Activities for 375th birthday add to options

Special events

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by REID SILVERMAN Seven-month-old Trent Vallandingham of Leonardtown and his mom, Susan, not pictured, won first place in the decorative wagon contest at last year's county fair. This year's fair will be held Sept. 24 to 27 at the fairgrounds in Leonardtown. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

St. Mary's County hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year. The following is a listing of just some of the already scheduled events for 2009.

Most of the following information was compiled by the St. Mary's County Division of Tourism. Visit tour.co.saint-marys.md.us/ for more. Event dates and times are subject to change, and it is suggested that people call ahead or check online about an event's statues before attending. Groups that would like their event listed in next year's annual guide are invited to e-mail that information to scraton@somdnews.com.

March

March 25, St. Clement's Island Museum in Colton's Point will celebrate Maryland Day at 11 a.m. Visitors can mark Maryland's 375th birthday at the site of the first colonial landing in 1634. This is an outdoor event that will include guest speakers and birthday cake. Free. Call 301-769-2222 or visit www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums.

March 28, Historic St. Mary's City launches its celebration of Maryland's 375th anniversary with an afternoon of 30-minute talks on the first decade of the colony. Designed for the public, not just scholars, the talks will take place in St. Mary's Hall at 47458 Trinity Church Road, near the State House, from 1 to 5 p.m. Free. Call 240-895-4990. Visit www.stmaryscity.org.

March 29, Historic St. Mary's City will continue its celebration of Maryland Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can mark Maryland's founding at Maryland's first colony and first capital. There will be pageantry, special activities and more. Free. Call 240-895-4990 or visit www.stmaryscity.org.

April

April 4, the second "We're Looking for Trouble" 5K Run/Walk and Kids' Fun Run will be held at the new Three Notch Trail in Charlotte Hall at 9 a.m. Pre-register by April 1 by phone, mail or Active.com. Contact the Community Mediation Center of St. Mary's for more information at 301-475-9118 or visit www.st-marys-mediation.org.

April 11, an Easter egg hunt and festival will be held at the governmental center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be an egg hunt, pony rides, carnival attractions and the Easter Bunny. Call 301-475-4200, ext. 1800.

April 12, a non-denominational Easter sunrise service will be held at Point Lookout State Park in Scotland at 6:30 a.m., sponsored by Lexington Park Methodist Church. Park admission is $3 for Maryland residents or $4 for non-residents (per car). Call 301-872-5688.

April 18, the 12th Run and Fun Walk for Hospice, a 5K or 10K run and 5K walk, will be held at the governmental center in Leonardtown at 9 a.m. Visit www.hospiceofstmarys.org.

April 19, a March of Dimes Walk will be held on Washington Street at the Leonardtown square at 9 a.m. The event is a three-mile walk through Leonardtown. Call 301-934-2235 or visit Leonardtown.somd.com.

April 19, Earth Day on the Square will be held on Washington Street around the Leonardtown square from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. There will be organic plants and produce, information on land/sea/bay conservation, recycling, music, games, food and entertainment. Visit Leonardtown.somd.com.

April 25 and 26, the garden fair at Sotterley Plantation in Hollywood will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be demonstrations, vendors and hands-on activities. Admission fee. Call 301-373-2280 or visit www.sotterley.org.

April 26, the Spring Fling XXIII Classic Car Show will be held on Washington Street in the Leonardtown square from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be classic and antique cars as well as music, games, prizes and refreshments. Rain date is May 3. Admission fee. Visit www.stmarysrodandclassic.com.

April 26, an Archaeology Month lecture will be presented at Historic St. Mary's City in St. Mary's City at 3 p.m. Tim Riordan, Historic St. Mary's City's chief archaeologist, will present findings from the 2008 Historic St. Mary's City Field School excavations of the yardscape around the Calvert House. Visitors will learn about the discovery of a possible outbuilding, excavation of a 10-foot segment of the ditch of Poe's Fort (1645) and what was learned about how the site was used. Free. Call 240-895-4990 or visit www.stmaryscity.org.

