Reel Chesapeake

River Days Festival - Quiet Waters Park
2024-08-25 11:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
This summer the Anne Arundel County Executive’s Office will host five River Days festivals at different waterfront locations throughout the county. Each festival will feature fun activities for all ages, including water activities, environmental educators, boat rides, live music, food trucks, games, crafts, face painting, county agencies, and more.
Registration to the festivals is free and required for entry, as capacity is limited. Registration does not include boat ride tickets or kayak lessons, which are also free but must be reserved separately for a specific time slot. Registration for festival entry, and reservations for boat rides and kayak lessons will all open one month prior to each event date. Sign up here to be notified once registration is open for each event.
For questions and special accommodations requirements, please email riverdays@aacounty.org.
At Quiet Waters Park, 600 Quiet Waters Park Rd, Annapolis, MD 21403

2024 Maryland Rod & Reef Slam
2024-09-07 06:00 - 2024-09-15 15:00 | Philip Merrill Environmental Center, 6 Herndon Avenue, Annapolis, MD, 21403, United States
Sponsored by CBF, Chesapeake Oyster Alliance, and Coastal Conservation Association Maryland.
The Rod & Reef Slam fishing tournament is unlike any other. You don’t just win by catching the biggest fish. To celebrate the vast biodiversity oyster reefs support, prizes are instead awarded for how many different species you catch (and release). In the event of a tie, the winner will be determined by the size of fish caught. Anglers of all skill levels fish on a multitude of restored reef locations throughout Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and record their catches in the tournament app (a link to the app will be provided after registering). See our map of restored oyster reefs in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay and tributaries.
Fishing Tournament
Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 6:00 a.m.-Sunday, September 15, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Registration closes September 6, 2024. See the tournament registration page for entry fees, times, boundaries, divisions, and more.
NOTE: A Tournament Waiver must be completed for each angler, including youth participants, and submitted to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation prior to fishing. A link to complete the online waiver will be provided in your registration confirmation email. Any fish caught before the waiver is received will not be recognized and will therefore be ineligible to win prizes.
Awards and after-party will be held at CBF’s Philip Merrill Environmental Center in Annapolis, 12 to 3 p.m.
Click here to register and for full details.

River Days Festival - Fort Smallwood Park
2024-09-14 11:00 - 16:00
This summer the Anne Arundel County Executive’s Office will host five River Days festivals at different waterfront locations throughout the county. Each festival will feature fun activities for all ages, including water activities, environmental educators, boat rides, live music, food trucks, games, crafts, face painting, county agencies, and more.
Registration to the festivals is free and required for entry, as capacity is limited. Registration does not include boat ride tickets or kayak lessons, which are also free but must be reserved separately for a specific time slot. Registration for festival entry, and reservations for boat rides and kayak lessons will all open one month prior to each event date. Sign up here to be notified once registration is open for each event.
For questions and special accommodations requirements, please email riverdays@aacounty.org.
At Fort Smallwood Park, 9500 Fort Smallwood Rd, Pasadena, MD 21122

Maryland Seafood Festival
2024-09-14 11:00 - 2024-09-15 19:00 | Sandy Point State Park, 1100 E. College Parkway, Annapolis, MD, 21409, United States
The Maryland Seafood Festival returns to Sandy Point State Park on Saturday, September 14th, and Sunday, September 15th, 11 a.m . to 7 p.m. each day. Live music, kids activities, vendor village, food trucks, and plenty of seafood (steamed crabs, crab soup, oysters, and much, much more) round out the event!

Click here for full details, schedule, and tickets.

Rappahannock Riverfest
2024-09-21 12:00 - 19:00
It’s the party of the year to raise funds for Friends of the Rappahannock River. Enjoy a day of crab feasting, drinks, music, and more all to benefit the conservation work, programs, and education of FOR.
On the banks of the Rappahannock River in Downtown, Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Save the Date: This year’s Riverfest is September 21st. Tickets on sale July 15th.
Click here for full details.

World is Your Oyster Fest
2024-09-26 17:30 - 21:00
Get ready for an unforgettable shell-e-bration at the Bay’s biggest bivalve bash, World is Your Oyster Fest (WIYO)! Enjoy the finest local oysters, seafood, and handcrafted drinks. Learn to ‘Shuck Like a Pro, cheer for pros competing in the Tito’s Handmade Vodka Shucking Competition, and learn why oysters are the answer to Chesapeake Bay restoration. The celebration helps mark Oyster Recovery Partnership’s 30th anniversary and the Bay’s revival, the resurgence of its native oysters, and the incredible community that made it all possible. The party’s happening on Thursday, September 26th, at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore.
Click here for full details and to purchase tickets.

Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival
2024-10-04 10:00 - 2024-10-06 17:00 | Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, 213 N. Talbot Street, St. Michaels, MD, 21663, United States
The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s waterfront will be filled with unique watercraft and their passionate owners and builders at Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival XLI on Friday-Sunday, Oct. 4-6.
You’re invited to marvel at the craftsmanship and innovation showcased through these vessels alongside hundreds of small craft enthusiasts at one of the nation’s largest gatherings of its kind. Now in its 41st year, this family-friendly festival runs 10am-5pm all three days. Learn more about all the festivities planned at cbmm.org/MASCF.

Fall Fest at the Preserve
2024-10-05 15:00 - 19:00
Join Sultana Education Foundation for an old-fashioned harvest fest at Sultana’s new Lawrence Wetlands Preserve in Chestertown. Bring a blanket, bring the family, and spend a few hours surrounded by nature as you enjoy great music, food, friends, and drink. Did we mention there will be plenty to do for the kids?
Here’s some of what you can look forward to:

Live Bluegrass with Flatland Drive
Oysters on the Half Shell with the Kent County Waterman’s Association
Children’s Petting Zoo with Party Animals
Face Painting / Pumpkin Painting
Pumpkin Bocce (yes, this is real!)
Food Trucks
Regional Beer & Wine
Click here for full details.

Cox Creek Open House 2024
2024-10-19 08:00 - 14:00 | Cox Creek Dredged Material Containment Facility, 1000 Kembo Road, Curtis Bay, MD, 21226, United States
The Maryland Port Administration is pleased to offer the public the opportunity to explore Cox Creek, only accessible a few times a year, including during our Open House! Cox Creek is an active dredged material placement site that is undergoing expansion and the site also includes 126 acres of preserved wetlands.
The open house event will include birding walks, riding tours of the site, youth fishing, kids activities, exhibitors, and the opporutnity to learn about plans for the site, including nature trails and more.
Click here for full details.

58th Annual U.S. Oyster Festival
2024-10-19 08:00 - 2024-10-20 17:00
It’s possibly…probably…the largest two-day festival dedicated to everything oysters, plus live music, entertainment, activities, plenty of food and drink, shucking contests, and much more. At St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds.
Click here for full details.

Sultana Downrigging Weekend Festival
2024-11-01 07:00 - 2024-11-03 20:00 | Chestertown, Chestertown, MD, 21620, United States
The Sultana Education Foundation’s annual Downrigging Weekend Festival will return to the historic port of Chestertown, Maryland the weekend of November 1-3, 2024. Presented in partnership with Mastercard, the festival will feature one of the largest annual gatherings of wooden ships in North America, a full-throated Bluegrass festival, lectures, fireworks, exhibits, and more. This unique combination has earned Downrigging the reputation as one of the most distinctive waterfront festivals in America, attracting more than 10,000 visitors annually. Proceeds from the festival support Sultana’s environmental literacy programs as well as educational programs operated by the nonprofit ships participating in the festival.
Click here for complete details.

Wild & Scenic Film Festival
2025-03-04 18:30 - 21:00 | Maryland Hall, 801 Chase Street, Annapolis, MD, 21401, United States
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival is a one-of-a-kind fundraiser for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay where staff selects 10-15 short films for our audiences to enjoy. Films highlight topics related to nature, community activism, adventure, conservation, water, energy and climate change, wildlife, environmental justice, agriculture, Native American, and indigenous culture. Overall, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival is designed to inspire a love for nature and activate audiences to take action in their communities through film and art.
This year’s event will be held at the Bowen Theater at Maryland Hall in Annapolis, Maryland.
Click here for full details and to purchase tickets.

2025 Fly Fishing Film Tour
2025-03-19 19:30 - 22:00 | Arlington Cinema Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA, 22204, United States
The highly anticipated 19th Annual Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) is back and ready with a curated selection of the best fly fishing films from around the world. Anglers, outdoor enthusiasts, and adventure seekers are invited to join the tour as it visits cities nationwide, showcasing stunning cinematography, unforgettable stories, and the heart-pounding excitement of fly fishing.ms.
Click here to watch the official 2025 F3T Film Trailer!
Click here for tickets and more details.

Annapolis Oyster Roast & Sock Burning
2025-03-22 12:00 - 16:00 | Annapolis Maritime Museum, 723 Second Street, Annapolis, MD, 21403, United States
Join the Annapolis Maritime Museum for the best Spring party in town! The Annual Annapolis Oyster Roast & Sock Burning has roots that date back the late-1970s, when sailors, shipyard workers, and friends doffed their socks and burned them to celebrate the arrival of Spring! This year’s event features live music, plenty of libations, all-you-can-eat oysters, and more fun! Tickets on sale now.
Click here for full details and to purchase tickets.

Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival
2025-04-12 10:00 - 2025-04-13 16:00 | Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, 213 N. Talbot Street, St. Michaels, MD, 21663, United States
The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum hosts the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival April 12th and 13th.
A fun-filled tradition since 2011, the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival highlights artisans and craftspeople who come from near and far to exhibit and sell coastal and sea-glass related jewelry, home décor, art, and more.
During the festival, additional free event parking will be available at St. Michaels Middle/High School, with a complimentary shuttle service to and from CBMM running both days.
For safety reasons, non-service dogs need to be kept home during CBMM festivals, including the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival. Carry-on alcohol from dock or land is prohibited.

38th Antique & Classic Boat Festival and Coastal Arts Fair
2026-06-19 10:00 - 2026-06-21 15:00 | Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, 213 N. Talbot Street, St. Michaels, MD, 21663, United States
Wooden and fiberglass classics, vintage racers, and other antique boats return to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum from June 19-21 for the 38th Antique & Classic Boat Festival and Coastal Arts Fair.
Hosted by the Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society, this Father’s Day weekend tradition is one of the largest classic boat shows in the Mid-Atlantic region and annually brings a sense of nostalgia to the Miles River and CBMM’s waterfront campus.
In addition to the wide range of vessels on display representing a multitude of makers and eras, the Antique & Classic Boat Festival is accompanied by a juried Coastal Arts Fair showcasing vendors whose products, services, and art represent boats, the water, and coastal life.
Guests can purchase their two-day tickets for Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday online now or at the door. No single-day tickets will be sold to this rain or shine event.
For safety reasons, non-service dogs need to be kept home during CBMM festivals, including the Antique & Classic Boat Festival and Coastal Arts Fair. Carry-on alcohol from dock or land is prohibited.
Click here for full details.

Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival
2026-09-19 10:00 - 2026-09-20 22:00 | Sandy Point State Park, 1100 E. College Parkway, Annapolis, MD, 21409, United States
Annapolis Baygrass Music Festival held at Sandy Point State Park blends the finest progressive bluegrass music with a gorgeous beachfront venue and a core mission to protect and restore the Bay. You’ll enjoy top touring bands on 2 stages over 2 days, delicious local food, microbrews, wines, craft cocktails/mocktails, workshops, craft vendors, and fun activities for all ages.
This year’s music lineup includes: Little Feat, Yonder Mountain String Band, Bela Fleck, Sam Bush, Mountain Grass Unit, Tophouse, Shadowgrass, and many more!
Artists-at-Large: TBD
Click here for full details and to purchase tickets.

Oysters, Blues & Brews Festival
2026-10-03 12:00 - 19:30 | Port Covington Marina, 321 E. Cromwell St., Baltimore, MD, 21230, United States
Join the festival at Port Covington Marina, located within the stunning Baltimore Peninsula, to enjoy oysters and other great seafood from the Chesapeake, sip on a cold beer, shop with local vendors, dance to live music, and enjoy family-friendly activities, including arts and crafts. Don’t miss the free family and youth fishing opportunities and a shoreline clean-up!
Click here for full details.

OysterFest at CBMM
2026-11-07 10:00 - 16:00 | Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, 213 N. Talbot Street, St. Michaels, MD, 21663, United States
The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum will celebrate the Bay’s favorite bivalve at OysterFest on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 10am-4pm.
CBMM’s OysterFest features oysters served a variety of ways, along with other local fare, craft beer, and spirits, plus live music on two stages, an oyster stew competition, a full schedule of demonstrations and presentations, children’s activities, and more.
Guests can savor Chesapeake Bay oysters, with both raw and cooked options available, from the Talbot Watermen Association and other local oyster farms.
There will also be a variety of Chesapeake delicacies and other food offerings via local vendors available for purchase, plus a beverage selection that includes specialty cocktails and an array of local craft beer options.
Click here for full details.

Waterfowl Festival
2026-11-13 08:00 - 2026-11-15 17:00 | Easton, Easton, MD, United States
For three days every November, between 18,000 and 20,000 visitors descend on the town of Easton, Maryland, and discover the best of local wildlife, nature, art, heritage, food, and fun at the Waterfowl Festival. While strolling along the lovely streets of Easton, visitors can discover the town and a tradition that has been going strong for generations. Plenty of artwork, crafts, and waterfowl decoys for sale. Live demonstrations, kids activities, dock dogs contest, waterfowl calling championship, and food and drink vendors.
Click here for full details.
