The Festival Board of Directors has decided to sit out the 2010 season
in order to plan a bigger and better event in a stronger economy in 2011.
Read about the 2009 festival below and on the other pages of this website. See you in 2011!.
2009 Festival Information
The Maryland Maritime Heritage Festival has something for everyone and it's coming to City Dock in Annapolis the first weekend in May.
Created as a celebration of our maritime history and life along the Chesapeake Bay, the Festival attracted 22,000 visitors in 2008 and promises to be better than ever this year.
A Friday evening party will get the Festival started with fun and great music, right on "Ego Alley." Dubbed Boatfest, the party will precede two full days of action at Susan B. Campbell Park on the City Dock waterfront, where daytime activities will be free and open to the public and held rain or shine.
The Boatfest fundraiser party, 5-9 p.m., will feature great live dance music by Blue Thrill and the Rhythm Cats!
On the City Dock on Saturday and Sunday, several dozen classic boats—ranging from the racing yacht Elf (circa 1888) and the Pride of Baltimore II to 1950s Chris Crafts and tugs—will be on display, setting the tone for this fun weekend celebrating our unique maritime heritage.
Lots to Do and See
Exhibitors will display classic watercraft, do-it-yourself "kit" boats, winning design hydroplanes, and more will present land exhibits and be on hand to answer questions from old boat buffs and curious passers-by alike.
Among the activities over the weekend will be free sailboat rides with Annapolis Community Boating, opening ceremonies for the J/24 World Championship Regatta, a build-a-boat competition, and a Sunday Farmer’s Market. The Annapolis Irish Rowing Club will sponsor Irish Currach Races for the crowd to cheer on from land.
Fun for the Whole Family
As always, the Festival is a great way to spend the weekend for families with kids who enjoy hands-on, waterfront fun. All weekend, there will be an inflatable Buccaneer “moon bounce,” and rumor has it, Sponge Bob may pay the Festival a visit (he is a maritime creature after all.)
On Saturday, there will be Boating Olympics for "swabbies" of all ages, a family scavenger hunt, and boating crafts for the younger set run by Artworks Studio. If you have a pet who doesn’t mind parading around in costume, Sunday will feature the ever-popular Pirate Pet Parade. Bring your camera!
On the built-in stage on the waterfront, Calico Jack, Them Eastport Oyster Boys, Chester River Runoff, and other lively musical acts will entertain the crowd and keep the waterfront music tradition alive.
Continuing an effort that began last year, organizers are striving to make the Festival as "Green" as possible. Exhibitors will be able to recycle packaging and other waste and the Festival-going public will use clearly marked recycling bins that will be placed throughout the Festival. Party goers at Friday’s Boatfest will have "greenware" for their beverages.
As our maritime heritage centers on the health of the Chesapeake Bay, many local government agencies and organizations will participate in the Festival in “Eco Alley,” led by the grassroots Annapolis Green organization, to educate the public about steps we can all take for the good of the Bay.
Kids can study the health of the Bay and its creatures, too, with the Wetlands on Wheels exhibit on City Dock all weekend. Another way Festival goers can Go Green is to walk or take public transportation, park in the public garages, or to drive to the Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and take a shuttle to downtown. Read more about directions & parking.
Volunteers Needed
Yes! If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Tom Stalder or call 410 693-8394. Download the Volunteer Application.
More information about BoatFest and the Festival itself may be found in the May issues of SpinSheet and PropTalk Magazines.
home | friday kickoff party | schedule | getting here | questions? | festival team | volunteer form
Festival Sponsors
webdesign & maintenance by stellar presentations inc and tom ostrye