April showers bring May flowers…or at least that’s how the saying goes. With a dreary end to the month of April, we sure are hoping to see plenty of vibrant spring flowers in May as we travel across Delmarva to attend all of the events that are on our calendar. Sprinfest, the Dewey Beach Arts Fest, Crab Soup Cook-Off, May Day Play Day, Cruisin’ OC, Soft Shell Spring Fest…there’s a lot to look forward to this month, so without further ado, here are the May events:
Springfest
When: Thursday, May 5 – Sunday, May 8
Where: Inlet Parking Lot, Ocean City
What: The Town of Ocean City celebrates spring and the start of the busy season each May with the annual Springfest four-day festival. The free event is held in the Inlet parking lot in downtown OCMD, with plenty of delicious food, live music, and vendors to enjoy from Thursday through Sunday. In addition to the collection of free performances available all weekend-long, there are also headlining, ticketed acts, including Dr. K’s Motown Revue, Sara Evans, and Collective Soul.
Berlin Touch-A-Truck (**DATE CHANGE: May 14; 10am-12pm**)
When: Saturday, May 7, 10am until 12pm
Where: Stephen Decatur Park, Berlin
What: Bring the kids out to Stephen Decatur Park in Berlin this Saturday for demonstrations, free information, and activity books. Vehicles from the Electric, Public Works, Water Resources, Police and Fire Departments will be available for the kids to touch and explore. The Berlin Police Department will also host a K-9 Demonstration.
LSLT Native Plant Sale
When: Saturday, May 7, 9am until 1pm
Where: Ward Museum, Salisbury
What: The Lower Shore Land Trust will host their Native Plant Sale this Saturday, May 7 at the Ward Museum in Salisbury. The annual event provides guests with the chance to speak with Master Gardeners, learn about beekeeping, and purchase native plants. This year’s sale will include over 65 varieties – all proceeds benefit the Lower Shore Land Trust.
Dewey Beach Arts Fest
When: Saturday, May 7 (rain date: May 8), 9:30am until 4:30pm
Where: Dagsworthy and McKinley Avenue, bayside Dewey Beach
What: The Dewey Beach Arts Festival/Lion’s Club Community Day features over 50 artists and crafters, live music, performance art, and plenty of fun for the kids, including moon bounces, pony rides (2pm-4pm), a magic show (1pm), face and nail painting, interactive art, and critters from the Salisbury Zoo. Admission is FREE, with free parking available throughout the town as well. Food will include free chicken from Jimmy’s Grille, free hot dogs and hamburgers from The Starboard, and free sliders from DB Lion’s Club.
Historic Farmers Market Hoedown
When: Saturday, May 7, 6:30pm
Where: Officers Club, Cape Henlopen State Park
What: Now that farmers market season is officially underway, it’s time to celebrate by attending the Historic Lewes Farmers Market Hoedown! The ticketed event includes a live auction, a farm to table dinner, and ‘dancing until the cows come home.’ The food menu is courtesy of Henlopen City Oyster House Executive Chef Bill Clifton, with live music provided by Michael Shockley and No Spare Time. Click here to order tickets.
Spring Movie at Sunset Park
When: Friday, May 13, 8:30pm
Where: Sunset Park, Ocean City
What: FREE movies in the park will kick off for the season in Ocean City with a free viewing of Inside Out. Bring a beach chair and enjoy the show. Concessions can be purchased, including popcorn, drinks, and candy. For more information, call 410-250-0125.
Berlin May Day Play Day
When: Friday, May 13, 5pm until 9pm
Where: Main Street, Berlin
What: Ocean 98.1 WOCM returns to Downtown Berlin for their annual May Day Play Day celebration. Enjoy plenty of live music along with local food and beer from 5pm until 9pm.
