Watermen’s Appreciation Day 2026

Watermen’s Appreciation Day

Sunday, Aug. 9 | 10am-4pm

CBMM MEMBERS CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

NON-MEMBERS CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

Get ready to experience the vibrant spirit of the Eastern Shore at Watermen’s Appreciation Day, hosted by the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum on Sunday, Aug. 9, from 10am-4pm.

Held in partnership with the Talbot Watermen Association (TWA) since 2010, this beloved summer tradition honors the hardworking men and women who bring the Bay’s bounty to our tables. The festivities include a thrilling workboat docking competition with the Chesapeake Cowboys, steamed crabs by the dozen and more local delicacies, live music, a silent auction, children’s activities, and more fun for the whole family.

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

Cheer on the Chesapeake Cowboys

The Watermen’s Rodeo is a must-see highlight of Watermen’s Appreciation Day. Beginning at noon, guests are invited to line CBMM’s Miles River waterfront to cheer on the Chesapeake Cowboys as they put their skills to the test, expertly maneuvering deadrise workboats into assigned slips during a thrilling timed competition.

Spectators can catch the action from bleacher seating or the deck of the iconic Hooper Strait Lighthouse or watch a livestream from the air-conditioned comfort of the Van Lennep Auditorium.

Join our Chesapeake feast

Beginning at 11am, guests can enjoy hot, fresh steamed crabs served by local watermen, available for $25 per dozen with two ears of corn included. The TWA will also offer additional fare, including hot dogs, hamburgers, and ice cream, and local food trucks will be on site serving a variety of Eastern Shore specialties, including Amy Cool’s Ice Cream, Big Bad Wolf Bacon, Cousins Maine Lobster Rolls, Hooked on Seafood, Kona Ice, Milestone, T&D Fusion, and Smoky Mozz Pizza.

To complement the crab feast, guests can enjoy a selection of beverages, with beer trucks serving domestic brews and local craft favorites and the Cocktails by the Bay beverage cart offering refreshing crushes throughout the day.

All food and beverages are an additional charge.

Fun for the whole family

Playing from noon-4pm, Eastern Shore legends Bird Dog and the Road Kings will provide the celebration’s soundtrack from the historic Tolchester Beach Bandstand, while Coastal Plain will play the Fogg’s Landing Stage from 11am-2pm. Guests can also browse local arts and crafts vendors throughout campus and bid on items in a silent auction benefiting the TWA in the Small Boat Shed.

Don’t miss the festive programming in the Van Lennep Auditorium. At 10:30am, we’ll welcome Susan Elnicki Wade and Bill Wade to the Van Lennep Auditorium to highlight their book “Crab Decks & Tiki Bars of the Chesapeake Bay,” while the team from Chesapeake Landing will share a crab picking demonstration at 11:30am.

Children can experience what it’s like to work the water through a variety of hands-on activities, including a junior watermen crab race, baiting contest, jigger throw, and more. Families can also enjoy additional fun with inflatables (bounce house, obstacle course, water slide, and basketball hoop) on Fogg’s Landing, sponsored by Signature Lawn & Landscape, along with balloon art, sand art, and face painting from Clownin’ Around KI.

We’re thrilled to welcome the Phillips Wharf Fish Mobile traveling aquarium and the NPS Chesapeake Gateways Roving Rangers to join the celebration.

More to explore

Beyond the festivities, guests are encouraged to explore CBMM’s 18-acre waterfront campus, including the Waterman’s Wharf exhibition, where they can pull up a crab pot, tong for oysters, and try other tools used by Chesapeake watermen. Don’t miss the just-opened Stories from the Shoreline exhibition, which explores the Chesapeake through the voices, traditions, and experiences of the people who call it home.

Guests looking to get out on the Miles River can join Patriot Cruises for Narrated Historical Cruises at 12:30pm and 2:30pm. Combo tickets that include festival admission and a PATRIOT cruise are available through the ticketing portal at visit.cbmm.org.

Buy your tickets now & save

Watermen’s Appreciation Day tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door. Guests who purchase their tickets in advance will save $2.

For those purchasing online, 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.

All licensed watermen and their immediate families receive free admission to the festival by showing an active license at the door.

More to know

During the festival, additional free event parking will be available at St. Michaels Middle/High School, with a complimentary shuttle service running to and from CBMM.

For safety reasons, non-service dogs must be kept home during CBMM festivals, including Watermen’s Appreciation Day. Carry-on alcohol from dock or land is also prohibited. Spectator boats wishing to view the boat docking competition from the water must remain outside the buoyed channel.

Watermen’s Appreciation Day

Date/Time: Sunday, Aug. 9, 10am-4pm
Location: Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

CBMM MEMBERS CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

NON-MEMBERS CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS