Shipwright Apprentices later this year. Learn more about career opportunities in CBMM’s Shipyard, including current openings for experienced shipwrights, at cbmm.org/Careers.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s Shipyard is the place to be this summer with a variety of hands-on workshops on tap to share traditional skills.

Whether you’re looking to learn something new or grow your experience in the workshop, CBMM’s Apprentice for a Day Program can help with upcoming offerings that highlight marlinspike seamanship, woodworking, half-hull modeling, leatherworking, and decoy carving.

These limited-capacity programs are led by Shipyard staff and experienced guest instructors and offer discounted pricing for CBMM members. To register and get more information about Apprentice for a Day programming, visit cbmm.org/AFAD.

Participant scholarships are available for these workshops through CBMM’s Regional Folklife Center under the Maryland Traditions program of the Maryland State Arts Council. Email Vessel Conservation Manager Sam Hilgartner at [email protected] for more information on scholarship opportunities.

“We’ve worked to put together a diverse schedule of programs that are equal parts challenging, approachable, useful, and fun,” Hilgartner said. “We look forward to a busy and productive summer in our Education Workshop, sharing these programs with our community. If you’ve been considering signing up for your first AFAD workshop, it is a great time to pick a program and join us.”

Up first, Hilgartner will lead an advanced marlinspike seamanship course on the weekend of June 6-8. Participants will construct a wood-bottom, canvas ditty bag, a project requires a range of skills in canvas and rope work that make it an excellent test of competence in marlinspike seamanship and sailmaking.

This class is perfect for those who have attended CBMM’s introductory marlinspike seamanship course, yet accessible enough for beginner students who are up for a challenge. All tools and materials are provided in the cost of registration, which is $300 with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

Jenn Kuhn, CBMM’s former Shipyard Education Programs Manager, will lead a pair of women’s wood-working workshops this summer. In the introductory course on June 28-29, participants will construct a custom mallet while learning how to make a cut list, buy lumber, measure lengths and angles, and safely use a variety of hand and power tools. The cost is $300, with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

The advanced course, held across two weekends in late August, will expand on these workshop skills as participants build their own Adirondack chair. The cost is $650, with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

Coming on July 11-13, the Half-Hull Modeling Workshop, led by Master Shipwright Thom Price, blends artistry, history, and hands-on creation.

For centuries, shipwrights and boatbuilders have relied on half-models to visualize and perfect their designs. During this workshop, participants will carve their own half-hull model of a vessel of their choice. The cost is $600, with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

Led by Hilgartner, the Leatherworking Workshop on July 26-27 is designed to share the basics of leatherworking.

Participants will craft a leather tool sheath for a rigging knife and marlinspike, also known as a rig kit. The tools and skills required to create the sheath are perfect for beginning to build a foundational knowledge in leatherworking. The cost is $200, with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

On Aug. 8-10, CBMM’s Shipyard is proud to present Introduction to Decoy Carving with guest instructor Jeff Coats of Pitboss Waterfowl. Over the three days, participants will carve a contemporary flat bottom, hollow high-density cork body with a northern white cedar head, with the option to choose a black duck, green-winged teal, or canvasback. All supplies and materials are included in the registration fee, which is $450 with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

The Apprentice for a Day Program is also hosting a visit from Roger Barnes, who is President of the Dinghy Cruising Association, author of “The Dinghy Cruising Companion,” and star of a popular YouTube channel highlighting his adventures and vast sailing knowledge.

As part of his first North American tour, Barnes will share a lecture, titled “Escaping the Everyday,” followed by a Q-and-A and book signing, in the Van Lennep Auditorium on Saturday, June 21, at 4pm.

Registration is also open to learn how to trotline for crabs on the Miles River in a historic vessel on from 5-9am on Fridays in August and September.

Early risers will learn the history of crabbing on the Chesapeake Bay, its importance to the culture and economy, how the fishery has defined various traditional vessel forms, and how to bait, set, and work a trotline. It’s a chance to experience sunrise on the Miles River while collecting a day’s catch of crabs to take home. The cost is $60 per day, with a 20% discount for CBMM members.

And, there’s plenty more to explore daily in CBMM’s working Shipyard. Get the latest on all that’s happening in the Shipyard at Coffee & Wood Chips with Hilgartner on the first Friday of each month. This program is free for CBMM members and $10 for non-members. Learn more at cbmm.org/Shipyard.

 

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is excited to invite education personnel from across the Eastern Shore and beyond to celebrate the end of the school year at its third annual Education Professionals Gratitude Day on Friday, June 20, from 10am-2pm.

This is an opportunity for anyone involved in education – teachers, administrators, and support staff – to experience all that CBMM’s waterfront campus has to offer as a thank you for their impact on children in our communities through daily instruction, support, and leadership.

During the celebration, PK-12 education professionals and their families will enjoy free admission, plus a host of special activities designed to highlight CBMM’s mission, educational programming, and community partnerships.

Education Professionals Gratitude Day has quickly become an anticipated event on CBMM’s annual calendar. Last year, more than 50 educators and their families, including guests spanning the state of Maryland and from as far away as Texas and Maine, joined in the fun.

The festivities are open to all PK-12 public, private, and charter school personnel, including teachers, paraprofessionals, school and district administrators, and support staff providing maintenance, transportation, security, clerical, food and other services within schools.

This Your Museum, Your Community recognition initiative is made possible by the generous support of Easton Velocity, Mid-Atlantic Truck & Equipment, PNC Bank, Chaney Enterprises, Preston Automotive Group, PepUp, and Shore United Bank.

“We are excited to continue to grow Education Professionals Gratitude Day,” CBMM’s Vice President of Education & Interpretation Jill Ferris said. “This is a chance for us to honor a special group of people who make a difference in our communities with a day of fun and celebration while sharing more about the resources available to continue to support the important work that they do. We look forward to reconnecting with friends and making new ones on June 20!”

This edition of Education Professionals Gratitude Day features live music from duo Fresh Squeezed OJ, free frozen treats from Hoots Shaved Iced, a visit from the Phillips Wharf Fishmobile, story time with Talbot County Free Library, Touch a Truck with the St. Michaels Fire Department, giveaways including books from Appleseed Books, face painting and bubble stations, and a host of field trip-favorite, hands-on activities and demos with CBMM staff throughout the day.

In addition, the honored guests receive a 10% discount at the Museum Store and on CBMM memberships and savings on Narrated Historical Cruises aboard PATRIOT that day.

There is no need to RSVP to join in the fun. PK-12 education professionals can simply check in at the Welcome Center and enjoy their visit. For any questions or additional information, contact Ferris at [email protected].

Education has been key to CBMM’s mission across its 60-year history. Last year, the organization hosted more than 3,500 students, teachers, and chaperones for field trips from schools across the county, state, and region.

Talbot County Public School students in third, fifth, and seventh grade learn from CBMM staff through field trips and in-classroom experiences, and CBMM’s Rising Tide after-school program engages local middle school students with the opportunity to learn new skills and work with tools while exploring the history and environment of the Chesapeake region.

For more information on CBMM’s youth education programming, including Homeschool Workshops, Lighthouse Overnight Adventures, CBMM Summer Camp, and more, visit cbmm.org/youtheducation.