Don’t miss this free, self-guided tour with the opportunity to meet over 30 artists in their own studios.  You’ll be able to observe them working in a broad range of media including painting, photography, printmaking, jewelry, pottery, glass, metal, wood, and fiber. Start at the Chestertown RiverArts Gallery at 343 High Street in Chestertown, MD, pick up a brochure that includes a map to guide you to each studio. In addition, be sure to peek in the windows of many downtown locations, where you will find some of their works  on display.

RiverArts would like to welcome Mary Faulkner to the Tour this year. She has sold her work at the Chestertown Farmer’s market for the past 4 years, where she is known for her jewelry and sculptures.  She majored in Art Therapy in college and went on to a career working in graphic art. Lately she has picked up her brushes, inspired by the local scenery and beaches she has begun to paint again.  She has an adorable Art Studio called Falling Branches in an idyllic setting in Tolchester, be sure to visit.

The Skipjack Art Studios located at 329 Cannon Street houses a wonderful collection of artists. Upon entering through the blue doors in the alleyway, your senses will first be greeted by the wonderful smells of the cinnamon buns and fresh croissants made daily by culinary artist Charles Bennett owner of Brian’s Best Pastries. Looking around you’ll be captivated by the wildlife and water scenes depicted in the photos displayed by owner, Thomas Dietz. Ask him about his award winning

photos.

Staying on the first floor visit Dream Castle Quilt Studio, owner and Art Quilter Betty Tucker Dietz creates everything from masterful full size quilts to artful wall hangings.

She is joined this year by Master Knitter Sue Wright and Weaver Lesley Campana who will have many of their works on display. All three fiber artists are experienced teachers and offer classes, they will be providing daily demonstrations making this your best place to learn more about the world of fiber Art.   Don’t miss the stairway to the second floor where you will be delighted to find another one of our local Artists, Ted Ramsey. He works in ink, watercolors, graphite, alabaster, acrylics, and oils and describes his work as tending toward Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism.

You can find more information about the Studio Tour and Tour Artists at our website, www.ctownra.org.

The Working Artist Forum (WAF) is excited to participate in the 2025  Waterfowl Festival, taking place in Easton on November 13-16. WAF members will  showcase and sell their original artworks, created in various media, at the Christ Church  Fellowship Hall located at 111 S. Harrison Street. 

The WAF works will first be featured on Premier Night, the ticketed VIP event on Thursday  November 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. The official Waterfowl Festival will run from 10 a.m. to 5  p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.  

The forty Working Artist Forum members listed below will be showcasing their work, many  depicting various aspects of the natural and cultural life on the Eastern Shore. This curated  collection highlights the talented artists’ diverse perspectives and deep connection to the  region’s heritage and environment. 

2025 WAF Waterfowl Artists  

Jane Anderson, Fern Loos Beu, Mona Birmingham, Pamela Chase, Ken Clark, Carol Cohee,  Lynne Davis, Nancy Lee Davis. Caryl Ersenkal, Nancy Fine, Donna Finley, Mary Ford, Doris  Glovier, Shirley Hale, Patti Lucas Hopkins, Betty Huang, Carla Huber, Laura Leigh  Kapolchok, Jane Knighton, Kathy Kopec, Marianne Kost, Pat Lang, Maryellyn Lynott, Mary  Ellen Mabe, Carol McClees, Carol Meers, Diane Dubois Mullaly, Russell Reno, Maggii  Sarfaty, Stacey Sass, Scott Sullivan, Nancy Thomas, Georgette Toews, Stephen Walker.  Sharon Waters, Barbara Watson, Judith Stevens Weaver, Maureen Wheatley, Lori Yates,  Barbara Zuehlke. 

For more information, visit https://waterfowlfestival.org/art-galleries/ church/ or contact  the exhibition chairs:  

• Lynne Davis at [email protected] 
• Sharon Waters at [email protected] 
• Kathy Harvey at [email protected] 

Join us to celebrate the creativity and talent of our local artists at this renowned event.

On Saturday, October 18, The Mainstay is excited to welcome back the extraordinary jazz pianist Dick Durham. Durham, one of The Mainstay’s most requested performers, is an annual visitor to the 28-year old non-profit music venue. Dick will be joined onstage by Max Murray on upright bass and Greg Burrows on drums.

Dick recalls his early choices to pursue his passion for the piano that led to impressive acclamations from audiences, fellow musicians, and music critics. Dick was encouraged to follow his passion for the piano during his college years and boldly veered from the paths his cardiologist father and playwright mother had pursued.

