Celebrating colonial resistance to British rule,
Chestertown,
on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, will hold its Annual Tea Party
Festival Saturday, May 29, 2010.
Cocktail Party to be held
Friday, May 28, 2010.
Find out more about Chestertown and the Tea Party Festival:
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In response to British Parliament's closing of the port of Boston,
the citizens of
Chestertown,
Maryland
met in May of 1774 and set forth "Resolves" forbidding importing,
selling, or consuming tea
in
Chestertown.
According to local legend, residents then gathered at the town
center, marched down High Street to the brigantine Geddes, which was
anchored in the Chester River, and tossed her cargo of
tea overboard.
The annual reenactment of that event is the centerpiece of the
ChestertownTeaParty
Festival.
The
re-enactment is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. All Festival events take
place
along the Chester River and in the historic district of 18th-century
Chestertown, Maryland. There is no admission charge to the Festival.
Admission is free but purchases of
Toss the Tory ballots are
appreciated. Proceeds help fund children's educational
programming and one ballot buyer will win a valuable prize.
Start training now for this year’s
Classic Distance 10 Mile Run and 5k Run/Walk.
Or join the festival-goers that line High Street each year to cheer
the passing of colonial militia, marching bands, costume-garbed
children and more in the
Colonial Parade. A
Walking Tour
of the historic district is offered to visitors and local residents.
The tour is conducted by trained docents who are residents of
Kent
County. Not only can you purchase many handcrafted Colonial goods
at the Festival, but you can also see a live demonstration of how
those items are made. On Sunday, Challenge yourself and your
engineering skills by competing in this year’s
Annual Raft Race.
You’ll be amazed at the sites and sounds of the Chestertown Tea
Party Festival!
Tea Toss Reenactment, Colonial Parade,
Cocktail Party, Raft Race, Street Performances, Colonial Crafts,
Strolling Musicians, Local Fare, 5k & 10 mile run and more
including...
2010 World Premiere
- Prince Theatre will be showing the premier of local
playwright, Keith Thompson's "Raiding the Gladys" and an encore
presentation of local playwright, Mary Wood's "Chestertown
Romance" which was first performed at the Prince Theatre's 2009
Short Attention Span Theatre Festival.
Wine Tasting The
Chestertown Tea Party will host a
wine tasting. The event will be held at Wilmer Park from
noon to 4 p.m. The event will feature ten local Maryland
wineries. The cost is $10, which includes ten wine samples
along with a commemorative wine glass.
Dr. Bill Trakat - your children have been amazed by
him on the Sultana, he joins us this year with his special
knowledge of Colonial medical and surgical practices. He has a
trunk full of startling medical implements and gruesome tales of
medicine.
Drill Demonstrations by 1st Battalion of Maryland
Loyalists, 1st Maryland Regiment and 6th
Maryland Regiment.
Swordmasters will delight and astound with their
swordmanship lessons and demonstrations.
Miss Jackie will bring back her wonderful storytelling
and children’s folk music.
Learn about
Nanticoke Indian dances and stories with
Odette Wright.
Tucker’s Tales Puppet Theatre
will surprise you with
their Punch and Judy Puppet Theatre and I’ll Take No Tea! Puppet
show. They will join with David Emerson for a Colonial Music
presentation as Spiced Punch.
Play chess with master chess player Benjamin Franklin or
compete in other popular games of the Colonial era.
Slim Harrison will bring back his Good Time Mountain
Music and perform on both Saturday and Sunday!
Colonel Leonards Irregulars will once again serenade
visitors with their own brand of Irish, Celtic & Folk Music.
The Dover English Country Dancers will perform 18th
century dancing in period costumes.
The Chesapeake Caledonian Pipe Band
traditional and contemporary
bagpipe and drum ensemble performances.
The high energy country music of
Fiddlestyx and Step
Jam (formerly Footnotes) will have you joining in on their
clogging and flatfooting!
Stephen Christoff is a master musician who will perform
on Octave Mandolin, Bowed Musical Saw, and hand flute.
Join Pepper Steppers in a squaredancing demonstration
that everyone will enjoy!
Fifes and Drums of the Delaware Militia will play
traditional fife and drum music, mainly from the Revolutionary
War and Civil War eras.
The Kiltie Band of York’s impressive pipe band will fill
the air with Scottish favorites.
Be enchanted by
David Emerson as he weaves together
stories of the Sea and tells of the important role of tea in
Colonial times.
Listen carefully as
Stacy Roth sings the stories of
Revolutionary Tea and tells tales of the 18th century woman.
Join the
Bay Country Gentlemen on Sunday for a hoedown
and squaredancing!
Fine
soaps, detailed woodcarvings, stained glass, artwork and handmade
wood furniture are just some of the wares this year's 120 craft
artisans have to offer! Enjoy browsing as you make your way
through the festival. We've collected for you a wide range of
quality items that are sure to impress! From blacksmiths and
candlemakers to weavers and woodworkers -- we've got something for
everyone!
Food
booths will offer a wide variety of
Eastern Shore delicacies such as
Maryland crab cakes, barbeque, fish, clams, hamburgers, hot dogs,
funnel cakes, beer and gentler beverages.
Visitors may enjoy
art exhibits at the Chestertown Arts League Gallery, Art Works, and
at the Kent County Arts Council Gallery, tour the Washington College
Archeology Lab at the historic Custom House, tour the
Schooner Sultana,
or go on a guided walking tour of historic Chestertown.
On
Sunday, family activities sponsored by the Tea Party Festival are
scheduled in Wilmer Park, including puppet shows, food &
refreshment, games, bluegrass music. The annual
Sneaker Creeper race for
children
(for information or to register please call Kiki
Jones (410) 778-4179)
will be held on Friday at 6:00pm at the Washington College's Roy
Kirby Stadium. A highlight of
Sunday afternoon is the
annual raft race on the Chester
River. The Schooner Sultana will offer public sails on the Chester
River from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. - reservations required! Please
call 410.778.5954 for the Sultana main office.
Chestertown is located on
Maryland route 213 and is within an easy 90 minute drive from
Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Shuttle buses to the
downtown area are provided from free parking areas. For further
information on the Festival call (410) 778-0416 on weekdays between
9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
In response to British Parliament's closing of the port of Boston,
the citizens of
Start training now for this year’s 
On
Sunday, family activities sponsored by the Tea Party Festival are
scheduled in Wilmer Park, including puppet shows, food &
refreshment, games, bluegrass music. The annual
drive from
Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Shuttle buses to the
downtown area are provided from free parking areas. For further
information on the Festival call (410) 778-0416 on weekdays between
9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. 
