On your next Maryland Eastern Shore, Chesapeake Bay adventure, take a ride down (all the way down!) the picturesque Chesapeake Country All-American Road or a scenic Tangier Sound boat ride and moor up to the City Dock or Somers Cove Marina and visit the Crisfield Arts and Entertainment District in the well-known crab capital of the world–Crisfield, Maryland!
The Crisfield Arts and Entertainment District (CAED) has been busy planning, organizing and coordinating a wide range of amazing arts, cultural and heritage events for the upcoming 2024 tourist season. The district plays host to art exhibits and workshops, family events and annual community festivals taking place from the historical mausoleum-turned-library-turned-Corbin Studio and Gallery (come and see for yourself!) to Gallery 413 and J.Millard Tawes Heritage Museum, down to the waterfront at Somerset County Arts Council’s West Main Street Gallery and everywhere in between! Check out our website and mobile calendar for all upcoming events in the A&E District at CrisfieldArts.org. If you come for a specific activity, a yearly festival or to just leisurely wander around and explore on your own schedule, here’s what you don’t want to miss in 2024:
3rd Saturdays at the Crisfield Farmer’s Market: 3rd Saturday every month May-Oct., 9-12 noon (regular Farmer’s Market is every 1st & 3rd Saturdays)
Come see all there is to offer from our local vendors–jams and jellies, soap, in-season veggies, artwork, hand-made crafts and more! Activities for kids and live music sponsored by the Crisfield A&E every 3rd Saturday (May 18, June 15, July 20, Aug. 17, Sep. 21. Oct. 19)! There will be motorcycle parking right in front! If you are a vendor who would like to participate every first and third Saturday of each month please contact Friends of Crisfield for more information at 443-783-2486 or email arts@crisfieldcityhall.com for artists, art vendors or how to be part of 3rd Saturdays.
Hangin’ Out Art Show: May 15-19, Reception May 17th from 5-8PM
This is Crisfield Arts & Entertainment’s annual signature art show! Come out to see what talent our Crisfield artists have! Everyone is welcome to enter one piece for this show and the public benefits from viewing and buying their work during the exhibit or at the fantastic reception! A very fun show hosted by the Crisfield A&E and sponsored in part by American Legion Post #16 that is free to enter and attend for the whole family! To register or details visit: CrisfieldArts.org
New! Heart of Crisfield Festival: Memorial Day Weekend, May 25, 12-4pm
One of Crisfield’s newest festivals for Memorial Day Weekend! Drive or walk to multiple venues in the Arts and Entertainment District to participate in special activities for the whole family! This is a dog friendly event that includes vendors at the Corbin. Participating sponsoring locations include all 3 galleries (Corbin Studio and Gallery, Gallery 413 and Somerset Arts Council’s West Main St. Gallery), Tawes Museum, the Public Library, Doug Swift’s Community Garden and WBOYC 107.3 Community Radio Station. Addresses and locations will be updated at https://www.facebook.com/artsandentertainmentcrisfield/
32nd Annual Soft Shell and Waterman’s Festival: Memorial Day Weekend, May 26, 12-4pm
If you love crab and the watermen who catch them, this festival is for you! Come on down to the City Dock area where there will be live music by the Going Coastal Band (sponsored by the A&E), drink specials and of course, amazing crab to eat! Hosted by the High Tide Club. All part of the Memorial Day festivities in Crisfield! See our facebook page for more information facebook.com/artsandentertainmentcrisfield/
Blue Grass and Sunset Festival: June 15, 11am-10pm
Festival located at Somers Cove Marina on beautiful Jersey Island right on the water. National bands, incredible food and drinks, crafts and musical instrument vendors. 2024 lineup: Asleep at the Wheel, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, Po’ Ramblin Boys, Roy Book Binder, Tim and Savannah Finch with The Eastman String Band, Dunlap and Mabe, Blue Crab Crossing. For more information and tickets:https://crisfieldbluegrass.ticketspice.com/crisfield-bluegrass-and-sunset-festival
Stars and Stripes Fest: July 4th Weekend, 5-6th
Sandcastles & Seaglass, live music, food and drinks and the Crisfield’s waterfront firework show that never disappoints! The Crisfield Arts & Entertainment District with Somers Cove Marina will host a Sandcastle and Sea Glass Festival July 5th. There will be sandcastle building demonstrations along with sea glass art vendors and musical entertainment playing all day. Then July 6th come see the finished sandcastle and make your own with the kids at Somers Cove Marina before the fireworks and band at the City Dock, hosted by the American Legion Post #16 and Somerset County Arts Council.