April 29, a concert featuring flutist Rachel Stornant of the Eugene Symphony and guitarist Chris Dunn of the Aurora Guitar Quartet will be presented as part of this year's Sanford Concert Series at 7:30 p.m. at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in California. A reception with the performers will follow. Visit www.sanfordconcertseries.com.

April 30 to May 3 and June 4 to 7, The Newtowne Players will present two weekends of one-act plays at Three Notch Theatre, at 21744 South Coral Drive in Lexington Park.

The second weekend will feature original scripts. Admission fee. Call 301-737-5447 or visit www.newtowneplayers.org.

May

May 1 to 4, the Southern Maryland 15th annual Spring Festival will be held at the county fairgrounds in Leonardtown on May 1 and 2 from 5 to 11 p.m. and May 3 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and May 4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be entertainment, crafts, carnival and auctions. 301-994-0525.

May 2, a home and garden tour will be hosted by the St. Mary's County Garden Club in St. Mary's City from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The tour will showcase several nearby homes and gardens as well as tours of two gardens on the St. Mary's College of Maryland grounds. The tour will also include lunch under a tent overlooking the lagoon. Call 301-512-9169 or 301-904-3437.

May 9, the Sotterley Plant Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to noon and a free plant exchange from 10 a.m. to noon. at Sotterley Plantation in Hollywood. Visitors can purchase annuals, perennials, shrubs, and bulbs from the Garden Guild of Sotterley Plantation and swap plants for other annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, shrubs, trees, bulbs and seeds at the exchange.

May 9, the St. Mary's Animal Welfare League's Animal Fair, a day for people and their pets to play and shop together, will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the county fairgrounds. The fair features demonstrations, pet games, vendors, microchipping, a pet pageant, a pet parade, an animal communicator, pet portraits and more. For more information visit www.smawl.org.

May 9 and 10, the Piney Point Lighthouse Waterfront Festival will be held at Piney Point Lighthouse Museum and Historic Park on May 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and May 10 from noon to 4 p.m. There will be maritime exhibits, demonstrations, kid's activities, food and lighthouse tours. A Potomac River wade-in is on May 9. Free. Visit www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums.

May 16, COSMIC Symphony will perform selections from "West Side Story" at Great Mills High School at 7 p.m. Maryland's Artists of Tomorrow will present their interpretations of Leonard Bernstein's classic. Concertgoers can browse the exhibit "Do You See What I HEAR?" that displays K-12 student artists' interpretations of "West Side Story," then have the chance to enjoy the music. Admission fee. Call 301-373-5277 or visit www.cosmicmusic.org.

May 23 and 24, Air Expo ‘09 will be held at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Lexington Park. There will be high-precision flying by the U.S. Navy's flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, plus other aerial acts, demonstrations, entertainment and food. Free. Call 301-757-EXPO.

May 23, Downtown Tunes, free outdoor concerts in Leonardtown will start and continue every fourth Saturday of the month through August from 6 to 9 p.m. 301-904-4452.

June

June 5 and 6, the Relay For Life of St. Mary's County, which benefits the American Cancer Society, will be held in Leonardtown. The St. Mary's County Survivor Reception will be held June 5 at the Dr. James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center. RSVP to Barbara Lafferty at 888-603-4304. The actual relay will be held overnight on June 6 at Leonardtown High School. Volunteers are needed to participate on the planning committee. Visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=13002.

June 13 and 14, Blue and Gray Days will be held at Point Lookout State Park in Scotland on June 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on June 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors to Fort Lincoln and Camp Hoffman will have the chance to experience Civil War history through infantry drills and musket demonstrations. There will be exhibits on life in the garrison and prisoners of war camp. Admission fee. Call 301-872-5688 or visit www.dnr.maryland.gov.

June 14, the St. Mary's Crab Festival will be held at the St. Mary's County fairgrounds in Leonardtown from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event features all things crabby, including plenty of steamed crabs. In addition there will be a car show, demonstrations, country music and dancing. Admission fee. Call 301-475-4200, ext. 1404, or visit www.stmaryscrabfestival.com.

June 14, Flag Day celebration will be held at the governmental center in Leonardtown at 6 p.m. 301-475-4200, ext. 1341.

June 19 and 20, Maryland's 375th birthday celebration weekend will start off with the River Concert Series opener on June 19, held outdoors at St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City at 7 p.m. Jeffrey Silberschlag will direct the Chesapeake Orchestra in a concert that will feature a Handel Trumpet Spectacular with major trumpeters from around the world, including Scottish recording artist John Wallace, founder of the Wallace Collection Brass Ensemble and a head of the Royal Academy of Music - Glasgow, and Andrew Balio, principal trumpet for the Baltimore Symphony; the world premiere of "In Terra Maryland" composed in honor of the state's 375th birthday by Nathan Lincoln-DeCusatis; and a performance of Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 "The New World." Free. Call 240-895-2024 or visit www.riverconcertseries.com.

June 20, Historic St. Mary's City in St. Mary's City will celebrate the state's birthday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be tall ships and entertainment, music and activities 17th-century style at Maryland's first colony and capital. The day will close with a special River Concert, to include a reprise of "In Terra Maryland" and fireworks. Free. Call 800-762-1634 or visit www.stmaryscity.org.

June 20, the sixth annual Juneteenth Celebration will be held at Freedom Park in Lexington Park, at Route 235 and Tulagi Place, starting at noon. There will be entertainment for all ages, celebrating cultural diversity and freedom. There will be a jazz concert in the early evening. Free. Call 301-862-4868 or visit www.ucaconline.org.

June 20, "PINKS All Out" will be filmed at the Maryland International Raceway in Budds Creek. Speed TV will be filming an episode of "PINKS All Out" as hundreds of the best drag racers in the country bring their game to MIR in search of glory and their share of $18,000. Rich Christensen hosts the all-day shootout that pits egos and cars against one another on the quarter mile. Ticketed event. Call 301-884-9833 or visit www.mirdrag.com.

June 21, Celebrate Life!, an event focusing on wellness, fitness and recreation, will be held by the College of Southern Maryland at its Leonardtown campus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants are encouraged to come dressed to play on Father's Day. There will be fitness demos, wellness tips, health screenings, fun races and a 3.75-mile walk to include historic Leonardtown. Free. Call 301-934-7703 or 240-725-5312.

June 26, the River Concert Series will present a concert at 7 p.m. at St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City. Jeffrey Silberschlag will direct the Chesapeake Orchestra in a concert that features flautist, Giuseppe Nova, and performances of Beethoven Symphony No. 4, a concerto for flute and Copland's Symphony No. 3 - "Fanfare to the Common Man." Free. Call 240-895-2024 or visit www.riverconcertseries.com.

July

July 3, the River Concert Series at St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City will feature Jeffrey Silberschlag directing the Chesapeake Orchestra in an outdoor concert at 7 p.m. that features soloist Hilary Kole, jazz vocalist, and music along the theme, "A 50's 4th, as well as marches, Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and fireworks. Free. Call 240-895-2024 or visit www.riverconcertseries.com.

July 4, Freedom Fest will be held at St. Mary's County fairgrounds in Leonardtown from 5 to 10 p.m. This is an annual Fourth of July celebration. There will be crafts, concessions and a variety of entertainment, which traditionally ends with a fireworks display. Free. Call 301-475-4200, ext. 1849.

July 5, an Independence Day Celebration Concert will be held at Sotterley Plantation in Hollywood from 1 to 4 p.m. It is a chance to celebrate the nation's birth with a concert on the lawn. Food and drink will be available. Admission fee. Call 301-373-2280 or visit www.sotterley.org.

July 7, the College of Southern Maryland Chautauqua 2009 will feature the character of Woody Guthrie at the college's Leonardtown campus at 6:30 p.m. The audience will have the chance to meet Woody Guthrie as one of the historical figures featured as part of The Maryland Humanities Council's annual Chautauqua program that bridges art and history under the stars. The night begins with musical entertainment provided by David and Ginger Hildebrand. Free. Call 301-934-7861 or visit www.csmd.edu/finearts.

July 7 to 30, the Twilight Performance Series at the College of Southern Maryland at the Leonardtown campus is a family-friendly, free, weekly series that features a variety of artists. Participants are encouraged to grab a chair, bring a picnic and enjoy the great performances under the stars. For events, dates and times call 240-725-5499, ext. 7861, or visit www.csmd.edu/finearts.

July 10, the River Concert Series at St. Mary's College of Maryland at 7 p.m. will feature guest conductor Larry Vote with the Chesapeake Orchestra and singers and the music from Rogers and Hammerstein's "South Pacific." Free. Visit www.riverconcertseries.com.

July 11 and 18, the St. Mary's River Concert Series on Location in Leonardtown will be offered on the square in downtown Leonardtown from 7 to 8 p.m. 301-475-9791.

July 11, the Potomac Jazz and Seafood Festival will be held at the St. Clement's Island Museum in Colton's Point from 4 to 10 p.m. There will be three jazz groups and an array of seafood specialties. Visitors who arrive early can take a boat ride to St. Clement's Island. Admission fee. Call 301-769-2222 or visit www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums.

July 14, the College of Southern Maryland Twilight Performance Series will feature the Unity Reggae Band at the college's Leonardtown campus at 6:30 p.m. Audience members are encouraged to bring a picnic with a lawn chair or a blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted). Free. Call 301-934-7861, or visit www.csmd.edu/finearts.

July 17 to Aug. 2, The Newtowne Players present "Shakespeare in Hollywood" at the Three Notch Theatre in Lexington Park. Shakespeare's most famous fairies, Oberon and Puck, have magically materialized on the Warner Brothers Hollywood set of Max Reinhardt's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Admission fee. Call 301-737-5447 or visit www.newtowneplayers.org.

July 17, the River Concert Series at St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City will feature Jeffrey Silberschlag directing the Chesapeake Orchestra in an outdoor concert at 7 p.m. that features young Maryland artists as soloists, a Russian overture and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5. Free. Call 240-895-2024 or visit www.riverconcertseries.com.

July 21, the College of Southern Maryland Twilight Performance Series will host Josh Walker Trio Jazz Band at the college's Leonardtown campus at 6:30 p.m. Audience members are encouraged to bring a picnic with a lawn chair or a blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted). Free. Call 301-934-7861 or visit www.csmd.edu/finearts.

July 24, the River Concert Series at St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City will feature Jeffrey Silberschlag directing the Chesapeake Orchestra in a concert at 7 p.m. that features soloist Maurizio Moretti, renowned pianist and artistic director of the International Chamber Music Festival of the Roman Theater of Nora (Cagliari) and principal guest soloist in the Orchestra Sinfonica of L¥Aquila, and Rossini's Overture to La Gaza Ladra, Brahms' Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 and Strauss' Ein Heldenleben. Free. Call 240-895-2024 or visit www.riverconcertseries.com.

July 25, St. Clement's Island History and Heritage Day will be held at St. Clement's Island Museum in Colton's Point from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to bring their camera and a picnic lunch and enjoy scenic views, lighthouse tours and children's games. Call 301-769-2222 or visit www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums.

July 25 and 26, Tidewater Archaeology Weekend will be held at Historic St. Mary's City in St. Mary's City from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can help archaeologists uncover Maryland's past and watch as artifacts are identified. There will be lab tours. Admission fee. Call 240-895-4990 or visit www.stmaryscity.org.

July 28, the College of Southern Maryland Twilight Performance Series will feature the Darcy Nair Trio at the college's Leonardtown campus at 6:30 p.m. Audience members are encouraged to bring a picnic with a lawn chair or a blanket (no alcoholic beverages permitted). Free.

Call 301-934-7861 or visit www.csmd.edu/finearts.

July 31, the River Concert Series at St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City will feature Jeffrey Silberschlag directing the Chesapeake Orchestra in an outdoor concert at 7 p.m. that features soloists Giampiero Sobrino on clarinet and Brian Ganz at the piano and Bernstein's West Side Story: Symphonic Dances and Prelude Fugue and Riffs and Artie Shaw's Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra and Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. Free. Call 240-895-2024 or visit www.riverconcertseries.com.

July 31, the St. Mary's College of Maryland Governor's Cup Yacht Race will end at St. Mary's College waterfront in St. Mary's City. Race is Aug. 7 at 6 p.m., followed by party on Aug. 8 beginning at noon. There will be food and live music. Admission for yacht race; free for Saturday activities. Call 240-895-3039 or visit www.smcm.edu/govcup.

August

Aug. 1, the St. Mary's College of Maryland Governor's Cup Yacht Race will end at St. Mary's College waterfront in St. Mary's City. Race is Aug. 7 at 6 p.m., followed by party on Aug. 8 beginning at noon. There will be food and live music. Admission for yacht race; free for Saturday activities. Call 240-895-3039 or visit www.smcm.edu/govcup.

Aug. 6 to 8, "Lil" Margaret's Bluegrass and Old Time Country Music Festival will be held at the Goddard Family Farm, at 21810 Clay Hill Road in Leonardtown on Aug. 6 from 2 to 11 p.m., on Aug. 7 from 1 to 11 p.m. and on Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. There will be bluegrass music, home-cooked food, crafts, old cars and more. Admission fee. Call 301-475-8191 or visit www.lilmargaretsbluegrass.com or www.bluegrassville.com/lilmarg.

Aug. 8, Beach Party on the Square will be held on Washington Street in the Leonardtown square from 4 to 9 p.m. There will be music, sand volleyball, games, antique cars, face painting, crafts, firetruck hosedowns and food. Free. Call 301-475-9791 or visit Leonardtown.somd.com.

Aug. 8, Children's Day will be held at St. Clement's Island Museum in Colton's Point from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be games, crafts, demos, food, music, magic show and more. Water taxi rides will be available for children. Free. Call 301-769-2222 or visit www.stmarysmd.com/recreate/museums.

September

Sept. 5 to Nov. 8, the Forrest Hall Farm-Crazy Corn Maze will be open at Forrest Hall Farm in Mechanicsville on weekends from 11 a.m. to dusk and weekdays by appointment. There will be a maze, hayride, farm animals, activities and pumpkin (seasonal) included in ticket price. Farm shop open for fresh produce, gifts and baked goods. Admission fee. Call 301-884-3086 or visit www.forresthallfarm.com.

Sept. 12, Woodland Indian Discovery Day will be held at Historic St. Mary's City in St. Mary's City from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors will have the chance to explore American Indian culture and skills through demonstrations and hands-on activities. Admission fee. Call 240-895-4990 or visit www.stmaryscity.org.

Sept. 12, Fall Follies on the Square will be held on Washington Street on the Leonardtown square from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rain date is Sept. 13. There will be arts and crafts, paintings, wood carvings, stained glass, ceramics and jewelry. Free. Call 301-997-1644, or visit Leonardtown.somd.com.

Sept. 12, Leonardtown Wharf Waterfront Celebration will be held from noon to 5 p.m. There will be sailboat races, water-related exhibits, kayak and canoe guided tours, food and entertainment. Free. Call 301-475-9791, or visit Leonardtown.somd.com.

Sept. 18 to Oct. 4, The Newtowne Players present "Harvey" at the Three Notch Theatre in Lexington Park. Admission fee. For more information, show times and directions, call 301-737-5447 or visit www.newtowneplayers.org.

