Annapolis Oyster Roast & Sock Burning: Events, Location, Parking

From Annapolis Maritime Museum: Goodbye to winter, only deck shoes we wear! Though the socks we are burning leave a stink in the air!” So reads the poem recited each year as hundreds of Annapolitans gather around a waterfront bonfire at the Annapolis Maritime Museum to burn their socks.

At this most curious of traditions, the Annapolis Oyster Roast & Sock Burning, we celebrate the maritime culture of the Eastport community and all things Chesapeake Bay. Tickets are sold out for the event this Saturday, March 23, 2019, from noon to 4 p.m. to welcome spring and the beginning of boating season.

“There is nothing more authentic and unique to Annapolis than this ritual of burning socks that started right here in Eastport,” said Alice Estrada, executive director of the museum. “This beloved event brings the community together and raises funds for our important environmental education programs.”

Burn your socks my friend, the winter is done,

Tis time for boating, crabbing, and fun.

The always-popular oyster shucking contest returns this year, along with electric boat tours of Back Creek. Admission to this Eastport party includes unlimited raw and roasted oysters, live music by the Eastport Oyster Boys, and access to the museum’s exhibits. Food trucks will be on site, and beer, wine, and themed cocktails will be available for purchase.

For guests ready to revel in all things oyster, a People’s Choice ticket is a perfect fit. Just $85, it includes two drink tickets and admission to a private reception featuring the competition for Best Oyster Dish. Sample offerings from the area’s best restaurants and caterers and vote for the winner!

Live music is provided by local band, The Eastport Oyster Boys, who entertain with a variety of musical styles. A shucking contest provides a chance to show your shucking prowess, and guests with the People’s Choice ticket participate in an exclusive tasting contest in which local restaurants and catering companies compete to prepare their Best Oyster Dish.

Activities and exhibits highlighting the area’s unique maritime heritage and the importance of the oyster to the health of the Chesapeake Bay are planned. Guests can take electric boat tours of Back Creek — see the location of our park campus.

John Van Alstine, a working waterman on the Chesapeake, will present a special educational exhibit teaching visitors all about life on the water.

Of course, there are plenty of oysters – raw and roasted — to eat, and beer, wine, and signature cocktails are available for purchase. Food trucks will also be on site.

Event Parking: Shuttles to and from the Museum will be provided by Urban Event Tours from Mears Marina (519 Chester Avenue).

While the museum is typically pet-friendly, no dogs are allowed at the Oyster Roast.

Trammell Crow Company, one of the nation’s leading developers and investors in commercial real estate, is returning as this year’s title sponsor. All proceeds from the event benefit the Annapolis Maritime Museum’s award-winning education programs.

Image via Annapolis Maritime Museum