The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s October 29 OysterFest brings the Chesapeake’s favorite bivalve to center stage, with two stages of music, oyster shooter and spiked apple cider bars, and the return of Fordham Brewing Company’s Rosie Parks Oyster Stout providing some of this year’s festival highlights.
The Fordham and Dominion Brewing Company of Dover, De. is returning to the festival with their 2016 release of its Rosie Parks Oyster Stout. The stout is brewed with Chesapeake oysters and made in honor of the CBMM’s 1955 skipjack Rosie Parks, with a portion of the proceeds of each sale benefiting the children and adults served by the non-profit’s education, restoration, and exhibition programs.
This year, Swamp Donkey Newgrass—a high energy newgrass band with a twist of rock—is returning to CBMM’s OysterFest, playing live from the Tolchester Beach Bandstand. The Annapolis-based group performed from Fogg’s Cove at OysterFest 2014 and is noted for vocal harmonies and tight transitions.
Across the Miles River boardwalk along Fogg’s Cove, festival-goers will enjoy the breezy, melodic vibe of the Kent Island-based trio The Freewheelers. The trio will be performing live from the lower decks of the Steamboat Building from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Lead OysterFest sponsors include Kelly Distributors, Pepsi Bottling Ventures, George’s Bloody Mary Mix, and Fordham Brewing. Chesapeake Landing is sponsoring the oyster shooter bar, and Lyon Distilling Company is sponsoring spiked cider, which will be served with other libations at Rosie’s Tavern.
Festival goers are encouraged to sample oyster stews beginning at 11:00 a.m. and while the limited tastings last. Participation is limited to the first 500 on a first-come, first-served basis, with a commemorative OysterFest mug and the tastings offered for $10 per participant. This stew competition takes place on CBMM’s Fogg’s Landing and is sponsored by Hair O’ The Dog Wine & Spirits and Easton Eye Care.
This year’s OysterFest also features the 2016-2018 restoration of the log-hull sailing bugeye, Edna Lockwood, which is now underway and in full public view at CBMM’s boatyard, with more information and project updates found at www.ednalockwood.org.
Admission to OysterFest is $5 for CBMM adult members, or $18 for adults; $15 for seniors and students with ID; and $6 for children 6-17. CBMM members at the Family & Friends level and above also receive the $5 discounted admission for two adult guests. Food, drinks, and boat rides are an additional cost, with carry-on alcohol prohibited. For safety reasons, non-service dogs need to be kept home during CBMM festivals, with leashed dogs permitted during regular operating hours. Proceeds from the event support CBMM’s education, restoration, and exhibition programs, with advanced tickets and more information at www.cbmm.org/oysterfest.
Established in 1965, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a world-class maritime museum dedicated to preserving and exploring the history, environment, and people of the entire Chesapeake Bay, with the values of relevancy, authenticity, and stewardship guiding its mission. Serving nearly 70,000 guests each year, the museum’s campus includes a floating fleet of historic boats and 12 exhibition buildings, situated in a park-like waterfront setting along the Miles River and St. Michaels’ harbor. For more information, visit www.cbmm.org.
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