Labor Day Weekend, September 1-3 will be jam packed with fun events for Chesapeake Bay boaters on and off the water.
21st Annual Charity Boat Auction at CBMM
Saturday, September 1, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD, will host its annual Charity Boat Auction on the museum's campus. Gates open at 8 a.m., the tag sale begins at 9 a.m. (cash only), the auction kicks off at 11 a.m. and the beer begins flowing at 10:30. General admission is $5 per person until 11 a.m., after which regular museum admission applies. You can preview boats beforehand online, and you will find everything from luxury cruisers to dinghies.
National Hard Crab Derby
Crisfield's National Hard Crab Derby is an annual Labor Day weekend event. The unique crab themed festival features crab races, crab cooking and picking contests, carnival rides, arts and crafts, vendors, live entertainment, beauty pageants, a parade, fireworks, and more. The festival begins Wednesday, August 29 with a carnival and ends Sunday, September 2 with a fireworks show at 9 p.m. Many events are free; there is a $3 admission fee on Saturday.
Maryland Sportsman Show
September 1-2 at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship, MD. This is a two-day event packed with more than 100 vendors with great deals on hunting and fishing gear, clothing, boats, RVs and trucks. Meet face-to-face with top outdoors companies, see the latest products, speak with guides, and book upcoming guided trips. There will also be a Dock Dogs competition, a Waterfowl Calling Competition, Corn Hole Competition, and more.
Chesapeake Cowboys Boat Docking Competitions
There are two Chesapeake Cowboys boat docking events Labor Day weekend: September 2 at 1 p.m. at Crisfield City Dock in Crisfield, MD, and September 3 at 2 p.m. at Deal Island Harbor in Deal Island, MD.
Maryland State Fair
While this may not be a boating event, it's always a good time for the family and a great way to celebrate all-things Maryland. The Maryland State Fair runs August 23-September 23 at the Maryland Sate Fairgrounds in Timonium. Find a full schedule of events online. Adult tickets are $10, senior tickets (over 62) are $8, and children 6-11 are $5.
Maryland Renaissance Festival
Again, definitely not a boating event but this much-beloved festival starts to signal an end of summer and the start of fall. The Maryland Renn Fest runs August 25 -October 21 in Crownsville, MD, and is open Saturday-Monday Labor Day Weekend. Tickets are $19 for adults, $17 for seniors, $8 for children ages 7-15, children under 7 are free.