November 4-5
Urbanna Oyster Festival
Oysters, oysters and more oysters are center-stage at the 54th annual running of one of the Bay's biggest bivalve fests. There will also be a firemen's parade, an oyster shucking contest, arts and crafts vendors, lots of live entertainment and the festival parade. Urbanna Va. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. 804-758-0368; www.urbannaoysterfestival.com.
5-6
Colonial Beach Rockfish Tournament
Two days of great fishing, plus a captains' dinner, dance, awards and more than $10,000 in prize money make this annual rockfish tournament a real winner. Colonial Beach, Va. Sat.-Sun. fishing 7 a.m.-4 p.m. 804-224-5000; www.rockfishtournament.org.
5
Oysterfest
Celebrate the oyster harvest with live music, great food, family activities, skipjack and buyboat rides, oyster aquaculture and restoration exhibits, oyster tonging and oyster cooking demonstrations and retriever games. Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michaels, Md. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 410-745-2916; www.cbmm.org.
5
Two Rivers Harvest Auction
Help raise funds for the West/Rhode Riverkeeper organization at this art auction, featuring artwork, photography and one-of-a-kind pieces. There will also be a raw oyster bar, live entertainment, a silent auction and more. Galesville Memorial Hall, Galesville, Md. 6:30 p.m. 410-867-7171; www.westrhoderiverkeeper.org.
5
Decoy Museum Anniversary Dinner
Celebrate the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum's 25th anniversary with an evening of great food, auctions (live and silent) and a lottery drawing for museum decoys. Reservations required. Havre de Grace Museum, Havre de Grace, Md. Call for times. 410-939-3739; www.decoymuseum.com.
5
Tug-of-War
Head to your favorite side of Spa Creek and grab your tugging gloves for the annual tug of war across the Gulf of Eastport (aka Annapolis Harbor). After tugging your heart out, enjoy live music, food and fun for the family at the Tug-Fest party that follows in Eastport. Fourth Street in Eastport and City Dock in Annapolis. 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; tugging begins at the crack o' noon. www.themre.org.
7
Caribbean 1500 Start and Race
Head to Hampton, Va., to cheer on the boats heading to Tortola in the annual West Marine Caribbean 1500-and then stay for the parties. Sailors will rally and race from Hampton's Bluewater Yachting Center to Village Cay Marina on Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Group start scheduled for noon. 757-788-8872; www.carib1500.com.
11-13
Waterfowl Festival
For this annual event, venues throughout Easton, Md., will feature over 300 artists' wildlife paintings, sculptures, carvings, decoys, photography and more. There will also be calling contests, retriever and fly-fishing demonstrations, and more. Easton, Md. Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun. •10 a.m.-4 p.m. 410-822-4567; www.waterfowlfestival.org.
12
Reedville Oyster Roast
Fill up on all-you-can-eat oysters, bean soup, clam chowder and more at this annual oyster roast. Then join in the fun with plenty of music and dancing. Reedville, Va. 2-5 p.m. 804-453-6529; www.rfmuseum.org.
12
Trinity Church Ham and Oyster Dinner
Parishioners and visitors to Trinity Church can enjoy this annual oyster feast with accompanying ham, turkey and great desserts, all served family-style. Dockage for the event is available at St. Mary's College of Maryland docks. Trinity Church, St. Mary's City, Md. Noon-5 p.m. 301-962-4597; www.olg.com/trinitysmcmd.
12
Market Days
Riverwalk Landing will host Saturday morning market days featuring local produce, fresh seafood, baked goods, live entertainment and local artwork. Riverwalk Landing, Yorktown, Va. 8 a.m.-noon. 757-890-3500; www.yorkcounty.gov/tourism
12
Second Saturday
Enjoy an evening of gallery openings and receptions, late retail shopping, live music, restaurant deals and more. Downtown Cambridge, Md. 5-9 p.m. 443-477-0843; www.cambridgemainstreet.com.
12-13
Safety at Sea
Learn how to address basic emergencies on the water, from using a fire extinguisher to lighting signal flares and spotting and recovering crew overboard. Annapolis School of Seamanship, Annapolis. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 410-263-8848; www.annapolisschoolofseamanship.com.
12-13
Intro to Celestial Navigation
Learn how to use a sextant, the Nautical Almanac and sight reduction tables. Annapolis School of Seamanship, Annapolis. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 410-263-8848; www.annapolisschoolofseamanship.com.
12-13
Pirates By the Bay
Learn about the history of pirates on the northern Bay during this fun weekend of pirate encampments and demonstrations. Lock House Museum, Havre de Grace, Md. •10 a.m.-4 p.m. 410-939-5780; www.thelockhousemuseum.org.
18
Grandtastic Jamboree
This party and all-you-can-eat dinner is the main event for the Grand National Waterfowl Association's annual duck and goose hunt. It will feature live entertainment, great food and great door prizes. Sailwinds Park, Cambridge, Md. 5 p.m. 410-228-1000; www.tourdorchester.org.
19
Grand Illumination Parade
Kick off the holiday season in Norfolk with a grand parade, lighted floats, marching bands and Santa, and the lighting of the Norfolk and Portsmouth skylines for the holiday season. Norfolk. 7 pm. 757-623-1757; www.downtownnorfolk.org.
19
Casey Neal Rogers Rockfish Tournament
This rockfish challenge will feature a $5,000 first prize and benefit the Casey Neal Rogers memorial scholarship fund. An awards dinner open to the public will follow. Smith Point Marina, Reedville, Va. Fishing 7 a.m.-4 p.m., awards dinner to follow. 804-453-4077; www.cnrtournament.com
19-20
MSSA Fall Tournament
Over 200 boats will vie for some $80,000 in prizes during the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen's Association's annual fall tournament. Weigh stations open until 4 p.m. 410-255-5535; www.mssa.net.
19-20
Marine Diesel Basics
Learn the basics of diesel maintenance and troubleshooting during this hands-on course. The Level II diesel engine course will take place Nov. 21-22. Annapolis School of Seamanship, Annapolis. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 410-263-8848; www.annapolisschoolofseamanship.com.
25-27
Eastern Shore Studio and Vineyard Tour
Take a tour of Virginia's beautiful Eastern Shore while visiting 11 working artists' studios and two vineyards. Plus enjoy wine tastings and touring Virginia's gorgeous lower Eastern Shore. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 757-678-7532; www.esartisansguild.org.
24-26
Food and Feasts of Colonial Virginia
See how Thanksgiving dinner might have been prepared in 17th- and 18th-century Virginia. Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center, Yorktown, Va. 9 am.-5 p.m. 888-593-4682; www.historyisfun.org.
26
Cape Charles Oyster Roast
This annual oyster roast comes complete with fresh, local oysters, live music and a silent auction. Cape Charles Museum, Cape Charles, Va. 5-9 p.m. 757-331-1008; ccmuseum@hughes.net.