After his discharge from military service, Durham put a trio together and started playing jazz clubs, most memorably as the opening act for the Count Basie Orchestra. He has had the privilege of sharing a bill with Stanley Turrentine, Grover Washington Jr., Billy Cobham, Stef Scaggiari and many others. Dick credits jazz pianists Errol Garner, Oscar Peterson, and Teddy Wilson as his major influences.

His compositions have earned him two separate Maryland Governor’s Citations for excellence in the performing arts, and his jazz variations on the scores of musicals like “West Side Story” have earned standing ovations.

Dick wrote two musicals, both performed at Church Hill Theatre (and one in NYC). Now retired, he lives sanely and serenely on his farm near Church Hill with his wife Bets.

Showtime for the live concert event is 8 pm. Tickets are $20 in advance of the show and can be purchased online at mainstayrockhall.org. Phone reservations are accepted by calling (410) 639-9133 (tickets reserved by phone are $25 when paid at the door). The Mainstay is located at 5753 N Main Street in Rock Hall, Maryland. Its regular calendar of local, regional, and nationally touring artists features a live performance every week of the year (February through December) in a variety of music genres.

The programs and presentations of The Mainstay are supported in part with funds from the Maryland State Arts Council and The Kent Cultural Alliance.

For more about The Mainstay, go here.

Join the talented string trio Vandalia for an immersive Old-Time music workshop on Saturday, November 8th at Allegro Academy. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned player, this hands-on session will help you deepen your understanding of the singular groove unique to Old-Time music. With Dakota Karper on fiddle, Ellen Gira on cello and Gabriel Furtado on guitar, Vandalia will guide you through essentials of Old-Time tunes. The workshop begins with small breakout groups, working with one of Vandalia’s musicians on melody and backing. As the workshop progresses, we’ll come together to play as an ensemble and experience the magic of group music-making! This is also a rare opportunity for cellists to learn authentic trad backing and bowing from one of the best in the business. Whether you’re playing fiddle, banjo, guitar, or another instrument, everyone is welcome!

Vandalia is dedicated to exploring the depth and breadth of American String-band music. Informed by tradition, but not chained to it, the group has found a niche inside of the old-time community as well as in the wider arts world that offers audiences a forward-looking take on traditional acoustic music. Formed from a chance encounter at the 2024 Baltimore Old-Time Festival, fiddler Dakota Karper, cellist Ellen Gira and guitarist Gabriel Furtado met in a late-night afterparty jam session. Together the trio creates a version of string-band music you can tap your foot to, or get lost in the details of the melodies. Weaving intricate fiddle and cello lines, gorgeous vocal harmonies, subtle guitar textures and exhilarating rhythmic drive, the pleasure these three musicians have creating and playing together is palpable, both in the studio and on the concert stage. More about this band at can be found at www.vandaliaband.com. 

The Old-Time music workshop will take place at Allegro Academy, 114 North Washington Street, Easton, on November 8, 1-3pm.  A donation of $20-$50 per person is suggested.  To register, please email [email protected] or call 410-603-8361. 

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Allegro Academy, a non-profit music conservatory located in downtown Easton, connects musicians through workshops, lessons, ensembles, and performances, and aspires to enrich the lives of music enthusiasts of all ages and incomes in our community. Academy Programs are supported in part by generous contributions from individuals, Talbot Arts, the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, and the Maryland State Arts Council.

Tred Avon Players (TAP), a community theater serving Maryland’s Eastern Shore since 1982, is excited to announce leadership updates, including the appointment of Sammie Adams-Mercer as part-time Executive Director and the election of new board officers.

Adams-Mercer has been involved with TAP for the past three seasons, serving as board treasurer and as volunteer coordinator, essential roles for a nonprofit organization. In her new role as Executive Director, she will provide leadership and strategic oversight across TAP’s operations, productions, and programming, working closely with the board to ensure smooth execution and long-term growth. Her focus will be on creating continuity from show to show, strengthening volunteer engagement, and building the systems and partnerships that support TAP’s sustainability and success.

“I’m honored to take on this role at an organization that means so much to me and our community,” said executive director Sammie Adams-Mercer. “TAP has always been about more than theater — it’s about bringing people together. I look forward to collaborating with the board, supporting our volunteers and directors, building partnerships, and putting the systems in place that will help TAP thrive for years to come.”

