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The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum hosts Watermen’s Appreciation Day on Sunday, Aug. 9, featuring a workboat docking contest, steamed crabs by the dozen, live music, and more family fun. (Photo by Sharon Thorpe)
ST. MICHAELS, MD – The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is proud to highlight the Eastern Shore’s unique culture and community at Watermen’s Appreciation Day on Sunday, Aug. 9, from 10am-4pm.
Held in partnership with the Talbot Watermen Association (TWA) since 2010, this beloved summer tradition honors the hardworking men and women who bring the Bay’s bounty to our tables. The festivities include a thrilling workboat docking competition with the Chesapeake Cowboys, steamed crabs by the dozen and more local delicacies, live music, a silent auction, children’s activities, and more fun for the whole family.
Tickets are on sale now here, with discounted pricing for CBMM members. All guests save $2 per ticket by purchasing in advance online.
“Watermen’s Appreciation Day is one of our favorite days of the year,” TWA President Jeff Harrison said. “It’s a chance to share who we are and what we do, thank everyone who supports us, and celebrate together.”
The Watermen’s Appreciation Day menu is highlighted by steamed crabs sold at $25 per dozen with an ear of corn included. (Photo by Sharon Thorpe)
The Watermen’s Rodeo is a must-see highlight of Watermen’s Appreciation Day. Beginning at noon, guests are invited to line CBMM’s Miles River waterfront to cheer on the Chesapeake Cowboys as they put their skills to the test, expertly maneuvering deadrise workboats into assigned slips during a thrilling timed competition.
Spectators can catch the action from bleacher seating or the deck of the iconic Hooper Strait Lighthouse or watch a livestream from the air-conditioned comfort of the Van Lennep Auditorium.
Beginning at 11am, guests can enjoy hot, fresh steamed crabs served by local watermen, available for $25 per dozen with an ear of corn included. The TWA will also offer additional fare, including hot dogs, hamburgers, and ice cream, and local food trucks will be on site serving a variety of Eastern Shore specialties.
To complement the crab feast, guests can enjoy a selection of beverages, with beer trucks serving domestic brews and local craft favorites and the Cocktails by the Bay beverage cart offering refreshing crushes throughout the day.
Eastern Shore legends Bird Dog and the Road Kings will provide the celebration’s soundtrack from the historic Tolchester Beach Bandstand. Guests can also browse local arts and crafts vendors throughout campus and bid on items in a silent auction benefiting the TWA in the Small Boat Shed.
Children can experience what it’s like to work the water through a variety of hands-on activities. (Photo by Sharon Thorpe)
Children can experience what it’s like to work the water through a variety of hands-on activities, including a junior watermen crab race, baiting contest, jigger throw, and more. Families can also enjoy additional fun with inflatables on Fogg’s Landing, sponsored by Signature Lawn & Landscape, along with balloon art, sand art, and face painting from Clownin’ Around KI.
Beyond the festivities, guests are encouraged to explore CBMM’s 18-acre waterfront campus, including the Waterman’s Wharf exhibition, where they can pull up a crab pot, tong for oysters, and try other tools used by Chesapeake watermen. Don’t miss the just-opened Stories from the Shoreline exhibition, which explores the Chesapeake through the voices, traditions, and experiences of the people who call it home.
Guests looking to get out on the Miles River can join Patriot Cruises for Narrated Historical Cruises at 12:30pm and 2:30pm. Combo tickets that include festival admission and a PATRIOT cruise are available through the ticketing portal at visit.cbmm.org.
Watermen’s Appreciation Day tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door.
For online sales, festival 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. The cost is $2 more for all tickets for in-person sales.
CBMM members receive discounted pricing for this annual festival and others throughout the year. Adult member tickets purchased online are $10, and all children of members (17-and-younger) receive free admission. To support CBMM’s mission as a member and discover all the terrific benefits of membership, visit cbmm.org/memberships or contact Membership Services Coordinator Debbie Ruzicka at 410-745-4991 or druzicka@cbmm.org.
All licensed watermen and their immediate families receive free festival admission by showing an active license at the door.
All food and beverages are an additional charge for all guests.
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.
For safety reasons, non-service dogs must be kept at home during CBMM festivals, including Watermen’s Appreciation Day. Carry-on alcohol from dock or land is also prohibited. Spectator boats wishing to view the boat docking competition from the water must remain outside the buoyed channel.
Learn more about CBMM’s full slate of upcoming events, including the final Chesapeake Celebration of the summer (Saturday, Aug. 15) and the annual Charity Boat Auction (Saturday, Sept. 5), at cbmm.org.