Pooches in the Park – Lewes Canalfront
When: Saturday, May 14, 1pm until 3pm
Where: Lewes Canalfront Park, Lewes
What: Savannah Animal Hospital and the Friends of Lewes Canalfront Park invite you and your pooches to join them in the park on May 14 for their annual Pooches in the Park event. Dock dogs, K-9 demonstrations, and dog-themed activities will round out the day. For more information, call 302-645-2795.
Lyme Disease Awareness 5K Run/Walk
When: Saturday, May 14,
Where: Boardwalk, Ocean City
What: It’s the inaugural year for the Lyme Disease Awareness 5K Run/Walk, which will take place on the Boardwalk in OCMD. The event will help raise funds to provide free educational materials to the public, as well as billboards and a website. For more information on the run/walk, contact Angela Burke at 410-443-0700 or fightthebiteoc.com.
Maritime Day in Lewes
When: Saturday, May 14, 9am until 3pm
Where: Lewes Ferry Terminal, Lewes
What: This annual celebration is free and open to the public. Vessel tours (10am-2pm), a maritime history talk, a Lewes fire boat water cannon display, and exhibits will highlight the event, which is sponsored by the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. For more information, visit www.capemaylewesferry.com.
White Marlin Festival & Crab Soup Cook-Off
When: Saturday, May 14, 12pm until 3pm
Where: Somerset Plaza, Ocean City
What: It’s the 12th year for the annual Crab Soup Cook-Off, which includes entertainment, exhibits, kid’s activities, and of course, plenty of crab soup! Local chefs will compete for the coveted title of ‘Best Crab Soup’. The public can sample and vote for a small fee.
Somerset Strawberry Festival
When: Friday, May 13 – Saturday, May 14, (9am until 4pm on Saturday)
Where: 28390 Crisfield-Marion Road, Marion Station, MD
What: It’s time to celebrate the fruits of the season, including locally grown strawberries! The Annual Somerset Strawberry Festival is scheduled for May 13 & 14 and will include live music, food, Little Miss & Mr. Pageants, arts and crafts vendors, a parade, children’s activities, and plenty of strawberries! Learn about the history of the strawberry industry in Somerset County while enjoying plenty of fresh, locally-grown strawberries with family and friends.
Cambridge Beer Festival
When: Saturday, May 14, 1pm until 6pm
Where: High Street (in front of The High Spot), Cambridge
What: Enjoy sampling dozens of beers from regional breweries at the annual Cambridge Beer Festival, which features unlimited tastings for $25 per person. Look for plenty of tasty eats from local eateries too!
Iron Furnace Fifty Bike Ride
When: Saturday, May 14
Where: Furnace Town, Snow Hill
What: The Furnace Town Living Heritage Museum and the Rotary Club of Snow Hill, MD are sponsoring the fifth Iron Furnace Fifty, an annual fifty mile fun ride (with 50K and 100K alternatives). The ride starts and ends at Furnace Town Living Heritage Village, taking you through the beautiful Eastern Shore countryside. Registration is $50 and is open until the morning of the ride. Immediately following the ride, enjoy a free luncheon with entertainment and complimentary beverages. There are also rest stops along the route with water, fruit, snacks, and bathrooms. Click here for more information and to register for the event.
International Museum Day
When: Wednesday, May 18
Where: Participating Museums
What: Every year since 1977, International Museum Day is organized and recognized on May 18. Locally, this means free admission to museums, including the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum, the Julia A. Purnell Museum, and the Taylor House Museum, to name a few.
Rehoboth Beach Spring Sidewalk Sale
When: Friday, May 20 – Sunday, May 22, 9am until 9pm (store hours may vary)
Where: Downtown Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Route One Shops
What: Enjoy an entire weekend of fantastic shopping deals in Rehoboth and Dewey Beach during the 33rd Annual Spring Sidewalk Sale. Bargain prices on top of tax free shopping! Call 302-227-2233 for more information.
