FALL BOAT SHOWS

October 12 Trawler Fest Baltimore Inner Harbor Marine Center, Baltimore, Md. 410-990-9086 www.trawlerfest.com October 6-10 U.S. Sailboat Show City Dock, Annapolis 410-268-8828 www.usboat.com October 13-16 U.S. Powerboat Show City Dock, Annapolis 410-268-8828 www.usboat.com October 27-31 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Fort Lauderdale, Florida www.shomanagement.com

Sept. 30-Oct. 1
West Point Crab Carnival
This crabby celebration is an annual tradition in West Point, Va., a festival complete with parade, live music, antiques, crafts vendors, and of course, lots of crabs. West Point, Va. Fri. 5-10 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 804-843-4620; www.westpointvachamber.com

1
Yorktown Wine Festival
Visit the Yorktown Riverwalk for an afternoon of sampling Virginia wines, food and artwork, plus a performance by the Fifes and Drums of Yorktown and evening entertainment. Riverwalk Landing, Yorktown, Va. Noon-6 p.m. 757-877-2933; www.villageevents.org

1-2
Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival
Join hundreds of amateur and professional small craft enthusiasts who will be displaying their skiffs, kayaks, canoes, prams and one-of-a-kinds. There will also be workshops, demonstrations and races. Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michaels, Md. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 410-745-2916; www.cbmm.org

1-2
Fells Point Fun Festival
This big ol' Baltimore street festival features five stages of live music, plus arts and crafts and food vendors, a flea market children's activities and more. Fells Point, Baltimore. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 410-675-7656; www.preservationsociety.com

1-2
Riverside Winefest
Enjoy local Maryland wines, as well as live music, exhibits and demonstrations at this annual wine festival. Sotterley Plantation, Hollywood, Md. Noon-6 p.m. 301-373-2280; www.sotterley.org

1-2
Blessing of the Fleet Festival
This end-of-season event is fun for the whole family and celebrates Maryland's birthplace with a traditional Sunday mass, a boat parade, fireworks, entertainment, and, of course, the blessing of the fleet. There will also be water taxi rides to St. Clements Island and Blackistone Lighthouse, a reptile world, Maryland Dove tours and much more. St. Clements Island Museum, Coltons Point, Md. Sat. noon-10 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 301-769-2222; www.7thdistrictoptimist.org/blessing.html.

2
Coast Day
The University of Delaware celebrates all things maritime during its annual festival, which includes lectures, ship tours, marine critter touch tanks, a crabcake cook-off and more fun activities geared toward marine science. University of Delaware Hugh R. Sharp Campus, Lewes, Del. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 302-831-8083; www.decoastday.org

4-8
Trawler Fest
This annual gathering of trawler enthusiasts and owners has moved up the Bay to Baltimore, where there will be seminars, clinics, entertainment and new and used trawlers on display. Baltimore Inner Harbor Marine Center and Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor, Baltimore. Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. www.passagemaker.com

7-8
Wildfowl Expo
This annual wildlife art show features carving and shooting demonstrations, an auction, a pig roast, decoy carving competitions, displays and a deck party. Ward Museum, Salisbury, Md. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 410-742-4988; www.wardmuseum.org

8
Oyster and Hot Sauce Festival
Get your freshly shucked fall oysters and slurp them down with specialty hot sauces from around the region. The event will also coincide with Cambridge, Md.'s Second Saturday event, making a great day for the whole family. Cambridge, Md. 3-9 p.m. 443-477-0843; www.cambridgemainstreet.com

8
Market Day
Get your local produce, fresh seafood, baked goods and artwork while enjoying live entertainment along the river. Riverwalk Landing, Yorktown, Va. 8 a.m.-noon. 757-890-3500; www.yorkcounty.gov/tourism

8
Holly Point Art and Seafood Festival
Peruse the works of over 70 artists and craftspeople as you stroll through Deltaville Maritime Museum's Holly Point Nature Park. Then enjoy lots of great seafood, museum tours, antique cars and boats, and activities for the whole family. Deltaville Maritime Museum, Deltaville, Va. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 804-776-6950; www.deltavilleva.com/museumpark

8
Boat Show Bash
Enjoy a chance to unwind after a long day at the boat show at this lively party featuring lots of live music, food, drinks and plenty of fun in honor of the Annapolis Sailboat Show. Eastport Yacht Club, Annapolis. 6-
11 p.m. 410-263-0415; www.eastportyc.org

8
Taste of Kent Narrows
Sample food from local restaurants, and beer and wine from local breweries and wineries, all while enjoying an afternoon of live entertainment and children's activities. Chesapeake Bay Exploration Center, Chester, Md. Noon-5 p.m. 410-739-6943; www.tasteofkentnarrows.org

8
Chincoteague Oyster Festival
Now in its 39th year, this celebration of the Bay oyster comes complete with fresh seafood, all-you-can-eat oysters and more, family activities, a raffle and lots of live entertainment. Advance tickets required. Maddox Family Campground, Chincoteague, Va. Noon-4 p.m. 757-336-6161; www.chincoteaguechamber.com

8
Eric Mungo Memorial Fishing Tournament
This kick-off event to the Poquoson Seafood Festival, sets two-person angler teams out to hook rockfish and speckled trout for prizes. Messick Point, Poquoson, Va. 6 a.m.-4 p.m. 757-868-3588; www.poquosonseafoodfestival.com

8
Oyster Gardening Workshop
Learn how to build and tend your oyster garden with Chesapeake Bay Foundation pros, pick up your spat and get to growing at home. After a year, you'll return your crop to CBF, which will transport the oysters to an active reef. Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons, Md. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. www.cbf.org

