Nautical Christmas Events - Things To Do

Montauk Lighthouse | credit USCG

The Mid Atlantic Region is known for its nautical events. This post focuses on nautical theme Christmas and winter holiday things to do in the area.


New York

Christmas with Santa 2019 at the Montauk Lighthouse

Santa Claus himself will be at the Montauk Point Lighthouse on Sunday, December 1st, 2019 from - 11:00 AM - 03:00 PM. Families will enjoy caroling, pony rides, and more.


New Jersey

West Cape May (WCM) Community Christmas Parade

Always the first Saturday in December, The West Cape May (WCM) Community Christmas Parade sets the stage for the areas holiday season. Now in its 54th year, the parade steps off at 5:00pm sharp from the WCM Volunteer Firehouse and marches South on Broadway, winds East on Perry, and onto Carpenter Lane in the City of Cape May. The Parade reschedules to December 8th in the event of inclement weather.


Maryland

Baltimore Inner Harbor Boat Parade

An annual parade of lighted boats is scheduled to occur in the Northwest and Inner Harbors at Baltimore, MD on December 7, 2019, between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The holiday season boat parade consists of 30 sail and power vessels (19-60 feet in length). Vessels will gather in the Northwest Harbor near Canton at Anchorage Marina, proceed to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, and conduct two counter-clockwise loops before returning to the starting area. Participants will be supported by sponsor-provided watercraft. Additional event information is available at www.anchoragemarina.com.

Middle River Boat Parade

An annual holiday season boat parade is scheduled to occur in the Middle River on November 30, 2019, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Approximately 100 sail and power vessels (15 to 60 feet in length) will operate along the Middle River and its tributaries, near Baltimore County, MD. Participants will be supported by sponsor-provided safety vessels.

Ocean City MD Winterfest of Lights

This year's Ocean City MD Winterfest of Lights runs November 21 - December 31, 2019. On display will be more than one million holiday lights and hundreds of animated light displays throughout Northside Park. Relax and sip hot chocolate in the heated Winterfest Village pavilion, take a photo with Santa, and board the Winterfest Express to tour fairy tale themed exhibits. The one-mile journey takes visitors through 58 acres of lights and features a 50-foot Christmas tree.

Christmas in St. Michaels

Christmas in St. Michaels is held annually the second weekend in December in historic St. Michaels, Maryland. Ticketed and free events include the Tour of Homes, Holiday Gala, Breakfast with Santa, and the Christmas Parade along Talbot Street, the largest holiday parade on the Eastern Shore.


Virginia

Holiday Parade at the Beach - Virginia Beach

On Saturday, December 7, at 5:30pm, the Cox Communications Holiday Parade at the Beach will include giant balloons, marching bands, lighted floats, equestrian units, fire trucks, performing dance groups, motorcycles, and Santa. The parade travels north on Atlantic Avenue from 15th Street to 25th Street. The reviewing stand is located at 25th Street and Atlantic Avenue.

Related Information

Christmas In New England

Baltimore Inner Harbor

Hampton Roads Christmas Holiday Events 2019

Things To Do In Ocean City MD

Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival 2017

This year's Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival will be held May 20th & 21st, 2017 at Sandy Point State Park near Annapolis, Maryland. The net proceeds from this show will go to help local charities.

2017 Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival Festival Lineup:

Saturday

The Mavericks
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Walter Trout
Samantha Fish
Toronzo Cannon
Frank Bang and the Cook County Kings
Sweet Leda

Sunday:

Jonny Lang
Robert Randolph and the
Family Band
Ana Popovic
The William Bell Band
Mississippi Blues Child Mr. Sipp
The Apocalypse Blues Revue
Swamp Candy


Tickets are on sale now at www.bayblues.org.

Shamrock Marathon 2017 - Virginia Beach

Approximately 30,000 runners from all 50 states and several countries will come together along the Virginia Beach Oceanfront March 18-19 for the Annual Shamrock Marathon Weekend.

The three-day event features a Sports and Fitness Expo, races and challenges to accommodate all ages and skill levels, and a huge finish line celebration on the beach.

Registration is still open for the Yuengling Shamrock marathon (26.2 miles), the Anthem Shamrock half marathon (13.1 miles) and the TowneBank Shamrock 8K (4.97 miles).

