There are two reasons we decided to compile a list of the 16 events that we are looking forward to in 2016. For starters, as an online lifestyle magazine focused on events across the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Southern Delaware, it seems fitting to do the obligatory 2016 forecast post. But there’s also the undeniable fact that it is January, the holiday fun is behind us, and we need a shot of life to keep us motivated on these cold winter days. Looking forward to what’s in store for 2016 is exactly the shot of life we needed. Our local towns host a fantastic array of events, festivals, parades and performances; in fact, it’s one of our favorite aspects of life on the shore! There are so many to chose from, but in an effort to keep in theme with 2016, we’ve picked 16 of our favorites for you to add to your 2016 calendars:

  1. St. Patrick’s Day Parade – March 12: Ocean City seems to come alive in early March, partly because locals return from their long winter vacations, partly because warm weather is on the horizon, and partly because of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade! The event is the unofficial kickoff of the season in Ocean City, with fun for all ages.
  2. Boardwalkin’ for Pets – April 23: We love any excuse to support our local animal shelters, especially when it calls for a morning spent strolling along the boardwalk in Ocean City with a caravan of four-legged friends. Fingers crossed for good weather!
  3. Winefest at St. Michaels – April 23: Day trips to St. Michaels are on our agenda all year long, but spending a day in the gorgeous little town for their annual Winefest makes it even better! We try to make it to Winefest at St. Michaels every year and each year seems to just get better and better.
  4. Pork in the Park – April 22 & 23: Mmmmm. This is one of the more gluttonous events of the year for us, and we welcome it with open arms. The two-day affair is laden with delicious foods, from fried Oreos to pulled pork sandwiches. Vendors hail from all over, as do attendees. Last year fell on a particularly cold and rainy weekend, but that sure didn’t slow the crowds down!
  5. May Day Play Day – May 13: May Day Play Day is one of the first big events of the year in Berlin, as the streets fill with families eager to enjoy a warm afternoon/evening on Main Street. Live music, food, games, children’s activities and more round out the popular event, which is sponsored by Ocean 98.
  6. OC Air Show – June 18 & 19: OC Air Show is easily our favorite June event in OCMD. What’s not to love about a weekend spent on the beach watching the amazing aerial performance?? The only downside is traffic, but once you’re set up on the beach or boardwalk, you’ll forget all about the gridlock on Coastal Highway.
  7. Taste of Cambridge – TBD: Held every summer in Downtown Cambridge, this seafood-centric event brings big crowds to Main Street to enjoy the crab cook-off and festival. What’s not to love about a summer day spent enjoying live music and local food??
  8. Shakespeare in the Park – Various Dates in September: We look forward to all of the Brown Box Theatre Performances that happen throughout the year when the traveling theater group comes to town, but Shakespeare in the Park is an easy favorite. Each year, the troop performs Shakespeare across Delmarva, from Main Street in Berlin to Northside Park in Ocean City. What’s more, the performances are free and open to the public!
  9. Berlin Fiddler’s Convention – September 23 & 24: The Berlin Fiddler’s Convention is a big one for the Town of Berlin, bringing thousands to Main Street for a weekend of amazing music. Our favorite part is always the youth competition when raw talent shines.
  10. Crisfield Hard Crab Derby – September 2, 3 & 4: For many, Labor Day Weekend has become synonymous with the National Crab Derby in Crisfield. The three-day event includes a carnival, Gospel concert, fireworks, crab races, crab cooking and picking contests, arts and crafts, vendors, live entertainment, beauty pageants, a parade and more!
  11. Wine on the Beach – September 30 & October 1: There are an abundance of fall festivals to enjoy on Delmarva, but Wine on the Beach has long been a favorite of ours for many reasons, most notably because you get to enjoy a gorgeous fall day sampling wines against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean.
  12. Apple Scrapple Festival – October (TBD): If there is one event that exemplifies town pride, it’s the Apple Scrapple Festival. Born out of a desire to celebrate the town’s staples of apple and scrapple, it’s grown into a massive event that takes over the entire town of Bridgeville. We devoured a scrapple sandwich and an apple dumpling within minutes of arriving last year and plan to do the same in 2016.
  13. Sea Witch Festival – October 28, 29 & 30: This is one event that seems to just keep getting bigger and bigger! The three-day festival is held in Rehoboth and includes an entire booklet of activities, games, vendors, specials and more, including the highly anticipated costume parade and the Halloween pet parade.
  14. Good Beer Fest – October 8 & 9: Fall fun abounds at the annual Good Beer Festival at Pemberton Park in Salisbury. The craft beer flows from start to finish and is paired with any number of local foods and treats, with plenty of live music to enjoy as well.
  15. Waterfowl Festival – November 11, 12 & 13: Downtown Easton has so many wonderful shops, restaurants, and art galleries to enjoy, which makes it one of our favorite towns to day trip to. The Waterfowl Festival transforms the town, with vendors, events and activities set up throughout, including our favorite, the food and wine pavilion.
  16. Winterfest of Lights: It seems a bit odd to be looking forward to an event that just ended a few days ago, but nonetheless, we will be keeping the Winterfest of Lights on the distant horizon for our coveted 2016 events. It’s a magical holiday tradition that we wouldn’t dare miss in 2016.