Easton has an exciting and spooky lineup of events slated for the end of October that you need to know about!

SONOS, a musical ensemble, returns to the Academy Art Museum October 25^th with Tales for Halloween, a playful look at musicians and their interest in the supernatural. They will explore the aspects of “scary” music and the influence of literary and historical sources on the Gothic throughout their various concert experiences. On October 28^th at 6 p.m, author Maud Casey and Shore Lit founder Kerry Folan will have a conversation about Casey’s latest book, City of Incurable Women. The book, which contains period photographs and medical documents, reimagines the “hysterical” women of Paris’s famed nineteenth-century Salpêtrière mental asylum from their perspectives in shimmering, lyrical prose.

The Avalon Theater will begin its run of the play Stage Fright from October 26^th to October 30^th. Stage Fright is the story of Marguerite, the tragic showgirl and ghost of the Avalon. Follow her descent into madness as the twisted underworld of the theater swirls around her in this dark and thrilling tale of prohibition, love, grief, and ghosts. Audience members will be transported back to 1927 for an immersive experience that reveals a unique glimpse into what could have been. This show is for more mature audiences.

Easton Economic Development Corporation and the Academy Art Museum are teaming up to host a free, family-friendly costume contest and an outdoor screening of Hocus Pocus on the Academy lawn. Everyone is encouraged to wear their spookiest, most creative Halloween costume to AAM and compete to win an Easton Downtown gift card. The contest will have four costume categories and one winner from each category: Best Adult Costume (13 and over), Best Youth Costume (12 and under), Scariest Costume (any age), Most Creative (any age), and Best Group Costume. The costume contest starts at 6 p.m., followed by the movie screening at 7:30 p.m. You may join all of the night’s events or just stop by for either portion. Bring your own chairs or blankets to watch the movie.

Tiger Lily Restaurant will celebrate its first anniversary on October 29^th with a pumpkin carving contest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and a costume contest from 10 p.m. until 12 a.m. The carving contest will benefit the Talbot Humane Society, and all animals are welcome. Come back later that night for a dance party with a DJ and a costume contest. The contest winners will be announced at midnight.

The Talbot County Fair will begin on October 30^th from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The family festival will be packed with vendors, games, costumed fun, and other fall activities for the entire family.

Join the fun at the 6th Annual Hummingbird Inn Halloween Costume Porch Party on October 31st from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The theme is the 1980’s, and they will have prizes from local businesses for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. Bring candy to hand out to the trick-or-treaters, along with snacks (spooky theme encouraged) and your own beverages.

Don’t forget to stop at the Academy Art Museum on Halloween night for trick-or-treating!

In response to the events happening around town, Holly DeKarske, Executive Director of Easton Economic Development Corporation, said, “It’s great to see local businesses and organizations banding together to make this month something special. I am always excited for this time of year since Halloween brings out the fun and creative side of any community, and I can’t wait to see what ours has in store.”

For more information on these and other upcoming downtown events, visit eastonedc.com, call (410) 690-7348, or find us on Facebook at ‘Easton Downtown.’

Easton Economic Development Corporation was launched in 2013 to drive economic vitality, smart redevelopment, and business creation in the historic Town of Easton, Maryland, to foster a healthy quality of life for all generations. The EEDC works to catalyze Greater Easton’s continued prosperity as a diverse and healthy “smart town,” leading innovation where the land and water meet.

With Fall finally here, the holidays are just around the corner.  Join us downtown for the Easton Holiday Parade on Saturday, December 3rd, at 6:30 pm.  Registration is open for businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community groups to sign up and be a part of this well-loved community tradition.  Registration is open until October 15^th unless it fills up before then.

The tree lighting at Thompson Park will start the evening at 6 pm, followed by the parade at 6:30 pm.  The parade route will run from Talbot Town, south on Harrison Street, loop on South Street, and head north on Washington Street, past our panel of judges at the courthouse.  Entries will be judged on Best Nonprofit, Best Business, and Best Marching Band.

Please sign up via our online form at www.EastonEDC.com under the Easton Downtown tab. Signups are first come, first served, limited, and fill up quickly.  We will create a waiting list once registration closes.

We need YOU to help make this parade a success! Needed are Staging Coordinators working with parade organizers to help direct and line up the participants (shifts 4-6:30 pm) and Logistics Attendants to help with crowd and traffic control at intersections (shifts 6-8:30 pm). Adult Volunteers Only! To sign up, send a message to [email protected].

Easton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) has been designated as an Accredited Main Street America™ program for meeting rigorous performance standards. Each year, Main Street America and its partners announce the list of Accredited programs to recognize their exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.

“We are extremely proud to recognize this year’s 863 nationally Accredited Main Street America programs that have worked tirelessly to advance economic vitality and quality of life in their downtowns and commercial districts,” said Patrice Frey, President & CEO of Main Street America. “During another incredibly challenging year, these programs demonstrated the power of the Main Street movement to respond to the needs of their communities. I am inspired by their steadfast leadership and innovative solutions to drive essential local recovery efforts, support small businesses, and nurture vibrant downtown districts.”

In 2021, Main Street America programs generated $5.76 billion in local reinvestment, helped open 6,601 net new businesses, generated 30,402 net new jobs, catalyzed the rehabilitation of 10,595 historic buildings, and leveraged 1,427,729 volunteer hours. On average, for every dollar that a Main Street program spent to support their operations, it generated $19.34 of new investment back into Main Street communities.

The EEDC’s performance is annually evaluated by Main Street Maryland, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify the local programs that meet rigorous national performance standards. Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building meaningful and sustainable revitalization programs and include standards such as fostering strong public-private partnerships, supporting small and locally owned businesses, and actively preserving historic places, spaces, and cultural assets.

“We are honored to once again be designated as an Accredited Main Street America and Main Street Maryland program for 2022,” said EEDC’s Acting Director Holly DeKarske, “The revitalization of downtown Easton is a combined effort of many hard working, amazing people who want to exceed expectations. This will be a big year for our community and I am excited for what comes next.”

ABOUT THE EEDC

Easton Economic Development Corporation was launched in 2013 to drive economic vitality, smart redevelopment, and business creation in the historic Town of Easton, Maryland, to foster a healthy quality of life for all generations. The EEDC works to catalyze Greater Easton’s continued prosperity as a diverse and healthy “smart town,” leading innovation where the land and water meet.

ABOUT MAIN STREET AMERICA

Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation-based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has provided a practical, adaptable, and impactful framework for community-driven, comprehensive revitalization through the Main Street Approach™. Our network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, who share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have leveraged more than $95.33 billion in new public and private investment, generated 161,036 net new businesses and 717,723 net new jobs, and rehabilitated more than 314,431 buildings. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.