Sept. 19 to Nov. 1, Bowles Farm's Corn Maze in Clements on Budds Creek Road will be open Mondays through Fridays by appointment only and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The corn maze is set on five acres of corn. Admission fee. Call 301-475-2139 or visit www.bowlesfarms.com.

Sept. 19 and 20, the Lighthouse Challenge can include a stop at Point Lookout State Park in Scotland on Sept. 19 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sept. 20 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The annual Lighthouse Challenge is sponsored by the Chesapeake Chapter USLHS. Admission fee. Call 301-872-5688 or visit www.cheslights.org

Sept. 20, A Taste of St. Mary's will be held on Washington Street in the Leonardtown square from noon to 5 p.m. Participants can stroll the square and savor samples from the county's best restaurants. For more information call 301-737-3001 or visit www.smcchamber.com.

Sept. 24 to 27, St. Mary's County Fair will be held at the fairgrounds in Leonardtown, off Route 5. Hours are Sept. 24 from 3 to 9 p.m., Sept. 25 and 26 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sept. 27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This is a traditional county fair with livestock, home arts, flowers, 4-H exhibits, horse pulls and carnival rides. Admission fee. Call 301-475-8434 or visit www.smcfair.somd.com.

Sept. 25 to 27, the IHRA President's Cup Nationals will be held at Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsville, off Route 234, from 9 a.m. to close. This is IHRA championship drag racing with 300-mile-per-hour, top fuel dragsters and nitro funny cars. Admission fee.

Call 301-884-9833 or visit www.mirdrag.com.

Sept. 26, the Colonial Kids Cooking Challenge will be held at Historic St. Mary's City for parents and children ages 6 and older. Participants can learn the basics of 17th-century cooking by preparing a meal from scratch at Godiah Spray Plantation. Fee. Registration is required. Call240-895-4990 or visit st.maryscity.org.

Sept. 27, the RiverFest will be presented by the St. Mary's River Watershed Association at Historic St. Mary's City in St. Mary's City from noon to 5 p.m. This celebration of the St. Mary's River features live music, games, prizes, hands-on activities, exhibits, free harbor rides and kayaking. Free. Call 301-737-2903 or visit www.smrwa.org.

October

Oct. 3 and 4, the Blessing of the Fleet will be held at St. Clements Island/Potomac River Museum, in Colton's Point, off Route 242, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. There will be seafood, music, children's fun. Visitors can take a boat ride to St. Clement's Island and tour Blackistone Lighthouse. There will be fireworks on Saturday, Oct. 3. Admission fee.

Call 301-769-2222 or visit www.7thdistrictoptimist.org.

Oct. 3 and 4, the Riverside WineFest at Sotterley will be held at Sotterley Plantation in Hollywood, off Route 245, from noon to 6 p.m. There will be wine tastings, live music, exhibits, demonstrations, food and artisan vendors and children's programs. Admission fee. Call 301-373-2280 or visit www.sotterley.org.

Oct. 10 and 11, the Southern Maryland Farm-Life Festival will be held at Green Manor Farm in Charlotte Hall, at corner of Route 5 and Route 6 on Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival features 60,000 square feet of indoor farm life exhibits, demonstrations, antique tractors, engine show, music, crafts, children's activities and food. The event benefits Christmas in April-St. Mary's County. Admission fee. Call 301-290-1621 or visit www.christmasinaprilsmc.org.

Oct. 15 to 17, Ghosts of Sotterley Tours will be offered at Sotterley Plantation in Hollywood from 7 to 10:30 p.m. This walking tour features recreated legends and history and includes live music and refreshments. Reservations required. Admission fee. Call 301-373-2280 or visit www.sotterley.org.

Oct. 17, the Summerseat Annual Quilt Auction will be held at Summerseat Farm in Mechanicsville, off Route 235 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a preview at 9 a.m. and the auction beginning at 10 a.m. This is an auction of handmade quilts in an 18th-century farm setting. There will be some handmade crafts, food and drink. Free. Call 301-481-9189 or visit www.summerseat.org.