Visit ShamrockMarathon.com to register.

source: City of Virginia Beach

North Carolina Turkey Hunting Seminars

In March, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, along with the National Wild Turkey Federation, will host free turkey hunting seminars throughout North Carolina.

The seminars, which will be held from 6 to 9 p.m., are open on a first-come, first-serve basis to all ages and skill levels, although participants 16 years and younger will need parental permission to register. Pre-registration is required and participants must register online.

Among the topics that will be covered during the seminars are biology, hunting methods, calls and decoys, firearms and ammo tips, camouflage clothing, and turkey processing and cooking techniques.

A question-and-answer session, along with a brief overview of hunter recruitment, retention and re-activation (R3) initiatives, will conclude each seminar.

Seminar dates and locations:

March 1
Pitt County Extension Center
403 Government Circle, Suite 2, Greenville, NC 27834

March 2
N.C. State University Engineering Building II (EBII)
Classroom 1025
3114 Engineering Building II
890 Oval Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606

March 7
Pasquotank County Extension Center
1209 McPherson Street, Elizabeth City, NC 27909

March 8
Onslow County Extension Center
4024 Richlands Hwy., Jacksonville, NC 28540

March 9
Craven County Extension Center
300 Industrial Drive, New Bern, NC 28562

March 14
Mountain Horticulture Crops Research and Extension Center
455 Research Drive, Mills River, NC 28759

March 15
Cumberland County Extension Center, Cumberland County
301 East Mountain Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28306

March 16
Bass Pro Shops
8181 Concord Mills Blvd., Concord, NC 28027

March 21
Brunswick County Extension Center, BLDG. N
25 Referendum Drive, Bolivia, NC 28422
March 22

Haywood Community College
185 Freedlander Drive, Clyde, NC 28721

March 23
Caldwell County Extension Center
120 Hospital Avenue NE/Suite 1, Lenoir NC 28645

March 28
Catawba County Extension Center
1175 South Brady Avenue, Newton NC 28658

March 29
Forsyth County Extension Center
1450 Fairchild Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27105

March 30
Guilford County Extension Center
3309 Burlington Road, Greensboro, NC 27405

For more information, visit www.ncwildlife.org.

source: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Bird Festivals 2017 - Mid Atlantic Region

royal terns

This article includes bird festivals and other birding events that will take place in the Mid Atlantic region during 2017.

Each year, national wildlife refuges host bird festivals throughout the Mid Atlantic region. Most Mid Atlantic national wildlife refuges are located along the Atlantic Flyway, an important migratory bird route. Many festivals coincide with spring or fall migration.

Mid Atlantic bird and birdwatching festivals are also hosted by cities, towns, state parks, and birding organizations.

Winter Wildlife Festival
Virginia Beach VA
​​​​January 20 - 22, 2017
presented by Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries​

Winter Delmarva Birding Weekend
27-28-29, 2017
The 2nd Annual Winter Delmarva Birding Weekend will be held January 27-28-29, 2017.

Great Dismal Swamp Birding Festival
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Chesapeake - Suffok, VA
April 20-22, 2017
The Great Dismal Swamp Birding Festival is held during the height of the spring neotropical songbird migration. The festival is part of International Migratory Bird Day.

Spring Delmarva Birding Weekend
April 27-28-29-30, 2017
The 22nd Annual Spring Delmarva Birding Weekend will be held April 27-28-29-30, 2017.

International Migratory Bird Day
May 2017
International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) celebrates the migration of nearly 350 species of migratory birds between nesting habitats in North America and non-breeding grounds in Latin America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. This year, many events will take place on May 13.

Spring Shorebird and Horseshoe Crab Festival
The Wetlands Institute
Cape May, New Jersey
May 20-21, 2017
The Wetlands Institute in Cape May will host the 5th Annual Spring Shorebird and Horseshoe Crab Festival, May 20-21, 2017.

Cape May Spring Festival
May 19-21, 2017

Wings over Water Festival
Manteo, NC
October 17-22, 2017
This multi-day festival features field trips to five national wildlife refuges: Pea Island, Alligator River, Mattamuskeet, Pocosin Lakes and Mackay Island.

