Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival

Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival XLIII

Friday-Sunday, Oct. 2-4

CLICK HERE FOR PARTICIPANT INFORMATION & SCHEDULE

(Sept. 29 update: Online participant registration has now closed, but you can still register in person to join the festivities and access the full slate of events.)

A fall tradition now in its 43rd year, the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival will bring unique watercraft and their passionate owners and builders to our waterfront campus on Friday-Sunday, Oct. 2-4.

One of the nation’s largest gatherings of its kind, Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival XLIII will celebrate the craftsmanship and innovation showcased through these vessels during a family-friendly weekend defined by camaraderie, tradition, and fun.

Register as a participant to bring your vessel and gain access to the full slate of events throughout the weekend, including demos and workshops, guest speakers, races, children’s activities, boat judging and awards, and more. Click here for more details and the Schedule of Events.

All other guests can enjoy the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival with general admission, which is valid for two consecutive days and always free for CBMM members. Plan your visit here.

Each fall, the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival spotlights the craftsmanship and innovation showcased through these vessels, bringing together a unique collection of sailing skiffs, rowing shells, kayaks, canoes, paddle boats, prams, and one-of-a-kind boats.

An enthusiastic group of small craft owners from around the region, including members of the Traditional Small Craft Association, spend the weekend messin’ about together on the Miles River, starting with a Thursday camp cruise to Wye Island.

This year, CBMM is getting in the spirit early by offering sessions of its Intro to Sailing Small Craft course on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2. This one-day course teaches how to sail a traditional Chesapeake vessel on the Miles River with one-on-one instruction from a seasoned sailor on CBMM’s Shipyard staff. The cost is $120 for CBMM members and $150 for non-members.

CBMM’s celebration of all things small craft features a variety of activities spread around campus and on the Miles River.

On Saturday, participants can enjoy craft and art workshops, plus boat discussions examining unique Chesapeake creations. This year, the evening program features a keynote speech from Capt. Doug Oeller, who will share highlights and lessons learned from his epic journey to circumnavigate the lower 48 states in a 19-foot sailboat.

From 10am-4pm on Saturday, we’re thrilled to share a series of demonstrations and displays on Fogg’s Landing highlighting small craft builders and enthusiasts from around the region. Chesapeake Wooden Boat Builders School will offer boatbuilding and maritime demonstrations, Chesapeake Light Craft will be on site with a selection of vessels from its fleet for guests to demo, the Cocktail Class Wooden Boat Racing Association will have several of their distinctive racing boats on display, and CBMM’s Small Vessel Conservation Volunteers will showcase recent restoration and conservation projects, including a replica of Ghost, an Ed Leatherbury Sailing Skiff, whose original is featured in CBMM’s Waterlines exhibition.

The children’s activities include cardboard boat construction and racing and model building on Saturday and a Sunday campus scavenger hunt.

The participants will gather in friendly competition Saturday afternoon with a series of sailing (1:30pm) and rowing (3:30pm) races. Guests are invited to cheer on the competitors from CBMM’s waterfront and docks.

Everyone on campus for MASCF will be able to vote for their favorite boat, with the People’s Choice award and others announced among participants on Saturday evening. Limited public offerings will be available Sunday before participants head home.

For safety reasons, non-service dogs must be kept at home during CBMM festivals, including the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival.

Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival XLIII
Friday-Sunday, Oct. 2-4

Online participant registration has now closed, but you can still register in person to join the festivities and access the full slate of events.

PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION FEES
Non-Member Adult Registration – $140

CBMM member Adult Registration – $115

Youth Registration Ages 6-17 (Members & Non-Members) – $25

Children 5 & Under – FREE

You have the option to include an event t-shirt as part of your participant registration fee for an additional $20.

CLICK HERE FOR PARTICIPANT INFORMATION & SCHEDULE

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