Oct. 17 and 18, the St. Mary's County Oyster Festival will be held at the St. Mary's County fairgrounds in Leonardtown on Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Oct. 18 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be food and entertainment as well as the National Oyster Shucking Championship and National Oyster Cook-off. Admission fee. Call 301-863-5015 or visit www.usoysterfest.com.

Oct. 23 and 24, Spirits of Point Lookout will be held at Point Lookout State Park from 7 to 11 p.m. This historically representative, interactive event features Point Lookout's many legendary tragedies and hauntings. Admission fee. Call 888-316-5679 or visit www.stmaryskiwanis.org.

Oct. 24, trick-or-treat on the square will take place in Leonardtown. From 1 to 3 p.m. there will be scarecrow making and from 4 to 4 p.m., children can trick or treat with downtown merchants. 301-475-9791.

November

Nov. 11, a Veterans Day parade and ceremony will be held on Washington Street in Leonardtown at 10 a.m. There will be marching bands, military units, horses, classic cars and more. A memorial ceremony and wreath-laying will follow the parade. Call 301-475-9791.

Nov. 13 and 14, Legends and Lore Tours will be offered at Sotterley Plantation in Hollywood from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Visitors can take a special tour within Sotterley's historic mansion and hear about the legends and unexplained occurrences of Sotterley Plantation. Limited to ages 16 and up. Reservations are required. Admission fee. Call 301- 373-2280 or visit www.sotterley.org.

Nov. 14 and 15, an antiques show and sale will be held at Leonard Hall Junior Naval Academy in Leonardtown on Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Nov. 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission fee. Call 301-475-8029.

Nov. 22, Amish quilt auction will be held on Grove Farm Lane in Mechanicsville, off Route 236/Thompson Corner Road, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The auction will feature quilts and crafts, all Amish, all made locally. Free. Call 301-373-4200 or visit stmarysmd.com/tourism.

Nov. 27 and 28, Hearth and Home in Early Maryland will be held by Historic St. Mary's City from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can learn about how colonists prepared to make it through the winter. There will be demonstrations and hands-on activities. Admission fee.

Nov. 27, Christmas on the Square and the annual tree lighting will be held in Leonardtown on the square from 5 to 9 p.m. There will be holiday festivities, music, entertainment, sleigh rides, horse and carriage rides, a live nativity, tree lighting and Santa's arrival. Rain date is Nov. 28. Call 301-475-9791.

December

Dec. 2 to Jan. 10, the 23rd Annual Christmas Doll and Train Exhibit will be at the St. Clement's Island Museum in Colton's Point on Wednesdays through Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Admission fee. Call 301-769-2222.

Dec. 4 and 5, holiday candlelight tours will be offered at Sotterley Plantation in Hollywood from 6 to 10 p.m. The tours feature a dramatic production set during The War of 1812 era. There will be live seasonal music and Refreshments. Reservations are required. Admission fee. Call 301-373-2280.

Dec. 5, Family Christmas will be held at Sotterley Plantation in Hollywood from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be visits with St. Nick, horse-drawn taxi rides, children's games and crafts, Santa's secret shop and Mrs. Claus' kitchen. Admission fee. Call 301-373-2280.

Dec. 12, Santa and Mrs. Claus on the square will be held in Leonardtown from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for kids of all ages. Call 301-475-9791.

Reason to celebrate

This year, Maryland is marking its 375th birthday. St. Mary's County, as the site of the state's first colonial landing and settlement, has a variety of activities planned to mark the special event. Historic St. Mary's City will host lectures and other festivities. St. Clement's Island Museum is holding an outdoor event today, March 25, complete with birthday cake. And throughout the year the county will celebrate with special concerts and exhibits and more. For more information on these and other events as well as getaway packages and special birthday discounts, visit www.maryland375.com.