Eastern Shore Birding and Wildlife Festival
Cape Charles, VA
October 2017
Based in Cape Charles, Virginia, the Eastern Shore Birding and Wildlife Festival coincides with the peak of fall bird migration in a coastal environment.

International Bird Observatory Conference 2017
Cape May, New Jersey
October 26, 2017 to October 30, 2017
www.njaudubon.org

Refuge Waterfowl Week
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
Chincoteague Island, VA
November 19-26, 2017
During Refuge Waterfowl Week, the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge will offer guided walks, tours, and other special events to mark the fall migration of waterfowl to the refuge.

Related Information

Chesapeake Bay Birds

North Carolina Shape of the Coast 2017

North Carolina coastal stakeholders are encouraged to sign up for the Shape of the Coast series of sessions that will focus on coastal law and policy in North Carolina.

The talks are scheduled for 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, at the Friday Center in Chapel Hill. The event is part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Law Festival of Legal Learning.

The coastal session is co-sponsored by North Carolina Sea Grant; the N.C. Coastal Resources Law, Planning and Policy Center, or NCCRLPPC; and the UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Law.

Lisa Schiavinato, California Sea Grant extension director; Palmer Hilton, UNC School of Law student; and Jane Harrison, North Carolina Sea Grant coastal economics specialist, will lead the final session on public beach access and oyster aquaculture.

In the first part, Schiavinato, former North Carolina Sea Grant coastal law specialist, will focus on the conflicts between oceanfront property owners and beachgoers in coastal states, including North Carolina and California.

Harrison and Hilton, a former NCCRLPPC fellow, will offer an overview on the current state of the oyster aquaculture industry in North Carolina, including an update on regulatory efforts that could facilitate oyster farming in state waters.

Other topics include:

 “Insurance Update”​ by Donald T. Hornstein, Aubrey L. Brooks Professor of Law, UNC School of Law;

“What’s Ahead for NC Coastal Policy?” from the N.C. Coastal Resources Commission; and

“Federal and State Coastal Case Law Update” by Meredith Jo Alcoke, Ward and Smith, P.A., and Todd S. Roessler, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP.

For more information, visit www.law.unc.edu/cle/festival.

source: North Carolina Sea Grant

2016 Horseshoe Crab and Shorebird Festival

Horseshoe Crab & Shorebird Festival
May 28, 2016 - 10am - 4pm
Milton Memorial Park
Milton, Delaware
www.HistoricMilton.com

The Horseshoe Crab & Shorebird Festival celebrates horseshoe crabs and migrating shorebirds, long considered by many to be a natural wonder of Delaware Bay.

The annual Horseshoe Crab & Shorebird Festival often draws 1,500-plus visitors who annually enjoy arts and crafts, as well as an art show, boat rides down the Broadkill River, canoe trips on Prime Hook Creek, games, food, music, and more.

This year, the event is sponsored by the Milton Chamber of Commerce and Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge.

A shuttle bus will be available to transport visitors to and from the Refuge. For more information, www.historicmilton.com or call the Milton Chamber of Commerce at 302-684-1101.

Outer Banks NC Outdoors Day

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is hosting a free “Outdoors Day” on March 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education in Corolla.

At Outdoors Day, visitors can experience the outdoors and gain practical knowledge through hands-on activities and demonstrations, such as fishing, kayaking, shooting a bow and arrow and an air rifle.

Visitors also can check out other activity stations, such as Game Species, Talking Turkey, Backyard Bass, Birding Basics and Sea Turtles.

Staff from Alligator River and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuges will be on hand to describe their seasonal tours, canoe outings, and ranger-led programs on local wildlife during the day.

The Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education features exhibits and programs that interpret coastal North Carolina’s wildlife and habitats, natural history and cultural heritage. Things to do include daily showings of an award-winning documentary, and a calendar of events, and educational courses.

Admission to the center is free, as are the educational programs offered. The Center is Located in Currituck Heritage Park on Highway 12, next to Currituck Beach Lighthouse and the Whalehead Club.

For more information, visit ncwildlife.org/obx.

source: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Delmarva Birding Weekend 2016

Delmarva Birding Weekend
January 29 - January 31, 2016

Oystercatchers

The annual Delmarva Birding Winter Weekend celebrates songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, and raptors that are seen on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Winter Weekend activities include boat and hiking trips with a special emphasis on winter birds.

