CBMM celebrates Chesapeake heritage at Watermen’s Appreciation Day on Sunday

ST. MICHAELS, Md., Aug. 9, 2023 – Watermen’s Appreciation Day is back at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum on Sunday, bringing a full day of fun to CBMM’s waterfront campus in celebration of the men and women who make their living on the Bay.

Running 10am-5pm, this annual fundraising event, organized by CBMM in partnership with the Talbot Watermen Association, features a boat docking contest, steamed crabs by the dozen, live music, family activities, and more. Don’t miss the silent auction benefitting TWA going on until 3pm in the Small Boat Shed.

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 event program is 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.

Shuttles will run on a loop from 10am-5pm 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.

How much are crabs?

Starting at 11am, steamed crabs, served by TWA members, will be available for purchase at $35 per dozen and come with two ears of corn. There will also be two beer trucks on site and a variety of vendors on serving up different cuisine, including tacos, BBQ, bacon, ice cream, funnel cakes, and more.

What is a watermen’s rodeo?

The always-spirited watermen’s rodeo is a boat docking contest featuring the Chesapeake Cowboys along the Miles River, starting at noon. This edition includes 12 competitors who will showcase their extreme docking expertise. Bleacher seating will be provided on Navy Point for spectators to enjoy all the action.

Will there be live music?

Yes, Eastern Shore favorites Bird Dog and the Road Kings will start at noon and have the Tolchester Beach Bandstand rocking throughout the afternoon.

What is there for children to do?

There are kid-friendly activities planned throughout the day. The junior watermen contests will be held on Navy Point, starting at 10:30, and feature the buoy toss, large and small anchor toss, and jigger throw. Stick around for the awards ceremony at 3pm following the watermen’s rodeo.

The area next to the Bay History building will be busy with lawn games as well as a children’s build-a-boat station with kits available for $3 apiece. The Phillips Wharf Environmental Center will also be on campus with its Fishmobile traveling aquarium.

What is the One Hundred Shores project?

The mission of the One Hundred Shores project is to use Chesapeake water from 100 different locations across the Chesapeake estuary in a dyeing process to create shirts which illustrate a map of the watershed itself. At Watermen’s Appreciation Day, guests are invited to visit the organization’s booth near the Shipyard to make their own shirts using water from the Miles River. Register here to join in the fun.

What else should I see on campus?

Amid the special festivities, Watermen’s Appreciation Day guests are encouraged to explore all the exhibitions and historic structures on CBMM’s 18-acre campus. Notably, the working Shipyard is currently home to several projects spotlighting the construction, care, and preservation of traditional Bay workboats, and guests can stop by Watermen’s Wharf to experience seafood harvesting as practiced by a Bay waterman in a recreated crab shack.

Reminder: 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.

ST. MICHAELS, Md., July 12, 2023 – The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum will host Watermen’s Appreciation Day on Sunday, Aug. 13, from 10am-5pm on its waterfront campus.

This annual celebration of the men and women who make their living on the Chesapeake Bay and their heritage features a boat docking contest, steamed crabs by the dozen, live music, family activities, and more. Tickets are on sale now at cbmm.org/watermensday.

At Watermen’s Appreciation Day, guests can meet locals who work the water, while enjoying the day’s catch of crabs as well as beer and other regional food and beverages. There will also be a silent auction in the Small Boat Shed, in support of the Talbot Watermen Association (TWA).

This is a fundraising event organized by CBMM in partnership with TWA, with proceeds benefiting both organizations.

“Watermen’s Appreciation Day is our way of giving thanks to all the hard-working watermen and women,” TWA President Jeff Harrison said. “It is an honor to provide Maryland’s Best seafood to all the seafood lovers in Maryland and beyond. Thank you to CBMM for partnering with us these last 12 years.”

The always-spirited watermen’s rodeo is a boat docking contest along the Miles River near CBMM’s 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse. Bleacher seating will be provided for spectators to enjoy all the action, which begins at noon.

Starting at 11am, steamed crabs, served by TWA members, will be available for purchase, in addition to hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream, and more. Crabs will be sold at $35 per dozen and come with two ears of corn.

The Tolchester Beach Bandstand will showcase the music of Bird Dog and the Road Kings. The Eastern Shore favorites start playing at noon and will provide the soundtrack for the fun throughout the afternoon.

There will be a variety of children’s activities offered throughout the day, including a junior watermen crab race, baiting contest, jigger throw, lawn games, and more. The Phillips Wharf Environmental Center will also be on site with its Fishmobile traveling aquarium.

In addition to the special festivities, guests are encouraged to explore all the exhibitions and historic structures across CBMM’s 18-acre campus, including its working Shipyard that is currently home to several projects spotlighting the construction, care, and preservation of traditional Chesapeake Bay workboats.

Tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door. Admission is set at $19 for adults ages 18 to 64, $16 for seniors (65+), college students (with ID), and retired military members; $10 for active military members, and $8 for children 6 to 17, with all children 5 years of age and under admitted free.

CBMM members, along with licensed watermen and their immediate families, get discounted admission at $10 per adult and $6 per child ages 6 to 17. All food and beverages are an additional charge.

Free event parking will be available at St. Michaels Middle/High School, with a complimentary shuttle service to and from CBMM running throughout the day.

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.

For more information, visit cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916.