Maryland Seafood Festival

View on map
Food & DrinkAnnapolis
Dates12 September 2026Confirmed listing
Duration1 dayListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forRegional food & drinkSix decades of continuous operation make
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryFood & DrinkFestival type
The story

Maryland Seafood Festival in Annapolis

The Maryland Seafood Festival, running at Sandy Point State Park near Annapolis since 1966, marks its sixtieth anniversary in September 2026 with crab soup and oyster shucking contests, a Beer and Oyster Tent, and a Chesapeake Arts Village of local artisans. A second-year Skipjack Heritage Days program brings historic Chesapeake sailing vessels to the festival alongside fresh crab, oysters, and other Bay seafood.

The Maryland Seafood Festival has run at Sandy Point State Park, on the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis, every year since 1966, with organizers marking its sixtieth anniversary at the September 2026 edition under the banner of celebrating six decades since the very first Maryland Seafood Festival.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Six decades of continuous operation make this one of the older single-food festivals on the Chesapeake, and its newer Skipjack Heritage Days program adds a genuinely rare attraction: working demonstrations and a parade of sail from historic Chesapeake Bay skipjacks, of which fewer than twenty working vessels remain on the entire Bay, giving visitors access to a disappearing piece of regional maritime history alongside the food

02

The mystery stays covered

For its sixtieth anniversary in 2026, organizers added a Friday evening session tied to the twenty-fifth anniversary of September 11 with discounts for military and first responders, and brought in a sixty-foot rubber duck nicknamed Mama Duck for its Annapolis-area debut, layering new draws onto the festival's long-running format

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The Crab Soup Cook-Off

Water and renewal

Living ritual

Oyster Shucking Contest

The sacred route

Living ritual

and Crab Cake Eating Contest have anchored the festival since its early decades

The local code

Living ritual

joined more recently by Skipjack Heritage Days

Tradition 5

Living ritual

which brings historic Chesapeake Bay sailing vessels

Tradition 6

Living ritual

a Parade of Sails

Tradition 7

Living ritual

and a Skipjack Race to the festival grounds as a tribute to the Bay's disappearing working-sail fleet

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

12 September 2026

Getting around

Stay close enough to the part of Annapolis you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.

What to wear

Fully outdoor waterfront state park in September, still warm and humid; sun protection and comfortable outdoor footwear suit the grassy and sandy park terrain, since pop-up tents and beach...

Safety

Maryland Seafood Festival is easier with a small bag, charged phone and group plan that survives poor signal.

Where to stay

Base yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if Maryland Seafood Festival runs late.

Tickets/cost

Official ticket link is available. Confirm access rules before booking.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map38.98 N, 76.49 WOpen in Google Maps

Annapolis, MD

Nearest airportBWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall
TransportStay close enough to the part of Annapolis you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.
Stay areaBase yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if Maryland Seafood Festival runs late.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Annapolis via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Annapolis, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for September.Compare faresFestival gearFully outdoor waterfront state park in September, still warm and humid; sun protection and comfortable outdoor footwear suit the grassy and sandy park terrain, since pop-up tents and beach umbrellas are explicitly banned inside the festival grounds.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Maryland Seafood Festival?

Maryland Seafood Festival is listed for 12 September 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Maryland Seafood Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Annapolis, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

One day is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Annapolis, MD

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLmdseafoodfestival.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed dates12 September 2026
Source statusOfficial source linked
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