In addition, the TAP board elected officers at its September meeting:

• Alison Lynch, President (succeeding Melissa Barcomb-Doyle)
• Angel Perez, Vice President (succeeding Alison Lynch)
• Joe Tyler, Treasurer (succeeding Sammie Adams-Mercer)
• Brian McGunigle, Secretary (continuing in his role)

“We are grateful to Melissa (Missy) and Sammie for their leadership in their previous officer roles,” said board president Alison Lynch. “With Sammie as Executive Director and our new officer team in place, TAP is well positioned to build on more than four decades of creating dynamic theater and meaningful experiences for the community.”

About Tred Avon Players
Founded in 1982, the Tred Avon Players is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to enrich, educate and entertain its community by providing high-quality live theater. Hundreds of local performers, stagehands, audience members and donors have been the backbone of its success throughout the decades. To get involved, explore upcoming shows, or support TAP’s mission, visit www.tredavonplayers.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Beloved Renaissance and folk music ensemble Ayreheart will pay a return visit to Chestertown, kicking off the 2025-2026 Resonance concert series on Sunday, October 26 at 3:00 pm in the Parish Hall at St. Paul’s, Kent. 

Founded by Grammy-nominated lutenist/composer Ronn McFarlane, Ayreheart presents Renaissance music from the time of Shakespeare alongside traditional folk and original music performed by lute, vocals, colascione (a kind of bass lute), violin, guitar, and percussion. 

“Ayreheart was an audience favorite when they performed here in 2019,” said National Music Festival Artistic Director Richard Rosenberg. “We’re thrilled that they’re returning to Chestertown to open our concert season.”

Fusing Renaissance Music With Today

The program will include music of Renaissance composers John Dowland and William Byrd alongside anonymous ballad tunes and folk songs from Renaissance England, Scotland, and Wales. The program will explore the parallels between high art music and traditional folk music of the time. 

“I want 21st century listeners to hear the lute as a vibrant, modern musical instrument, able to reach their hearts and their feet, too,” said McFarlane. “Some think of the lute as an ancient instrument, fit only for the museum. But hearing the lute playing live music – both new and old – will change their minds.”

Critics have applauded Ayreheart’s unique approach. Metronome Magazine wrote, “It’s elegant storytelling that exercises your imagination and coats your senses with wonderment.” Jeremy Reynolds wrote, “Far from being outdated, Ayreheart drives the music at a light, dancing pace, constantly stepping just ahead of expectations to delight and entertain.” 

Ensemble Members

Lutenist McFarlane founded Ayreheart in 2010. He is also a founding member of the Baltimore Consort, has toured 49 of the 50 United States, Canada, England, Scotland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, and has served as a guest artist with The Folger Consort and Houston Grand Opera, among others.

He will be accompanied by vocalist/guitarist Heather Aubrey Lloyd, bass, violin and colascione player Willard Morris, and percussionist Mattias Rucht.

Resonance Concert Series Season

The Resonance Concert Series brings five high-quality, intimate performances to Chestertown each year, October through April. Resonance concerts take place on Sundays at 3:00 pm in the Parish Hall at St. Paul’s, Kent. The National Music Festival is grateful to St. Paul’s for the use of this beautiful space. In the colder months, a fire in fireplace makes for a cozy atmosphere to enjoy great music.

The lineup of artists for the 2025-2026 season includes:

October 26, 2025: Ayreheart

November 16, 2025: Francesca Anderegg, violin & Joy Cline Phinney, piano

February 22, 2026: Matchstick Percussion

March 15, 2026: Jennifer Parker-Harley, flute & Camilo Carrara, guitar

April 12, 2026: Manuel Barrueco, guitar

Tickets for Ayreheart’s performance are $25 for adults and $5 for students with ID and children ages 5 to 14. Individual Resonance concert tickets may be purchased online at https://nationalmusic.us/calendar/. Tickets may also be purchased at St. Paul’s, beginning one hour prior to the concert.

Season Passes Now on Sale

Resonance Passes and 2025-2026 National Music Festival Combo Passes are on sale now at nationalmusic.us. Combo Passes include all Resonance concerts this season as well as admission to the many ticketed performances during the 2026 National Music Festival, May 31 – June 13, 2026.

Please take advantage of our new Single Sign-On (SSO) feature, an easier login method which will simplify your login experience to purchase tickets, receive ticket QR codes, make donations, and more. This new feature will allow you to log into your NMF account using your existing Google and Amazon credentials. Just log into: https://nationalmusic.us/my-account/.

