Each year on the third Saturday in May the Kent Island Heritage Society celebrates the heritage, life, and culture ofKent Island. The celebration this year will be on Saturday, May 15. The Kent Island Day tradition began in 1977 with the signing of a proclamation by Acting Governor Blair Lee.
The community festival takes place in one of Kent Island’s oldest and most picturesque communities, the “Mayberry-like” village of Stevensville. It will feature the Heritage Society’s Historic sites (all of which will be opened), period docents and re-enactors, historic gun firing demonstrations, local artists, crafters, good food, a moon bounce for kids, an old fashioned parade, and lots of great on-stage entertainment
The opening ceremony will kick off at 10:00 a.m. with the National Anthem, salute to the flag, and reading of the Kent Island Day proclamation by Delegate Dick Sossi. The opening ceremony will also feature the dedication of the Heritage Society’s newly restored caboose (done with the help of the “Kent Island Caboosters”).
The parade will step out at Kent Island Elementary School at 10:30 and will flow down Main Street through downtown Stevensville. “The parade will feature a great home town mix of old cars and tractors, boats, historic costumes, bands, scouts, civic groups, elected officials, political candidates, police and fire units, and the exciting horses of the Maryland Rough Riders”, said Jack Broderick, Kent Island Heritage Society President and KI Day parade chair. “We always have openings in the parade, so if you want to be part of it, just gives us a call”.
“One of the great features of this year’s event will be an expanded area of plants and gardening information, next to the Historic Cray House”, said Joyce Woodford, KI Day Vendor Chair. They will include plants and displays by The Kent Island Garden Club, the QA Master Gardeners, and Adkins Arboretum.
Entertainment will begin at noon on stage in the Stevensville Pocket Park next to the Historic Bank and will continue throughout the day. The entertainment will include the Kent Island Community Band; The Daschiell School of Dance; the women’s acappela group – “Harmony on the Bay”; the children’s theatre group – “My Kids’ Playhouse”; and the old favorite bluegrass group, “The Bay Country Gentlemen”.
“It’s an exciting and entertaining family event”, said Broderick at a recent planning meeting, “we’re looking forward to it. It’s a great day of food fun and friendship, celebrating Kent Island”.
For questions or more information on Kent Island Day, call Jack at 410-643-6452 or email atjackandlizzie@atlanticbb.net.