Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival

Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival

Saturday & Sunday, April 18-19

(April 19 update: Due to high winds, the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival is canceled for today, Sunday, April 19. Campus is open to guests today from 10am-5pm, but vendors are not able to safely set up their tents. The 2:30pm Narrated Historical Cruise aboard PATRIOT is on as scheduled. Thank you for your understanding.)

The region’s unique artistic style will take the spotlight when the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum hosts the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival on April 18-19.

CBMM kicks off its festival season with a weekend of fun for the whole family featuring fantastic shopping, great food and drinks, live music on two stages, and more. The popular celebration of all things sea glass will run 10am–5pm on Saturday and 10am–4pm on Sunday, with all tickets valid for admission on both days.

Tickets are on sale now, with discounted pricing for CBMM members. Save $2 by purchasing your tickets in advance online.

This edition of the festival is set to highlight more than 90 exhibitors from across the country, selling an array of unique coastal and sea-glass related goods, including jewelry, home décor, art, and more. More information, including info on the exhibiting artisans, can be found at seaglassfestival.com.

Food and beverages from a variety of regional vendors will be available for purchase both days, including craft beer and specialty cocktails.

The musical lineup features both returning favorites and new voices. The historic Tolchester Beach Bandstand on Navy Point will feature Chris Sacks (10am-1pm) and Jordan Sokel (1:30-5pm) on Saturday and The Uncle Ward Show (10am-1pm) and Levi Stephens (1:30-4pm) on Sunday.

The Fogg’s Landing Stage on the opposite side of campus will spotlight Dave Hawkins (10am-1pm) and Anna Burgess (1:30-5pm) on Saturday and Kenny Haddaway (10am-1pm) and Alison Thoms (1:30-4pm) on Sunday.

Throughout the weekend, guests can experience the art of glassblowing with Glass Half Full Arts. Artist Eli Cecil will lead demonstrations sharing the process of creating these one-of-a-kind artworks out of molten glass.

On Saturday, guests can sign up for a guided glassblowing experience, helping to create their own custom glass piece to take home. The cost is $100 for these 30-minute sessions, which can be booked now at glasshalffullarts.com. Festival admission is included.

This program is offered with support from the Upper Shore Regional Folklife Center under the Maryland Traditions program of the Maryland State Arts Council.

Sea glass expert Mary McCarthy will be on hand to share her knowledge, including shard identification, throughout the weekend. Guests of all ages can select sea glass from McCarthy’s popular beachcombing table and use it to create a unique sea glass craft. She’ll also offer a series of films highlighting the world of sea glass available on demand in the Craig Fuller & Diane Terpeluk Theater.

More family activities include a festival scavenger hunt and a mini mosaic craft with local artist Jen Wagner.

While enjoying all the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival vendors and offerings, guests are invited to explore the exhibitions and historic structures spread across CBMM’s 18-acre campus.

Guests have a variety of ways to get out on the water during the festival. We’re offering a pair of ticketed sails both days aboard 1955 skipjack Rosie Parks. Tickets for these 90-minute cruises, at 10am and noon, are $35 for CBMM members and $45 for non-members and include festival admission. (These sails are now sold out.)

In addition, Patriot Cruises will present Narrated Historical Cruises on the Miles River at 12:30pm and 2:30pm on Saturday and 2:30pm on Sunday. Guests can save $10 on adult and senior tickets for all three cruises by using coupon code SEAGLASS2026 at online checkout. (Please note this discount is not to be combined with any other offer.) Combo tickets that include festival admission and a PATRIOT cruise are also available.

Buy your tickets now & save

Two-day festival tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door. Guests who purchase their tickets in advance will save $2 and have a special opportunity to enter the festival 30 minutes early at 9:30am both days. Ticket sales at the door begin at 10am. No single-day tickets will be sold to this rain-or-shine event.

For those purchasing online, Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts 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. At the door, the cost is $24 for adults, $21 for seniors (65+) and students (17+), $12 for active and retired military members, and $11 for children ages 6-to-17, with all children 5-and-younger admitted free.

CBMM members receive discounted pricing to this annual festival and others throughout the year. Adult member tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door, and all children of members (17-and-younger) receive free admission. CBMM members at the Family & Friends level and above can also receive discounted admission for two additional adult guests.

CBMM members become a part of the Chesapeake story, joining CBMM’s mission as stewards of the region’s rich cultural heritage. To discover all the terrific benefits of membership and join today, click here or contact Membership Services Coordinator Debbie Ruzicka at 410-745-4991 or druzicka@cbmm.org.

You can be a VIP

VIP tickets are back to level up the fun. This limited-availability offering includes festival admission with early entrance, a commemorative festival cup and discounts at the bars, a swag bag that includes discounts with select exhibitors, and access to the VIP Hospitality Lounge with a complimentary beer and wine bar. The cost to be a festival VIP is $40 for CBMM members and $60 for non-members for both online and in-person sales. (April 18 update: VIP tickets are now sold out.)

Celebrate the best of the Bay all year long

Exclusively available to CBMM members, the CBMM Festival Season Pass offers entry to the full slate of annual festivals, including both Sea Glass Festivals, Antique & Classic Boat Festival & Coastal Arts Fair, Big Band Night, Watermen’s Appreciation Day, OysterFest, and Winter on the Chesapeake. These season passes are $50 apiece and can be purchased for one, two, or four guests. Buy yours now to unlock a year’s worth of fun!

More to know

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 running both days.

For safety reasons, non-service dogs need to be kept home during CBMM festivals, including the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival. Carry-on alcohol from dock or land is prohibited.

Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival
Date/Time: Saturday, April 18, 10am-5pm, and Sunday, April 19, 10am-4pm
Location: CBMM’s campus