Cruisin’ Ocean City
When: Thursday, May 19 – Sunday, May 22
Where: Ocean City (Convention Center and Inlet Parking Lot)
What: The cruisers will roll into town once again during the weekend of May 20. The popular car show features over 3,400 hot rods, customs, classics, and muscle cars, along with live entertainment, celebrity guests, boardwalk parades, and vendor displays. Enjoy the boardwalk parades on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 7am until 10am.
8th Annual Pirate Party
When: Friday, May 20, 5pm until 8pm
Where: Sunset Grille
What: Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services will host their 8th Annual Pirate Party this month to benefit the kids of CASA. CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, is a volunteer driven program that advocates for abused and neglected children who are unable to live safely at home, and as a result, are caught up in the child welfare and court system. Each year, community members volunteer to be ‘pirates,’ raising money leading up to the annual Pirate Party where they will ‘walk the plank.’ The party is a $20 donation at the door and gets you free food, live music, and plenty of fun! There’s also a Gold Bar Treasure Chest for a chance to win prizes, a 50/50 raffle, and more. Pirate attire is encouraged!
Centennial Bio Blitz
When: Saturday, May 21, 8am until 4:30pm
Where: Assateague Island National Seashore
What: Maryland Coastal Bays and the annual Great Worcester Herp Search will join forces with the National Park Service for the BioBlitz Fun Day on Saturday, May 21. Teams will be formed (you can either sign up for a team or be assigned to a team) to identify park species, including birds, plants, reptiles, amphibians, GIS, shells, beach intertidal zone sampling, butterflies, and flying insects. The morning session begins at 9am, with an afternoon session to follow at 1pm. Pre-register before May 6 and you’ll receive a free hot dog lunch. To pre-register, contact Kelly Taylor at Kelly_Taylor@nps.gov. On-site team registration will take place at 8am at the North Beach Picnic Pavilion.
Butterflies at Pocomoke River State Park
When: Saturday, May 21, 10am
Where: Nature Center Building at Shad Landing, Pocomoke River State Park (3461 Worcester Highway)
What: Enjoy a morning of learning about the Monarch Butterfly, one of the most recognizable species in America. The Monarch travels thousands of miles across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, however the precious specious is currently being threatened due to the loss of milkweed habitats. Learn more about these important creatures and how you can turn your own backyard into a habitat for monarchs. Cost is free.
Soft Shell Spring Fair
When: Saturday, May 29, noon until 4pm
Where: Crisfield City Dock
What: May marks the beginning of soft shell crab season in Maryland, and we can’t wait to dig into some delicious local soft shells. The Annual Soft Shell Spring Fair is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the local delicacy along with homemade crab cakes, entertainment, arts and crafts, and much more!
Spring Arts and Crafts Show
When: Saturday, May 28 (10am-5pm) & Sunday, May 29 (10am-4pm)
Where: Convention Center, Ocean City
What: Take a break from your Memorial Day Weekend celebrations and enjoy the works of regional crafters and artisans at the Spring Arts and Craft Show in OCMD. Vendors will be displaying garden accessories, jewelry, candles, florals, nautical items, wood crafts, homemade items, handmade chocolates and more! For more information, call 410-213-0735.
Spring Movie at Northside Park
When: Friday, May 27, 8:30pm
Where: Northside Park
What: Grab a beach chair and enjoy a FREE movie (TBA) in the gym at Northside Park. Concessions can be purchased and will include popcorn, drinks, and candy.
Horseshoe Crab & Shorebird Festival
When: Saturday, May 28, 10am-4pm
Where: Milton Memorial Park
What: This annual festival celebrates horseshoe crabs and migrating shorebirds, which are long to be considered the natural wonders of the Delaware Bay. The event will include arts and crafts, boat rides down the Broadkill River, canoe trips on Prime Hook Creek, exhibits, games, food, music, scavenger hunts, trail walks at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, and train rides for kids. A shuttle bus will be available to take visitors to and from the refuge. For more information, call the Milton Chamber of Commerce at 302-684-1101.