The National Music Festival is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org), Kent Cultural Alliance (kentculture.org), Mid-Shore Community Foundation (mscf.org), The Peoples Bank (pbkc.com), and by tax-deductible contributions from music lovers. For more information about the Festival, visit the website at nationalmusic.us or contact [email protected] or (443)480-0221.

The Botanical Art League of the Eastern Shore  is exhibiting paintings and drawings in an exhibit ‘Garden Companions’ at the Talbot County Library. The exhibit opened on October 1 and runs until October 30 during regular library  hours. Using mediums of watercolor, colored pencil, graphite and ink, members have paired vegetables and flowers in our gardens that are beneficial to each other’s growth and health.The exhibit will move to the Queen Anne Center for the Arts in Centreville for the month  of November.

Companion planting is a gardening technique where different plants are grown together to benefit one another, whether through improved growth, pest control, enhanced flavor or all of these.  For example, planting marigolds alongside vegetables like tomatoes can help deter harmful insects, while basil, when planted near tomatoes, is believed to improve the flavor of the fruit and repel pests like aphids.

The benefits and modern relevance of companion gardening undoubtedly continue to exist:

Pollination – Companion plants can attract pollinators, improving crop yields.

Pest Control – Some companion plants deter pests; others attract beneficial insects that control other pests.

Weed Suppression – Companion plants help suppress weeds by creating shade.

Nutrient Enhancement – Some plants, like beans and clover, are nitrogen fixers, enriching the soil for other plants.

Soil Health – By reducing erosion, conserving moisture, and adding nutrients, companion plants can improve the soil.

Space Optimization – No matter how large or how small your garden, companion planting allows for better use of garden space.

Sustainable Agriculture – By reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and other external inputs, companion planting can help protect the ecosystem of your garden.

Chesapeake Film Festival returns this October, transforming downtown Easton into a destination for film enthusiasts for its 18th season.  The festival’s unique cinema programming is also attracting VIP attendees to its extraordinary lineup of shorts, documentaries, student films, and international features.  Celebrated artists and film industry leaders attending include Baltimore native Vincent De Paul – two-time Emmy winner, director, actor and producer; John O’Hurley – actor and comedian well known for his portrayal of J. Peterman in the TV series Seinfeld; and Rebekah Louisa Smith, whose company The Film Festival Doctor transforms the lives of independent filmmakers by helping them navigate the global film festival circuit. 

Chesapeake Film Festival is hosting film screenings in iconic Easton venues, including the Ebenezer Theater, the Academy Art Museum, and the Talbot County Free Library from Oct 10 to 12. Audiences will enjoy screenings, filmmaker introductions, and live Q&As throughout the weekend.  Check the festival website for times, venues and film details.  Daily highlights include:

Day One – Friday, October 10

• The Chesapeake Film Festival (“CFF”) 2025  Opening Film, Loving Vincent, the world’s first animated fully painted feature film.  The Oscar-nominated selection was created by a team of 125 artists from around the world – Friday, Oct 10 at 12 Noon – Ebenezer Theater..
• VIP Reception  — Tides and Talent, 5:30 – 7:00PM – Ebenezer Theater
• Environmental Night – Featuring three exciting films & environmental advocate panel discussion, Ebenezer Theater – 7:30PM

 

Day Two — Saturday, October 11 

• Live Podcast with Actors and Filmmakers at the  Talbot County Free Library at 10:30AM.
  Join producer/director Kimberly Skyrme and Rose Rosen, hosts of Casting Confidential, for a dynamic live podcast with John O’Hurley, award-winning actor, host, Broadway star, and Seinfeld’s iconic “J. Peterman.” He will discuss his comedy pilot Now What? and upcoming adventure film Ring of Kibo. Both Now What and a sneak preview of Ring of Kibo will screen later that day at the Ebenezer Theater.
• High Voltage Shorts follow the breakfast, introduced by local filmmaker and producer Monda Raquel Webb.  This electrifying block of selected short films are followed by a Q&A moderated by Cedric Hill, celebrated writer, director and producer at the Academy Art Museum.
• An additional block of short films — Stories of Love and Passion will be hosted by Amber Monet, award-winning director, editor and producer.  This curated collection of shorts explores family ties, resilience, and connection at the Ebenezer Theater.
• Future filmmakers will be spotlighted in a collection of Student Shorts: Next-Gen Storytelling.  introduced by the Festival’s own Zane Jacquot, an active member of the programming and selection committee.  Jacquot will also moderate the following Q&A at the Academy Art Museum.
• Documentaries will be celebrated in two blocks, hosted by CFF’s grant writer and development committee member, Tim Smith.  Beauty Through Art – Dignity Honored, includes compelling films that explore important social issues at the Talbot County Free Library.  Rhythm, Motion, and Meaning  explores the challenges of performing artists and  is followed by a Q &A moderated by Kimberly Skyrme,, a CFF board member and veteran casting director and producer – Academy Art Museum.
• Day Two also features a block of environmental films — Water, Wildlife, and the Will to Act – hosted by CFF President and award-winning filmmaker, Irene Magafan.  The films are followed by a Q&A with Maggie Stogner and Dave Harp, acclaimed regional environmental filmmakers at the Talbot County Free Library.
• Saturday concludes with the theme Truth on Trial with the screening of Anatomy of a Fall which won Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or in 2023.  CFF’s artistic and executive director introduces the provocative selection at the Ebenezer Theater at 6:15PM.

