Boats - Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival XLIII

Friday-Sunday, Oct. 2-4

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. All other guests can enjoy the festival with general admission, which is valid for two consecutive days and always free for CBMM members. Check back for registration details and more info about this year’s festival.

Each year, the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival features dozens of small craft, including 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.

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

One of the annual highlights is Saturday afternoon racing, with separate sailing and rowing competitions. Guests are encouraged to watch the competitors vie for bragging rights 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 offerings will be available for the public to see on Sunday.

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

Check back for registration details!

EVENT SPONSOR

ANTIQUE & CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL AND COASTAL ARTS FAIR

Friday-Sunday, June 19-21

CBMM MEMBERS CLICK HERE TO BUY FRIDAY-SATURDAY TICKETS

NON-MEMBERS CLICK HERE TO BUY FRIDAY-SATURDAY TICKETS

CBMM MEMBERS CLICK HERE TO BUY SATURDAY-SUNDAY TICKETS

NON-MEMBERS CLICK HERE TO BUY SATURDAY-SUNDAY TICKETS

The 38th Antique & Classic Boat Festival and Coastal Arts Fair is coming to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum on June 19-21, inviting guests to take a step back in time in celebration of the history and artistry of these venerable vessels.

Hosted by the Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society, the festival brings a sense of nostalgia to CBMM’s waterfront campus along the Miles River with one of the largest classic boat shows in the Mid-Atlantic region and more fun for the whole family.

The festival runs from 10am-5pm on Friday and Saturday and 10am-3pm on Sunday. Two-day tickets are on sale now for Friday-Saturday and Saturday-Sunday, with discounted pricing for CBMM members. Save $2 by purchasing your tickets in advance online.

Join this Father’s Day weekend tradition

The three-day Antique & Classic Boat Festival celebrates the past, present, and future of antique and classic boating with examples spread across CBMM’s 18-acre campus and docks. This year’s theme is “Boats from the Midwest.”

The festival annually showcases wood, fiberglass, and metal vessels in all phases of restoration representing the historic (up to 1918), antique (1919-1942), classic (1943-1975), late classic (1976-1997), and contemporary (any wooden boat built since 1997) classes.

The Antique & Classic Boat Festival is accompanied by a juried Coastal Arts Fair with vendors exhibiting and selling a variety of unique artworks and merchandise that celebrates boating and life on and around the water. The festivities also include a Field of Dreams for those looking to buy, a nautical flea market, and children’s activities.

Food and beverages from several regional vendors will be available for purchase all three days.

Buy your tickets now & save

Two-day tickets for the Antique & Classic Boat Festival and Coastal Arts Fair can be purchased in advance online or at the door. Guests who purchase their tickets in advance will save $2. No single-day tickets will be sold to this rain-or-shine event.

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 for 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.

More to know

For information on how to register a boat, become a vendor, or sign up to sell in the Field of Dreams or nautical flea market, visit chesapeakebayacbs.org.

For safety reasons, non-service dogs need to be kept home during CBMM festivals, including the Antique & Classic Boat Festival and Coastal Arts Fair. Carry-on alcohol from dock or land is prohibited.

Antique & Classic Boat Festival and Coastal Arts Fair
Date/Time: Friday, June 19, 10am-5pm; Saturday, June 20, 10am-5pm; Sunday, June 21, 10am-3pm