Steamed Crabs, Bird Dog & the Road Kings at CBMM August 14

     St. Michaels, Md. -- With steamed crabs, cold beer, a boat docking contest, and the live music of Bird Dog and the Road Kings, the traditions of the Chesapeake are all part of the Talbot County Watermen’s Association’s 2nd Annual Watermen’s Appreciation Day on Sunday, August 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland.
     This year features a special appearance by Edgar Hansen of the fishing vessel Northwestern—as featured on Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch.” Hansen will be available for autographs and plans to be a passenger aboard one of the boats in the docking contest.
     The “Watermen’s Rodeo” or boat docking contest begins at 11 a.m. along the museum’s Foggs Cove. Following the boat docking contest, which is slated to end around 3:30 p.m., event-goers can participate in a jigger-throwing contest and earn bragging rights for the farthest toss.
     At noon, the day’s catch of crabs will be steamed up and served in a traditional Maryland crab feast, with live music beginning at 1 p.m. from the Eastern Shore’s favorite band, Bird Dog and the Road Kings. Hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream, cake, and snow cones will also be available. Check out the working watermen’s boats along the waterfront during this event, or tour the museum’s 18-acre waterfront campus and ten exhibit buildings, including the 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse and the Oystering on the Chesapeake exhibits.
     Kid’s games and family activities will also be a part of the day’s offerings, including knot tying demonstrations, model boat building, and more. Free boat rides on the museum’s replica buyboat, Mister Jim, will be available every half hour from 10:30 to 4:30 p.m.
     You can also bid on a number of items in the Watermen’s Association’s silent auction alongside the museum’s Small Boat Shed and includes artwork by Marc Castelli. Bids will be taken until 4:30pm, with proceeds supporting oyster restoration projects on the bay.
     Admission includes the crab feast, hot dogs, hamburgers, free boat rides, and non-alcoholic drinks and is $25 for adults, or $16 for children ages 6-17, with kids under six fed and admitted for free. Museum members get into the event for free, with crab feast wristbands available for members at $15 per adult, or $6 for children ages 6-17. Beer and additional food will also be available for purchase. For more information, visit cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916.