With steamed crabs, cold beer, a boat docking contest, and the live music of Bird Dog and the Road Kings, the traditions of the Chesapeake will be celebrated on August 12 at the Talbot County Watermen’s Association’s Watermen’s Appreciation Day at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (CBMM) in St. Michaels, MD.
This year features a special appearance by deck boss Edgar Hansen and deckhand Jake Anderson of the F/V Northwestern—as featured on Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch.” Hansen and Anderson will be at the event throughout the day to meet festival-goers, sign autographs, eat crabs and ride along in the boat docking contest.
A lively “Watermen’s Rodeo” boat docking contest begins at noon in Fogg’s Cove. Following the boat docking contest, which is slated to end around 3pm, event-goers can participate in a Pot Pie skiff rowing contest, followed by a small jigger-throwing contest. Prizes for the rowing contest will be given to the 10-15 year old winner and the 16 year and older winner. Jigger throwing winners will earn bragging rights for the farthest toss in their divisions.
At noon, the day’s catch of crabs will be steamed up and served in a traditional Maryland crab feast, with live music playing from noon to 5pm from the Eastern Shore’s favorite band, Bird Dog and the Road Kings.
Hot dogs, hamburgers, and corn on the cob will also be available. Check out the working watermen’s boats along the waterfront during this event, or tour the museum’s 18-acre waterfront campus and twelve exhibits, including the historic restoration of the skipjack Rosie Parks and the new Push and Pull: Life on Chesapeake Bay Tugboats exhibit.
Kid’s games and family activities will also be a part of the day’s offerings, including knot tying demonstrations, model boat building, and more. Free boat rides on the museum’s replica buyboat, Mister Jim, will be available every half hour from 11am to 4:30pm.
You can also bid on a number of items in the Watermen’s Association’s silent auction alongside the museum’s Small Boat Shed and includes artwork by Marc Castelli. Bids will be taken until 4pm, with proceeds supporting oyster restoration projects on the bay.
Event sponsors include Bridges Automotive and Diesel Repair, PNC Bank, Hertrich Ford & Chevrolet, WINX FM, Kastel Bros. Marine Propulsion Specialists, and Tow Jamm Marine.
Admission to the 10am to 5pm event will be collected at the gate the day of the event and includes the Bird Dog and the Road Kings concert, crab feast, corn on the cob, hamburgers, and hot dogs at $25 for adults, $16 for kids 6-17, and under-six admitted for free. Museum members and licensed watermen and their families get discounted admission at $15 per adult, and $6 for kids 6-17. Proceeds benefit CBMM and the Talbot County Watermen’s Association. Beer will also be available for purchase. For more information, visit www.cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916.
In photo, above: F/V Northwestern’s deck boss Edgar Hansen, left, and deckhand Jack Anderson, right, as featured on Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch” series, will be at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD for the August 12 Watermen’s Appreciation Day and crab feast.
In photo: Beginning at noon on August 12, the Talbot County Watermen’s Association will be serving up steamed crabs at the 3rd Annual Watermen’s Appreciation Day at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD. Admission includes the crab feast, hot dogs, hamburgers, corn on the cob, free boat rides, and non-alcoholic drinks and includes the Bird Dog and the Road Kings concert and crab feast at $25 for adults, $16 for kids 6-17, and under-six admitted for free. Museum members and licensed watermen get discounted admission at $15 per adult, and $6 for kids 6-17. Beer will be available for purchase. For more information, visit cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916.
In photo: Bird Dog and the Road Kings will be playing from noon to 5pm on August 12th at the 3rd Annual Watermen’s Appreciation Day at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD. The day’s events feature a boat docking, rowing, and jigger throwing contest, with a special appearance by Edgar Hansen and Jake Anderson of the F/V Northwestern—as featured on Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch.” Hansen and Anderson will be available for autographs throughout the day, with Hansen planning to be a passenger aboard one of the boats in the docking contest.