The streets of Snow Hill were lined with cars, holiday lights were hung on bare trees and flickered with the cold breeze, bright orange cones marked off a designated drinkin’ area in front of the historic fire hall, and the rhythmic claps in beat with a bluegrass band could be heard echoing off of the bring buildings downtown on December 10th. This past Saturday, the Lower Shore Land Trust held a great event to raise money for their ecofriendly efforts. The event was called Get Bluegrass.

A large group of blue-grass fans, farmers, nature-lovers, and outdoor enthusiasts gathered to listen to the earthy music, drink local beer and wine, bid on items in the silent auction, and dance. The reasonable tickets price, good bands, and great cause brought many like-minded folks to the old Snow Hill Fire Hall that evening.

The Saltwater Stringband took the stage first followed by Chester River Runoff.  The Saltwater String band hails from Ocean City and is known for their Appalachian newgrass style with singer/songwriter characteristics. Chester River Runoff is a 4-piece traditional bluegrass band that includes loud harmonies, tight instrumental work, hillbilly humor, and warm spirits. The combination of guitars, banjos, bass, and fiddle had the crowd moving all night.

Based upon the amount of dancing, foot stomping, and cheering – both bands were enjoyed immensely. The Chester River Runoff and Saltwater Stringband have a few new followers after the night's events.

The Lower Eastern Shore Land Trust was founded in 1990 as a way to protect land on the shore. The founding members considered it vital that the Eastern Shore’s land, heritage, rural characteristics, and sprawling landscapes, be protected. The Landtrust watches closely over environmental activities in Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties. By assisting landowners to discover, evaluate, and implement land preservations, the Eastern Shore landscape will ecologically prosper for years to come.

To learn more about the organization, visit the Lower Shore Land Trust website.