On Saturday, June 17, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., the Talbot County Free Library, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Choptank, will host the Second Annual Chesapeake Children’s Book Festival at the library’s Easton branch (100 West Dover Street). Attendees will meet over 30 authors and illustrators of some of today’s finest children’s books. The Festival will feature live music, a blacksmith working his smithy, make-a-book, an exhibit of Easton High School student art, free food and drink, sign up for the Imagination Library, a plant and seed exchange, a “Build Your Own Home” activity, a photo prop house children can have their picture taken in, and more. Several of the authors will give readings from their work.

The Festival will also serve as the kick-off event for the Talbot County Free Library’s annual summer reading program. Each child who signs up for the summer reading program will receive a voucher good for a free book from one of the Festival’s authors (while supplies last). The child gets to pick the book of their choice and have the author sign it. Studies have shown that children who read during the summer avoid significant drops in their reading skills and return to school in the fall better prepared than those that haven’t been reading. In keeping with the theme of this year’s summer reading program—“Build a Better World”—the library is partnering with Habitat for Humanity Choptank on the project. Every time a child in the summer reading program reads a book, a donation will be made to Habitat for Humanity Choptank.

All library programs are free and open to the public. For more information, please visit www.chesapeakechildrensbookfestival.com , or call 410-822-1626.

Come to the St. Michaels Library at 2pm for a fun family movie event! Ages 7 and older welcome.

2016 Arbor Day Run – April 9

9 a.m. Rain or shine. Kids Dash (ages 10 & under) begins at 8:50 a.m.

Join fellow runners and nature enthusiasts for the eleventh annual Arbor Day Run! Catch glimpses of spring as you traverse the cross-country course plotted along Adkins Arboretum’s network of scenic forest and meadow paths.

Awards will be presented to overall male/female and master winners, top 3 male/female winners in categories 10 & under through 70 & over in 10-year age groups.

Quality “Arbor Day 5K” shirts to all registered 5K participants. Fun Run/Kids Dash participants may purchase T-shirts for $10 each. Post-race festivities include refreshments, awards, and a native tree raffle. Chip timing provided by BluePoint Race Management.

Click here to download the 5K route.

Click here to download the One-Mile Fun Run/Walk route.

All proceeds benefit Adkins Arboretum, a Chesapeake Native Garden. For more information, visitadkinsarboretum.org.
5K Registration fees: $20 ages 16 & up, $10 ages 15 & under if registered by March 26. $25/$15 day of the race

The One-Mile Run Run/Walk and Healthy Kids Dash are free.

Our FREE 5K Fun Run Series continues, so come out and join us for the Spring Fling 5K on Saturday April 16, 2016!  Race time is 9:00am and on-site registration will begin at 7:30am.  Online registration is available HERE.  If you opt to register online, please plan on arriving to the shop by 8:30am for bib pick-up.

We believe in having FUN, and we will continue the fun with our winners being determined by who can guess their finish time by the closest margin.  If you can guess your time within 10 seconds, then YOU will be a WINNER!

Remember, there is no registration ‘fee’, but we do ask for a donation for a local cause.  This month brings prom right around the corner, and the St. Michaels High School After-Prom Party Committee needs some help.  The After Prom Party is a free event open to all attendees that have pledged to have a drug- and alcohol-free prom experience.   We are asking participants to bring a gift card to donate to the After Prom Party.  These gift cards will be used as door prizes that will be awarded throughout the event.  Gift cards for gas, groceries, restaurants, etc. in any amount are welcome.

As usual, this event is open to everyone.  All ages, all abilities, and even pets are allowed.  One requirement….HAVE FUN!  We hope to see you in April!

The Academy Art Museum and ChesMRC are teaming up to offer you and your family a fun and educational day called:

Travel the World at the Academy Art Museum

featuring the art and culture of ITALY

Children 6 + and their parents will work together on a fun art project and enjoy typical Italian snacks.

When: Saturday, March 12, 2016 from 10:00 am -1:00 pm

Where: The Academy Art Museum, 106 South St in Easton

Travel the World day is FREE, but please let us know if you are coming as it will help us plan.

You can call the Museum at 410-822-2787 or ChesMRC at (443-786-1120) or email the Museum’s Director of ArtReach and family programs, Constance Del Nero at cdelnero@academyartmuseum.org or ChesMRC’s director, Matthew Peters at mateo@chesmrc.org

Easton Business Alliance celebrates St Patrick’s Day with a host of activities including an ecumenical service, Irish tea, children’s crafts & activities, parade and potato race all occurring on Thursday March 17, 2016.

Schedule is as follows:
12pm Ecumenical Service at Temple B’Nai Israel (uplifting denominational 45 minute service from various religious leaders in our community)

1-2:30pm Irish Tea at the Academy Art Museum (REGISTER HERE).

4:30pm Children’s Crafts & Activities on the Talbot County Courthouse Lawn (enjoy games and crafts prior to the Downtown Easton parade)

5:30pm Parade (route is as follows: Creamery Lane to Harrison Street to Dover Street to Washington Street to Harrison Street and back to Creamery Lane).REGISTER HERE.

6pm Potato Race (4-person relay race – balance a potato on a spoon and earn the bragging rights and a really big trophy)! REGISTER HERE.