17th Annual Wheels on the Waterfront: July 27, 4-8pm
The Annual Waterfront Car Show you don’t want to miss! The WOW Cruise-In is a FREE Charity Car Cruise-In that attracts over 300 of Delmarva’s Hottest Hotrods, Coolest Classic Cars & Trucks, 4WD Mud Bog Trucks & Custom Motorcycles which can be seen on display in Downtown Crisfield from the City Dock on up. Hosted by The Wheels That Heal Car Club https://wowcruisein.com
New! BIG Little Townfest featuring World’s Record Duck Dogs!: Aug. 9-11
Love retrievers?!? Goldens, Labs, and Chessies will all be in Crisfield to show their skills (namely being the cutest dogs on planet earth!), romping and swimming and partaking in everything duck dogs love! Bring your dog or your love for dogs to this 3-day long event where there will be special events, kids activities, food, drinks, artists, vendors and music! The unofficial world record for Golden Retrievers is held by Australia and we want at least 1200 and up to a million duck dogs in Crisfield to set a new world record for the USA! This event is hosted by Friends of Crisfield and will be held at various locations throughout Crisfield, including the A&E District and American Legion Post #16. More details to follow at facebook.com/friendsofcrisfield
National Hard Crab Derby: Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 30-Sept. 1
The Crisfield National Hard Crab Derby is a favorite annual Labor Day weekend event on the Maryland Eastern Shore, a unique crab themed event that includes crab races, crab cooking and picking contests, crafts, live entertainment, beauty pageants, parade, fireworks and more! This year bring a team from your state to name the crab for the races. The American Legion Post #16 is hoping to have a team from all 50 states to cheer on their crab to victory! So pass this along to all of your friends around the country! Go to nationalhardcrabderby.com for more information and to register for this event hosted by American Legion Post #16 and the Crisfield Chamber of Commerce.
2nd Annual Jazz on the Waterfront: Sept. 14
You can’t get much better than listening to some smooth jazz while the sun goes down on the City Dock’s waterfront location! Pull up your own chairs–or go VIP! Tickets sales and the 2024 lineup will be announced soon. See ExploreCrisfield.com for more information.
47th Annual Tawes Crab and Clam Bake: Sept. 25
The 47th Annual J. Millard Tawes Crab & Clam Bake will be held at Somers Cove Marina and is a Maryland must-attend, see-and-be-seen political institution, equal parts seafood and schmooze. This Maryland State Governor attended event is open to all with tickets for the largest all-you-can -eat steamed Blue Crabs, steamed clams, steamed corn, suck’m down as they shuck’m raw Clam Bar, fried clam strips, fried fish, sweet potato fries, french fries, onion rings & watermelon. An event you can’t miss! Hosted by the Crisfield Chamber of Commerce.
3rd Annual Crisfield Heritage Festival and Ward Foundation Chesapeake Challenge Decoy Contest: Sept. 28
Free activities for all ages, entertainment, art and crafts vendors, live demonstrations ALL showcasing our Crisfield HERITAGE! Hosted by the Crisfield Heritage Foundation and the Ward Foundation at the J. Millard Tawes Museum.
For more information: https://www.crisfieldheritage.org/
We look forward to seeing you at all of the events that are happening in the Crisfield Arts & Entertainment District. Remember, you can always go to CrisfieldArts.org to see a calendar of upcoming events and if you haven’t made it down to our waterfront little city in Somerset County, “It’s Time!” (visitsomerset.com)
