It may be January but that doesn’t mean there aren’t fun happenings across the Eastern Shore. Beyond the notable collection of f locals’ specials being offered at various businesses, there are a host of events to help you beat the wintertime blues. No we’re not talking about Valentine’s Day…yet. This weekend we have our eye on festivals, trade expos, history lessons, and even a tour of a local distillery. So drag yourselves off the couch and away from your latest Netflix marathon for a little Eastern Shore action…

East Coast Fishermen’s & Aquaculture Expo

The annual East Coast Fishermen’s & Aquaculture Trade Expo will be held this weekend at the Ocean City Convention Center, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The only Commercial Fishing Expo in the Mid-Atlantic Region the event features seminars, fishermen gear, equipment and more. This year marks the 40th anniversary for the expo and will include a couple of big work boats that are going to be in the show with many new vendors to complement the long list of veteran vendors. Hours are as follows: Friday 11am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 6m, Sunday 10am to 4:30pm. For more information visit www.marylandwatermen.com.

Nautical & Wildlife Art Festival

The Nautical & Wildlife Art Festival and Craft Show returns to Ocean City this weekend, with show hours 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am until 3pm on Sunday, at the Ocean City Convention Center. Admission is just $5 for adults and children 12 and under are free. The 29th Annual Festival is the Eastern Shore’s premier presentation of nautical & wildlife art. Acclaimed artists from across many states flock to the event to showcase their work, along with a variety of presentations from painters, carvers, sculptors, model ship builders and multimedia creations.

Free Wine Tasting @ Liquid Assets

On a cold (and likely blustery) Saturday afternoon in January, we can’t think of a better way to kill a few hours than with a free wine tasting at one of our favorite Ocean City restaurants. This Saturday, January 18, Liquid Assets will host a free wine tasting from noon until 3pm. The Noble Vintners Wine Tasting will be hosted by Ethan Lavin and includes 10 percent off the purchase of featured wines.

Bald Eagle Watch

From 2 to 5pm, this Saturday, January 18, join local naturalists as they explore the world of the bald eagle and the bald cypress while traversing the Milburn Landing Area of Pocomoke River State Park. The day will include an optional boat tour, the Scales and Tales live animal show, a hike to see eagles in the park and a watching station. Tickets are $10, $20 with the optional boat ride. Call 410-632-2566 for reservations.

Rackliffe Plantation House History and Tour

Saturday, June 18 at 1pm, join local history enthusiasts at the Assateague Island Visitor Center for a special presentation about the history associated with the 18th century merchant-planters home. The presentation is free; $2 for the house tour.

Lyon Distilling Company

We recently caught wind of a new distillery, Lyon Distilling Company, that opened in St. Michaels. We couldn’t resist scheduling a tour right away. The ShoreBread team will be spending the day in downtown Cambridge and St. Michaels Sunday, Day Trippin’ our way around both towns before heading to Lyon Distilling to watch the behind-the-scenes magic. The distillery offers tastes and tours so schedule yours now! Stay tuned for our write-up next week…