Photo courtesy of Chestertownteaparty.com
The Chestertown Tea Party Festival celebrates colonial resistance to British rule with historical happenings all weekend.br
Annual Chestertown Tea Party Festival, High Street, Chestertown, MD, 21620, Friday, May 22nd through Monday, May 25th, (Friday festivities start at 5:30 p.m., Saturday 6:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday Memorial Day Parade at 10 a.m.), Most events are free.
In response to British Parliament’s closing of the port of Boston, the citizens of Chestertown, Maryland met in May of 1774 and set forth “Resolves” forbidding importing, selling, or consuming tea in Chestertown. According to local legend, residents then gathered at the town center, marched down High Street to the igantine Geddes, which was anchored in the Chester River, and tossed her cargo of tea overboard. The annual reenactment of that event is the centerpiece of the Chestertown Tea Party Festival. All Festival events take place along the Chester River and in the historic district of 18th-century Chestertown, Maryland.
The festival is chockfull of all sorts of fascinating events. Here are some highlights…
Photo courtesy of Chestertownteaparty.com
Friday, May 22nd 6-9 p.m. Kick-off Cele ation Block Party with food, fun, children’s games, magician, and music on the Main Stage at High Street and Lawyers Row.
Join festival-goers on High Street to cheer the passing of colonial militia, marching bands, costume-garbed children and more in the Colonial Parade on Saturday, May 23rd at 9:30 a.m.
Walking Tours of the historic district are offered for $8. Tours are conducted by trained docents who are residents of Kent County.
Play chess with Benjamin Franklin and find treasures during the Children's History Hunt on Saturday!
Get crafty during Kid SPOT at Chestertown River Arts Saturday the 23rd 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Colonial Crafts include wig-making and pinner making. There will be many handcrafted Colonial goods for purchase at the Festival and you can also see live demonstrations of how those items are made.
The Main Event – The TEA PARTY RE-ENACTMENT starts at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Schooner Sultana Public Sail 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Reservations required by calling 410-778-5954 for $30 per person. Boat launches from the town dock at the foot of Cannon Street.
For adults… The Wine Village serves all kinds of libations including Spiced Punch and Craft Beer.
Sultana Sails and Walking Tours of Historic Chestertown continue on Sunday with other fun events including the Raft Race!
Photo courtesy of Chestertownteaparty.com
On Monday there will be a Memorial Day Parade at 10 a.m.
Admission to the festival is free but purchases of Toss the Tory ballots are appreciated. Proceeds help fund children’s educational programming and one ballot buyer will win a valuable prize. Proceeds will benefit the Kent County High School PTSA. For more information visit Chestertownteaparty.com.
The Annapolis Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday, May 25th at 10 a.m. The parade follows the traditional route on West Street, goes around Church Circle, down Main Street, and ends at City Dock. Immediately following the parade will be the annual wreath laying ceremony at Susan Campbell Park. This ceremony is open to the public and all are welcome. “This is an opportunity to pay our respect to the men and woman who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” Mayor Pantelides said. “It is important that we take time out of our busy schedules to honor the memories of these defenders of freedom.”
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