A summer tradition, Watermen’s Appreciation Day returns to CBMM this Sunday, Aug. 9. (Photo by Sharon Thorpe)

ST. MICHAELS, Md., Aug. 7, 2026 – Join the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum this Sunday, Aug. 9, from 10am-4pm for Watermen’s Appreciation Day to experience the unique culture and community of the Eastern Shore through one of our favorite summer traditions.

A partnership with the Talbot Watermen Association since 2010, this annual festival celebrates the hardworking men and women who bring the Bay’s bounty to our tables with a thrilling workboat docking competition featuring 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.

Whether you’re a returning guest or this is your first Watermen’s Appreciation Day, these FAQs about the festivities will help you to get the most out of your visit.

Buy your tickets here now or purchase them at the door. The program, with a festival map, is now available here. You can find more information here and reach out to havefun@cbmm.org with any additional questions.

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 with shuttles running on a loop to and from CBMM from 10am-4:30pm.

Additional public parking lots and street parking are available throughout the town. Find more things to know about visiting CBMM festivals here.

Watermen’s Appreciation Day crab sales begin at 11am on Navy Point. (Photo by George Sass)

What is there to eat and drink?

Starting at 11am, enjoy hot, fresh steamed crabs served by local watermen for just $25 per dozen, with two ears of corn included.

There will also be three beer trucks spread around campus, the Cocktails by the Bay Beverage Cart serving up orange, watermelon, and grapefruit crushes, and a variety of vendors featuring festive fare, 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.

Cheer on the Chesapeake Cowboys beginning at noon. (Photo by Sharon Thorpe)

What is a watermen’s rodeo?

The watermen’s rodeo is a boat docking contest on our Miles River waterfront featuring the Chesapeake Cowboys. You’ll marvel at their skill and precision while maneuvering their deadrise workboats into an assigned slip in a thrilling, timed competition. Beginning at noon, this edition features 13 competitors from across the Bay aboard vessels like Crusher, Hard to Handle, Outlaw, and Wild Child. You can catch the action from bleacher seating or the deck of the iconic Hooper Strait Lighthouse or head to the Van Lennep Auditorium to watch a livestream in air-conditioned comfort.

What’s happening at the Tolchester Beach Bandstand?

Watermen’s Appreciation Day will kick off with a Watermen’s Blessing & Recognition Ceremony from 10am-11am. Pastors Rob and Linda King and the congregation from St. John’s Chapel in Tilghman Island will partner with the Talbot Watermen Association to honor the watermen and waterwomen who have passed in the last year. The ceremony includes a special presentation of a Governor’s Citation and Congressional Award to James E. Harvey of Bozman, Md., a celebrated woodworker and master maker of traditional oyster tong shafts.

All afternoon, Eastern Shore legends Bird Dog and the Road Kings will be rocking the historic bandstand on Navy Point, providing a high-energy soundtrack for all the fun. We’ll also have bluegrass band Coastal Plain on the Fogg’s Landing stage from 1-3pm.

Head to Navy Point for our Children’s Build-a-Boat activity.

What is there for children to do?

We’re excited to offer a full day of family-friendly activities, many of which will take place on Fogg’s Landing adjacent to the Welcome Center.

Children can enjoy a variety of inflatables, including a bounce house, obstacle course, water slide, and basketball hoop, sponsored by Signature Lawn & Landscape. Don’t miss face painting, balloon animal, and sand art stations with Clownin’ Around KI. We’re also thrilled to welcome the Phillips Wharf Fish Mobile traveling aquarium and the NPS Chesapeake Gateways Roving Rangers to join the celebration.

Starting at 10:30am, the junior watermen contests will be held on Navy Point, featuring the buoy toss (ages 3-6), small anchor toss (ages 7-10), large anchor toss (ages 11-14) and crab line baiting contest. We’ll also hold an adult jigger throw contest, with men’s and women’s divisions, at 11:30am.

There will also be a build-a-boat station hosted by CBMM’s Maritime Model Guild at a cost of $3 per child set up on Navy Point adjacent to the Craig Fuller & Diane Terpeluk Theater.

What else is on the schedule?
There’s more to explore across campus, including the silent auction benefitting the Talbot Watermen Association, running 10am-3:30pm in the Small Boat Shed. We’ll also have a variety of local arts and crafts vendors set up on Navy Point.

Stop by the Van Lennep Auditorium in the morning for some festive programming. At 10:30am, we’ll welcome Susan Elnicki Wade and Bill Wade to highlight their book “Crab Decks & Tiki Bars of the Chesapeake Bay,” and at 11:30am, the team from Chesapeake Landing will share a crab picking demonstration.

At Waterman’s Wharf, you’re invited to explore what it’s like to work the water by trying the tools of the trade. (Photo by Sharon Thorpe)

What else should I see on campus?

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. Located in the Welcome Center, the just-opened Stories from the Shoreline exhibition explores the Chesapeake through the voices, traditions, and experiences of the people who call it home.

If you’re looking to get out on the Miles River, you 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.

Join our mission as a CBMM member and enjoy insider access to our campus and collection through exclusive experiences and perks throughout the year, including reduced pricing for all the annual festivals celebrating the best of the Bay. Annual Household memberships start at $110. Choose the membership level and benefits that are right for you!

What else is going on in town?

We’re thrilled to welcome you to St. Michaels, which has been named the best small town in Maryland by Southern Living. Be sure to take a stroll around our quaint historic Eastern Shore town and get a sense of all that it has to offer. Many local businesses are our partners offering discounts to CBMM members through our MemberPerks program. Click here to learn more and plan out the rest of your stay here.

What else should I know?

For safety reasons, non-service dogs need to 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 competition from the water must remain outside the buoyed channel.

What’s next at CBMM?

There’s always something new to discover on our waterfront campus. Up next, we’re excited to present Chesapeake Celebrations: Love the Bay next Saturday, Aug. 15, inviting you to share your love for the Chesapeake through a day of hands-on environmental exploration. Then, join us for our Charity Boat Auction on Saturday, Sept. 5, with dozens of quality boats going to the highest bidders in support of our mission. Mark your calendar for our fall festivals, highlighted by OysterFest on Saturday, Nov. 7.

We hope to see you again soon!