There are expected to be more than 85 exhibiting vendors at this edition of the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival. (Photo by George Sass)

ST. MICHAELS, Md., April 20, 2023 – The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is set to celebrate all things sea glass this weekend at the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival.

The popular festival kicks off CBMM’s slate of annual events, running 10am–5pm Saturday and 10am–4pm Sunday. You can buy tickets now, and they will also be available at the door. Remember, your ticket is good for admission to both days of the festival.

CBMM’s waterfront campus will be filled with artisans and craftspeople exhibiting and selling a wide array of coastal and sea-glass related items. There are expected to be more than 85 exhibiting vendors in all, as well as a wide range of food and beverages available for purchase, including beer and cocktails, and live music throughout both days.

Whether you’re a returning guest or this is your first time joining the fun, these FAQs about the festivities are designed to help you to get the most out of your time on campus.

You can find more information about the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival at seaglassfestival.com and cbmm.org and reach out to havefun@cbmm.org with any additional questions.

CBMM is set to welcome the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival back to its waterfront campus this weekend. (Photo by George Sass)

Where should I park?

Parking is available at CBMM. Please note that CBMM’s parking lot will reach capacity during large events. Overflow parking is located at St. Michaels Middle/High School on Seymour Avenue.

Shuttles will run on a loop from 10am-5:30pm on Saturday and 10am-4:30pm on Sunday and drop guests off in CBMM’s parking lot. Additional public parking lots and street parking are available throughout the town. Find more things to know about visiting CBMM festivals here.

What vendors will be at the festival?

Now held twice annually, the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival showcases artisans from around the country featuring coastal and sea-glass related jewelry, home décor, art, and much more. This edition features more than 85 artisans spread between CBMM’s Navy Point, Tolchester Bandstand, and Boardwalk. The full vendor list can be found here.

Most vendors accept both cash and credit. There is an ATM available at CBMM’s store. Stop by the Ophiuroidea tent to check out official festival gear, clothing, jewelry, posters, and more.

Local musician Jayme Dingler will be performing on Saturday afternoon. (Photo by George Sass)

Who will be playing the Tolchester Beach Bandstand?

This festival will feature live music from start to finish with four local acts spread out over the two days.

Chris Sacks Band (10am–1pm) and Jayme Dingler (1:30-5pm) will take the stage on Saturday, while Anna Burgess (10am–1pm) and Dave Hawkins (1:30–4pm) form Sunday’s lineup.

What is this sea glass shard?

Mary McCarthy can help. The executive director of The Beachcombing Center and sea glass expert will be available for shard identification both days next to Festival Headquarters across from the lighthouse. Stop by the chat about all things sea glass!

CBMM shipwrights will hold a series of metal forging demos on Saturday.

What else is going on at CBMM?

In partnership with CBMM’s Rising Tide after-school program, guests are invited to contribute to a community art project. This Community Woodsaic is a large mosaic of a CBMM scene made out of wood. Construction will be taking place 10am-noon and 1-3pm both days.

On Saturday, CBMM shipwrights will hold a series of metal forging demonstrations. Stop by to watch the process of forging bottle openers and decorative hooks out of metal with a hammer and anvil. The demos will take place from 10am-noon and 1-3:30pm.

Of course, festival guests are encouraged to explore all the exhibitions and historic structures on CBMM’s 18-acre campus as well as its working Shipyard and historic floating fleet. Your Chesapeake adventure begins here.

Can I bring my dog to the festival?

For safety reasons, non-service dogs need to be kept home during CBMM festivals, including the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival.

How can I get out on the water?

Docked adjacent to CBMM, Patriot Cruises will offer discounts both days for narrated historical cruises departing St. Michaels Harbor at 12:30pm and 2:30pm. Guests can use code seaglass during checkout on patriotcruises.com to receive 1/2 off their tickets.

CBMM’s park-like waterfront setting includes numerous indoor and outdoor exhibitions, a working Shipyard, Museum Store, a floating fleet of historic vessels, member’s marina, and is easily reached by car or boat.

What else is going on in town?

We’re thrilled to welcome you to St. Michaels, which has been named one of USA Today‘s Top 10 best small coastal towns. Be sure to take a stroll around our quaint historic Eastern Shore town and get a sense of all that it has to offer. Visit StMichaelsMD.org to learn more and plan out the rest of your stay here.

Mark your calendar!?!

Save the date for the holiday edition of the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival, which will be held at CBMM on Nov. 18, 2023. The spring festival is back on April 20-21, 2024.