The Delmarva Peninsula possesses an extensive variety of environments, including barrier islands, tidal wetlands, cypress swamps, upland fields and primeval forests.

Field trips take place in the land and water that feed into the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, and the Atlantic coastal bays. More than 400 bird species have been recorded in the region.

For more information, visit www.delmarvabirding.com

Christmas Bird Counts

Wildlife refuges throughout the Mid Atlantic take part the annual Christmas bird census, coordinated by the National Audubon Society.

2015 Mid Atlantic Region Christmas bird counts:

Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (NJ)
December 19, 2015
Spend a day counting birds. Novices welcome. For more information, call 973-425-9510.

Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (VA)
December 16, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Help count birds on the refuge. For more information, call 757-986-3705

source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Things To Do - October

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is hosting a series of special programs and events for the month of October. All programs are open to the public.

Fossil Trail Hike
October 11, 2015 10am – 12pm
Pocono Environmental Education Center
Celebrate National Fossil Day* with a 1.3 mile hike.

Archaeology Day
October 17, 2015, 10am – 3pm
Smithfield Beach
This Archaeology Day** celebration includes presentations and hands-on activities throughout the day.

Lecture Series
October 17, 2015, 7pm – 8pm
Bushkill Meeting Center
A subject-matter expert will discuss the park’s rich cultural history.

EcoZone! Discovery Room
October 18 and 31, 2015, 1 pm – 4pm
Pocono Environmental Education Center
Participants can explore the indoor discovery room, and enjoy hands-on exhibits on natural history, sustainability and the local environment. Fee is $2.00 per person. Call PEEC at (570) 828-2319 for more information.

Van Campen Day
October 18, 2015, Begins at noon
Van Campen Inn
The event includes tours of the eighteenth-century Van Campen Inn presented by costumed guides, music provided by the Colonial Musketeers Fife and Drum Corps, colonial crafts, re-enacted encampment, and hikes to Fort Shapanack, the slave cemetery, and Shapanack cemetery. For more information call the Walpack Historical Society at (973) 948-4903.

Octivities at Millbrook Village
October 24, 2015, 3pm – 8pm
Millbrook Village
Learn about nineteenth-century traditions during Octivities at Millbrook Village. After sunset, there will be lantern strolls of the village and spooky storytelling around the campfire.

* National Fossil Day is a celebration organized by the National Park Service to promote public awareness and stewardship of fossils, as well as to foster a greater appreciation of their scientific and educational values.

** International Archaeology Day is a celebration of archaeology and the thrill of discovery. Every October the AIA and archaeological organizations across the United States, Canada, and abroad present archaeological programs and activities for people of all ages and interests.

source: NPS

Arts in the Estuary - Dover Delaware

The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) is holding Arts in the Estuary from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015 at the St. Jones Reserve, 818 Kitts Hummock Road, Dover and at the John Dickinson Plantation, located next to the Reserve at 340 Kitts Hummock Road.

Arts in the Estuary will feature artists, photographers, jewelers, wood carvers, and exhibitors showcasing their work for sale at the St. Jones Reserve.

Visitors can view painting and carving demonstrations, speak to local artists, paint an estuary landscape, and get tips on how to create their own artwork.

Children of all ages can demonstrate their talents by painting with soils, making fish prints, and doing other children’s activities.

Live musical performances will include Bethany Krumrine at 11 a.m. and by Rick Schuman at 12:30 p.m.

At the John Dickinson Plantation, period artists will demonstrate their heirloom crafts and costumed interpreters will guide visitors through the mansion and demonstrate the colonial art of preserving, smoking and pickling foods.

The event also includes the Delaware Native Plant Society’s Annual Native Plant Sale.

Arts in the Estuary will be held in celebration of National Estuary Day. Admission is free to the event, which will be held rain-or-shine. 

For more information about Arts in the Estuary, visit: http://de.gov/dnerrarts

2015 International Folk Festival - Fayetteville, NC

37th Fayetteville - Cumberland County International Folk Festival (North Carolina)
September 25-27, 2015
Downtown Fayetteville
335 Ray Avenue
Fayetteville, NC 28301


Celebrate cultural diversity at the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County’s 37th International Folk Festival September 25-27 in downtown Fayetteville.

