Photo courtesy sail250md.org
Sail250® Maryland & Air Show Baltimore presented by Northrop Grumman Announces Calls for Food Competitions; DEADLINE to enter is April 20, 2026
WHAT: Applications are now being accepted for festival food competitions for Sail250® Maryland & Air Show Baltimore 2026 presented by Northrop Grumman. The larger event will take place in Baltimore City and Baltimore County this summer with an exciting line-up of ship tours, festivals, airshow and flyovers as well as STEM and Living History educational activities, June 24-30, 2026 at the Inner Harbor, Fells Point, Baltimore Peninsula and Martin State Airport.
Sail250® Maryland & Air Show Baltimore will feature three festivals, coordinated by Sail Baltimore, taking place June 26-28, at the Inner Harbor, Fells Point and Baltimore Peninsula. They are seeking entrants for the following food-related cook-off/competitions:
- Sail250 Crab Soup Cook-off is open to all professional chefs working at a Maryland restaurant, bar, tavern, caterer or hotel who would like to enter their best interpretation of Crab Soup, whether it's Maryland-style, Cream of Crab, Half-and-Half or another interpretation altogether. One entry per contestant. Sail250 will make a $250 donation to the winning Chef's favorite veteran-focused charity. (June 26, 12-1:30 p.m. Inner Harbor Festival, $25 entry fee)
- Sail250 Crab Soup Cook-off, Home Cooks Edition is open to all non-professional home cooks who live in Maryland who would like to enter their best interpretation of Crab Soup, whether it's Maryland-style, Cream of Crab, Half-and-Half or another interpretation altogether. One entry per contestant. Prizes are as follows: 1st Place Prize-$250, 2nd Place Prize- $100 and 3rd Place Prize-$50. (June 28, 11 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Inner Harbor Festival, free to enter)
- Baltimore’s Big Apple Pie Bake-off is open to all bakers who live or work in Maryland who would like to present their best interpretation of that all-American classic, Apple Pie. One entry per contestant. Prizes are as follows: 1st Place Prize- $250, 2nd Place Prize- $100 and 3rd Place Prize- $50. (June 28, 2-3 p.m. Fell’s Point Festival, free to enter)
WHEN: Applications accepted NOW through Monday, April 20
LINK: The direct link can be found here: sail250md.org.
SAIL250® INFO: SAIL250® Maryland & Airshow Baltimore presented by Northrop Grumman will bring sailors and aviators from around the world together in the universal fellowship of freedom, camaraderie, and spirit of international cooperation that has long been a hallmark of maritime tradition, to participate in a grand celebration of the United States of America’s 250th Anniversary. United States and international naval vessels, United States Coast Guard ships, a fleet of international tall ships, sea service and other historic sailing vessels will be in port and open for free public tours during the event at various locations in and around the city. The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Team, The Blue Angels, will be the stars of the Baltimore Airshow over Baltimore Harbor visible from Baltimore Peninsula, Canton Waterfront Park, and other areas around the harbor. In addition, there will be flyovers and other aviation demonstrations taking place at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
As our nation celebrates its 250th birthday, the commemoration event will come alive across Baltimore with vibrant festivals at the Inner Harbor, Fells Point, the Baltimore Peninsula, and Martin State Airport, showcasing local food, beverages, live music, family-friendly fun, and maritime-themed vendors. The Inner Harbor Festival will spotlight hands-on STEM and Living History education activities, inspiring young minds to explore technology and maritime careers. Meanwhile, the Historic Ships in Baltimore—including the USS CONSTELLATION and the USS TORSK—will host living history exhibits and demonstrations, and, along with the U.S. Navy ships, will connect visitors with America’s rich naval heritage and honor 250 years of defending freedom and protecting prosperity.
Sail250® Maryland & Airshow Baltimore presented by Northrop Grumman is produced by Living Classrooms Foundation's Historic Ships in Baltimore, sponsored by Northrop Grumman along with Whiting-Turner, Innovative Consultants LLC, Southwest Airlines, and festival partners Patient First and Xfinity, and supported by the State of Maryland, City of Baltimore, and Baltimore County. It is produced in partnership with the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, Sail Baltimore, Martin State Airport, AirSupport LLC, and Baltimore Peninsula Partnership. The official hotel partner is Baltimore Marriott Waterfront.
