On Saturday, October 21, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., the Tilghman Island Volunteer Fire Company will hold its annual Tilghman Island Day Celebration, known as “a visit to the home of the Seafood Industry.”
Local watermen and other members of the community plan a number of exhibits and demonstrations designed to showcase the Chesapeake Bay waterman’s way of life. Demonstrations of net making, clamming, oystering, crab picking and oyster shucking are scheduled throughout the day. There will also be a variety of waterman’s games to watch or participate in starting at 11 a.m.
A crowd favorite, the workboat-docking contest is scheduled for noon, with a work boat race to follow at 2 p.m. Other exhibits include artisans and a nautical flea market. There will be live music throughout the day in Kronsberg Park featuring “Bird Dog and the Road Kings,” a popular Bay-area group. Crab-picking and oyster-shucking contests are scheduled at 4 p.m. Professional and amateur pickers and shuckers will be featured.
Tilghman Island is also home port to the Chesapeake Bay skipjack. This is a great opportunity to see and board the last commercial sailing vessels in North America. Skipjack cruises will be available throughout the day and are priced separately.
No visit to Tilghman Island is complete without an opportunity to sample fresh, local seafood. Visitors can choose from raw and steamed oysters, oyster stew, oyster fritters, steamed crabs, crab cakes, crab soup, soft crabs and fried clams, along with BBQ chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, French fries, cold beer and soft drinks. All food items are priced separately.
The Tilghman Volunteer Fire Company asks for a donation of $5 per person, with children under 12 years free and parking is free. All proceeds go to the Tilghman Volunteer Fire Company. For more information, visit www.tilghmanmd.com.