The Folk Festival includes a Parade of Nations, live performances, authentic cuisine, arts and crafts vendors, children’s area, Native American Cultural Showcase. 

For more information, visit www.theartscouncil.com.

Things To Do in Harpers Ferry West Virginia

Harpers Ferry West Virginia is one of the best kept secrets in the Mid Atlantic region. Steeped in history, this small town offers an incredible array of outdoor recreation.

This friendly town's appeal is due mostly to its geographic location. Harpers Ferry is located at the junction of two of America's most famous rivers; the Potomac and Shenandoah.

Things to do outdoors in Harpers Ferry West Virginia include hiking, biking, rafting, tubing, kayaking, fishing, birdwatching, camping, tours of the town, and many other activities.

Not to be overlooked are things to do indoors, including shopping, dining, and museum tours. History buffs can tour the John Brown Wax Museum, Brunswick Heritage Museum, Jefferson County Museum, and Civil War Living History Museum.

Harpers Ferry and other nearby towns host a number of festivals and other events throughout the year, including the Harpers Ferry Outdoor Festival, American Conservation Film Festival, African American Heritage Festival, Mountain Heritage Festival, and others.

Visitors to Harpers Ferry generally find local services to be good. The town has bed and breakfasts, restaurants, cafe's, specialty shops, river outfitters, fishing guides, hiking and biking shops, gift shops, bookstores, and more.

Related Information

Harpers Ferry Kayaking

Labor Day Weekend Things To Do - Mid Atlantic

The list of things to do during Labor Day Weekend 2015 is a long one. This list includes a few of the many festivals, shows, and other events that will be held in the Mid Atlantic region.

New Jersey

West Cape May Tomato Festival
Wilbraham Park
Perry Street
West Cape May, NJ 08204

The West Cape May Tomato Festival celebrates the Jersey fresh tomato and the end of the summer season.


Delaware

Season Finale Fireworks Celebration with Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra
Saturday, Sep. 5, 2015
Time: 7:00 P.M.
The Freeman Stage at Bayside
31750 Lake View Drive
The Freeman Stage at Bayside
Selbyville, DE
Price: Free

Celebrate Labor Day and America with the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, in an evening of the great American Classics of Jazz, Swing and Orchestral Favorites. The event includes a post-concert fireworks display.


Maryland

At Baltimore MD, visitors can enjoy landmarks, historic sites, parks, boat tours and other attractions. Places to see include the Inner Harbor, Fells Point, North Point, Fort McHenry, tall ships, and many others.

Annapolis First Sunday Arts Festival
September 6, 2015
Calvert and West Streets
Annapolis, Maryland

The Annapolis First Sunday Arts Festival is a free arts and craft show featuring around 100 local and regional artists, crafts vendors, live music, dance, street performers, food, and more. The arts festival is held the first Sunday of each month May to October on Calvert and West Streets in Historic Annapolis, Maryland.


National Hard Crab Derby
September 3, 4, 5, 6, 2015
Somers Cove Marina
Crisfield, MD

The National Hard Crab Derby in Crisfield features exhibits, food, games, contests, and other attractions.

Crisfield Maryland Boat Docking Contest
September 6, 2015
Somers Cove Marina
Crisfield, MD

The Crisfield Maryland Boat Docking Contest features watermen from around the Chesapeake Bay competing for cash prizes.

Deal Island Skipjack Races and Festival
September 5-7, 2015
Deal Island Harbor
10319 Richard Webster Road
Deal Island, MD 21821

The Deal Island skipjack sailboat races are a local tradition.


Washington, D.C.

DC Blues Festival
September 5, 2015
12:00 pm - 7:00 pm   
Washington, D.C.

The 27th annual, free D.C. Blues festival will be held Sept. 5 at the Carter Barron Amphitheater. Performers at the Blues Festival will include Jackson and Oziel, The Mojo Priests, Full Power Blues, James Armstrong, and Sharrie Williams.

National Book Festival
September 5, 2015
10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Washington Convention Center   
Washington, D.C.

The 15th Anniversary National Book Festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, at the Washington Convention Center. Approximately 175 authors, illustrators, and poets will be attending the national book festival.


Virginia

2015 American Music Festival
September 4-6, 2015
Virginia Beach Boardwalk

The 2015 American Music Festival will showcase more than 30 bands. The festival will be held September 4-6, along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk.


