Skipjack Heritage Days at the Maryland Seafood Festival

Join us for Skipjack Heritage Days at the Maryland Seafood Festival!
Saturday: 11am-5pm
Sunday: 11am-5pm

For the First time in 35 years, Historic Skipjacks return to Sandy Point!

From 1965 – 1990, Chesapeake Appreciate Days thrilled visitors with skipjack races, oyster shucking contests, and rich Bay traditions.  Now, Skipjack Heritage Days revives this maritime celebration – bigger and better than ever!

Running alongside the Maryland Seafood Festival, Skipjack Heritage Days invites families to explore the sotories of the Bay through hands-on activities, educational exhibits, public skipjack sails, and a Sunday skipjack race viewable from the East Beach Festival grounds.

“Skipjacks are living history,” says Susan Schneider, organizer with Skipjack Heritage, Inc. “They’re iconic to our region, and this festival offers a rare chance to experience them up close.”

Visit our Champions of the Chesapeake pavilion to learn from such groups as:

• Blacks of the Chesapeake
• Annapolis Maritime Museum
• Living Classrooms Foundation
• Phillips Wharf Environmental Center Fishmobile
• Dept of Environmental Science & Technology, UMD
• Nathan of Dorcester
• Dee of St. Mary’s – Calvert Marine Museum
• CMM Patuxent Small Craft Guild
• Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
• and much more….

Step on one of the Skipjacks for an at-the-dock tour or take a short cruise on the bay on one of the attending skipjacks.  The Skipjacks that are expected to participate are:

• Rebecca T. Ruark (1886)
• Ida May (1906)
• Han-Em-Harv (1981)
• Nathan of Dorchester (1994)
• Rosie Parks (1955)
• Wilma Lee (1940)
• HM Krentz (1955)
• Messenger (1975)
• Elsworth (1901)
• Sigsbee (1901)
• Stanley Norman (1902)
• Thomas Clyde (1911)
• Martha Lewis (1955)
• Lady Helen (1987)
• Lady Katie (1955)
• Plus buy Boats: Mildred Belle and Dudley