Tall Ship, Lighthouse Day, Waterfront Festival Celebrated In MD

MARYLAND — Maryland has plenty of nautical events this month. Happenings include a tall ship visit, a Lighthouse Day celebration and a waterfront festival.

Patch recently partnered with several local organizations to bring you their latest news. This guest contribution comes from National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways and Chesapeake Conservancy. Here's what Jody Hedeman Couser submitted to help you explore the Chesapeake Bay:

"Pride of Baltimore II Is Coming to St. Michaels

In 1988, Pride of Baltimore II was commissioned as a sailing memorial to its immediate predecessor, the original Pride of Baltimore, which sank in 1986 due to a white squall off Puerto Rico. Both ships were built in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor as reproductions of 1812-era topsail schooners, or Baltimore clippers. Don’t miss this opportunity to take a deck tour of Pride II when it visits the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. In conjunction with the visit, the Chesapeake Independent Blues, a Maryland War of 1812 volunteer interpretive organization, will also be on CBMM’s campus Aug. 7–8, providing living history impressions of the citizen-soldiers from Talbot County who served in the Maryland Militia during the War of 1812. Historic weapon firing demonstrations will be offered on Saturday and Sunday. Pride II tours are free with general admission to the museum and are good for two days. August 7-8; 10:00 am to 5:00 pm; Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michaels, MD. More information.

Celebrate National Lighthouse Weekend at Piney Point

This year is the 185th anniversary of Piney Point Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse on the Potomac! Head to Piney Point for a fun open house weekend in recognition of National Lighthouse Day. Enjoy tours of the museum, Potomac River Maritime Exhibit, and the lighthouse tower and grounds. The keeper’s quarters and lighthouse will offer special tours featuring interpreters who depict light keeper Yeatman and his wife, and visitors will learn more about life at the lighthouse. Special lighthouse exhibit and Lego Lighthouse contestant displays will be at the main museum. This is a free event. August 7-8, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm; Piney Point Lighthouse Museum and Historic Park, Piney Point, Maryland. More information.

Havre de Grace Waterfront Festival

This annual multi-day event celebrates the past, present and future culture of the Havre de Grace waterfront and surrounding waterfront areas. The festival kicks off on Friday, August 20 with a lighted boat parade which can be viewed along the shoreline from Tydings Park to the Amtrak bridge, and Concord Point Park will host a steel drum band, food trucks, and a beer garden. The festival itself (Saturday-Sunday) will include four different parks and activities for everyone like live entertainment stage, Splash Golf, heritage exhibits, mermaid meet and greets, youth fishing derbies, seafood vendors, axe throwing, bouncy houses, pony and unicorn rides, face painting, live pirate shows, and lots more! Free festival entrance, some special shows (like mermaid sing-along) require tickets. August 20-22, Havre de Grace, MD. More information and schedule.

Estuary Foragers

Edible plants are all around, even throughout the marsh! Paddle through nature’s produce section at Leight Park and discover plants that have been used for nourishment for countless generations. Ages 8 to adult; under 13 with an adult; $12 per person. August 14, 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm; Anita C. Leight Estuary Center, Abingdon, MD. More information and registration.

Time to Up Your Vibrio Awareness

The last thing we want to think about as we pack up for a day of boating or fishing on the Bay is the danger of getting a severe infection. But this is the time of year when we need to be extra vigilant. According to the CDC, about 80% of infections caused by the vibrio bacteria occur between May and October, when water temperatures are warmer. For general information about vibrio, who is most at risk, and tips for reducing risk, check the Maryland.gov Fact Sheet. Vibrio predictive models, based on factors like recent rainfall, water temperature, nutrient levels and salt concentrations are available at NOAA."

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