West Virginia

River and Trail Outfitters Kayaking Tour
Saturday, September 6th, 2015
Harpers Ferry, WV

On Saturday evening, River and Trail Outfitters will hold a guided kayaking tour on the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers near Harpers Ferry. Enjoy paddling by the light of the setting sun and experience the serenity and wildlife of the river.

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge Red Wolf Howls

Red Wolf Howls
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, North Carolina
Wednesdays, 7:30 to 9 p.m.

At Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina, wolf enthusiasts can hear endangered red wolves howl in the wild while learning about red wolf recovery efforts on the refuge.

Summer howlings cost $10 per person; children age 12 and under are free. No registration is required.

Events will occur except with lightning, heavy rain, or wind or impassable roads. Pets are not allowed.

For more information, call 252-216-9464

source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

2014 International Swan Symposium

2014 International Swan Symposium
February 3-6, 2014
Tidewater Inn
Easton, Maryland

Swan experts and enthusiasts from throughout the world will gather to discuss the latest in swan research, conservation, management and protection at a joint conference of The Trumpeter Swan Society and the Wetlands International/IUCN SSC Swan Specialists Group.

The conference will feature three days of contributed scientific papers, posters and workshops, a banquet and silent auction, and one day of field trips.

Papers will cover all aspects of swan ecology with workshops providing an opportunity to discuss a few specific conservation issues.

source: Trumpeter Swan Society

2013 National Wildlife Refuge Week Events - Mid-Atlantic Region

The Big Sit!
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, PA
Sunday, October 13, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Big Sit! is one of the nation's most popular bird counts. During the annual event, teams count and report bird species seen or heard from a 17-foot-diameter circle.

“Go Wild,”
Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge, VA (Hutchinson Tract)
Sunday, October 13, 1 to 5 p.m.

Events include bluebird house building, a guided kayak tour, and more, hosted by Friens of Rappahannock Wildlife Refuge Friends. 

Wildlife Festival
Patuxent Research Refuge, MD
Saturday, October 19, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Enjoy live animals, ,children’s crafts, tram tours, scientific demonstrations and behind-the-scenes research tours of the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center located on the refuge.

source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

2013 National Wildlife Refuge Week Events - Mid-Atlantic Region

The following National Wildlife Refuge Week Events are scheduled in the Mid-Atlantic region:

The Big Sit!
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, PA
Sunday, October 13, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Big Sit! is one of the nation's most popular bird counts. During the annual event, teams count and report bird species seen or heard from a 17-foot-diameter circle.

“Go Wild,”
Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge, VA (Hutchinson Tract)
Sunday, October 13, 1 to 5 p.m.

Events include bluebird house building, a guided kayak tour, and more, hosted by Friens of Rappahannock Wildlife Refuge Friends. 

Wildlife Festival
Patuxent Research Refuge, MD
Saturday, October 19, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Enjoy live animals, ,children’s crafts, tram tours, scientific demonstrations and behind-the-scenes research tours of the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center located on the refuge.

source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

2013 Southern Maryland Blues Festival Bands Update

Chesapeake Bay Events recently announced that 14 year old Blues/Guitar prodigy "KINGFISH" has been added to the Sunday September 8th lineup of the 2013 Southern Maryland Blues Festival. Christone "Kingfish" Ingram will be a featured guest of the Daryl Davis Band.

Kingfish was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi which has gained much notoriety as the birthplace of the Blues. It’s reputation is well known the world over for spawning such notable legends as Muddy Waters, Pinetop Perkins, Robert Johnson, John Lee Hooker, Gospel and Soul singer Sam Cooke, Ike Turner, and many others. The legendary town of Clarksdale is located at the intersection of Highway 61 and Highway 49.

The Southern Maryland Blues Festival is a two day festival featuring 12 national, international and local bands. There will be Arts, Crafts, Kids Activities, a variety of food, beer and craft beer tasting by local hosted breweries, wine and wine tasting hosted by local wineries.

The 2 day event is being held on September 7th and 8th at the Calvert County Fairgrounds in Barstow, Maryland. The festival will benefit the less fortunate of Southern Maryland through a contribution of ALL net proceeds to End Hunger in Calvert County.

For more information, visit: www.somdblues.org