Day Three — Sunday, October 12 

• The festival continues to celebrate an additional block of short films on Day Three with From Giggles to Goosebumps.   CFF board member Monda Raquel Webb returns to introduce this lively mix of films and to lead a filmmaker Q&A at the Ebenezer Theater.
• One Fragile Bond is the festival theme given to the Maryland Premiere of Strangers, CFF’s narrative feature and filmmaker Harold Jackson III’s intimate portrait of marriage.  The film is introduced by producer, writer and director Ted Adams III and is followed by a Q&A with Jackson at the Ebenezer Theater.
• Festival Artistic & Executive Director Cid Collins Walker introduces CFF’s closing film Holding Liat.  The director, Brandon Kramer is a Washington, DC-based filmmaker  recognized for telling personal stories about complex social issues.  This new 2025 film is a moving documentary about one family’s fight for their kidnapped loved one and the future of their homes. Ebenezer Theater, Sunday, Oct 12 at 4:15PM.

Chesapeake Film Festival invites you to join this celebrated Eastern Shore Cultural Tradition

With programs spanning love, resilience, the environment, and global justice, the 2025 Chesapeake Film Festival offers something for everyone. Tickets are still available for the popular VIP Reception from 5:30 -7:00 pm, on Friday, October 10– the festival’s opening night.  All-access pass ticket holders are VIPs and will have the opportunity to meet filmmakers, enjoy local cuisine and celebrate opening night in style.  All-Access Passes are available at www.chesapeakefilmfestival.com. In addition to the VIP opening event, the pass includes admission to all films, speakers and panels throughout the three-day film festival.

We extend heartfelt thanks to our generous sponsors, partners, and patrons for making this event possible.

For tickets and full schedule, visit ChesapeakeFilmFestival.com.

Church Hill Theatre is delighted to offer its production of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express from October 17 to November 2.  Unexpected roof repairs delayed the original opening scheduled for September 12. 

The stage play is an adaptation by the hilarious American playwright Ken Ludwig, who was asked to take on the project by the Christie estate. Director Kat Melton will propel her cast on a vintage steam locomotive through the snowy alps. Her use of sound, lights and projections will have you on the edge of your seat as Hercule Poirot uses his “little grey cells” to solve yet another mysterious death!    

Even if you have read the book a dozen times, the plot remains a real tease, as almost every passenger has a reason to murder the odious American businessman, Samuel Ratchett. Hercule Poirot’s interviews soon uncover connections to a past kidnapping case and other secrets.  Passengers include titled Europeans, several Americans, and many with hidden identities. Melton has made room for several smaller parts that enrich the plot and the production. These other passengers, the ensemble, help move along the action—and the scenery. The clues mount up, but is anyone telling the truth? Bien sûr, Poirot will of course prevail!

The strong production team is especially proud of the set and effects that really bring a steam locomotive and luxury passenger cars onto the stage. Almost all of our original cast members adjusted their schedules to catch this train but a few understudy substitutions of equally talented actors have been required. The entire cast and crew know this could be your “favorite-ever” show. It runs from October 17 to November 2, with shows at 7:30 on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 pm on Sundays. Tickets are available now online at https://www.churchhilltheatre.org/shows/tickets/ or by calling the box office at 410-556-6003.  If you had tickets for the original September show, you should already have been contacted by the box office to arrange new dates.  If there is any confusion, please call the office.

Church Hill Theatre would like to express its grateful thanks to all of the friends and patrons who supported us during the repair process. Your kind words and financial generosity have been heartwarming.  THE SHOW WILL GO ON!!!