8-9
Patuxent River Appreciation Days
P.R.A.D. celebrates the Patuxent River with boat rides on the Wm. B. Tennison and skipjack Nathan of Dorchester, lighthouse tours, boatbuilding activities, a parade and live music. Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons, Md.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. 410-326-2042; www.pradinc.org

8-9
Turkey Shoot Regatta
A gaggle of boats ranging from wooden yachts to older one-design racers will race in this annual classic boat regatta to raise money for hospice organizations [see "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Turkeys," page 32]. Any boat whose design is over 25 years old is welcome to race. Yankee Point Sailboat Marina, Lancaster, Va. Sat. racing begins at 11:30 a.m.; Sun. pursuit race starts at 11:30 a.m. 804-462-7018; www.turkeyshoot
regatta.org

8-9
Good Old Boat Regatta
The Shearwater Sailing Club hosts this annual weekend of racing "boats of a certain age," open only to boats whose first hull was laid before 1980. Annapolis, off Tolly Point on the Severn River. Races start at 10:30 a.m. www.shearwatersc.org

9
Poquoson Workboat Races
Fans will line the Poquoson River shores as over 100 Bay deadrises and other workboats vie for the coveted "King of the Bay" title. There will also be Coast Guard demonstrations, vendors, children's activities and more. Messick Point, Poquoson, Va. Noon. 757-810-4098; www.poquosonseafoodfestival.com

9
Stella Maris Crab Feast
This annual crab feast and silent auction will benefit local hospice organizations and feature all-you-can-eat crabs, pit beef and barbecue. Maryland State Fairgrounds, Timonium, Md. 1-6 p.m. 410-252-4500; www.stellamariscrabfeast.com

11-16
Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race
More than 50 schooners will hoist their sails and race from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Norfolk. Pre- and post-race festivities include a parade of sail, an oyster and pig roast and lots of entertainment. Thu. race starts at the Bay Bridge at 1 p.m. 757-480-4402; www.schoonerrace.org

14-15
Wildlife Exhibition and Sale
This annual wildlife show and sale will feature the works of Maryland's most renowned carvers and sculptors, painters and artists. There will also be live music, workshops, a live raptor exhibit and a silent auction. Various venues, Chestertown, Md. Fri. 5:30-8:30 p.m.; Sat. 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 410-778-0416; www.chestertownwildlife.org KKK

14-16
Poquoson Seafood Festival
This annual seafood festival, now in its 31st year, comes complete with watermen's exhibits, workboat races, live entertainment, lots of seafood, fireworks and more. Municipal Park, Poquoson, Va. Fri. 5-10 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun. 12:30-6:30 p.m. 757-868-3588; www.poquosonseafoodfestival.com

15
Constellation Gala
Hop aboard the U.S.S. Constellation for its annual Blast, a fundraising gala featuring live music, dinner and dancing under the stars. U.S.S. Constellation, Baltimore. 6:30 -10 p.m. 410-539-1797; www.historicships.org

15
Waterfowl Paddle
Join the Sultana Projects' naturalists in a kayak trip along the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail to look for migrating waterfowl. Eastern Neck Wildlife Refuge, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 410-778-5954; www.sultanaprojects.org

15
Tilghman Day
Celebrate Bay heritage on Tilghman Island with an oyster-shucking contest, crab-picking contest, crab skiff races, docking contest, anchor toss, an auction, arts and crafts vendors, and more. Tilghman, Md. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 410-886-2677; www.tilghmanmd.com

15
South River Kayak Sojourn
Join the South River Federation for a kayak tour of the South River to see the fall foliage and wildlife. RSVP required. Hillsmere Community Beach, Annapolis. 8:30 a.m.-noon. 410-224-3802; sarah@southriverfederation.net; www.cbf.org

15-16
St. Mary's County Oyster
Festival This popular fall oyster festival includes the National Oyster Shucking and the National Oyster Cook-Off contest as well as live entertainment, plenty of seafood, rides and games. St. Mary's County Fairgrounds, Leonardtown, Md. Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 301-863-5015; www.usoysterfest.com

15-16
Yorktown Victory Celebration
Celebrate the anniversary of the victory at Yorktown with hands-on military activities, artillery drills, Revolutionary War encampments, parades, ceremonies and fireworks. Yorktown Victory Center, Yorktown, Va. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 888-593-4682; www.historyisfun.org

15-31
Fall into St. Michaels
St. Michaels, Md., puts on several weekends' worth of fun fall activities, including Jack Russell terrier races, ghost tours, a parade, a pumpkin-pie baking competition and much more. Check website for details and times. 410-745-0411; www.stmichaelsmd.org

16
West River Heritage Day Oyster Festival
Head to the West River for fresh oysters, live music, tours, children's activities, raffle drawings and more. Captain Salem Avery House, Shady Side, Md. 12:30-5 p.m. 410-867-4486; www.shadysidemuseum.org

21-23
Cambridge Schooner Rendezvous
Bay schooners, skipjacks and sloops will meet for dockside tours and cruises, live music and maritime entertainment. Long Wharf Park, Cambridge, Md. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 410-221-1871; www.cambridgeschoonerrendezvous.com

22
Kilmarnock Farmer's Market
On the fourth Saturday of the month, local growers will sell their produce and goods on Main Street in Kilmarnock, Va. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 804-435-6092; www.kilmarnockchamber.org

22-23
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 Oct. 24-25. Annapolis School of Seamanship, Annapolis. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 410-263-8848; www.annapolisschoolofseamanship.com

22-23
Navigation and Piloting Course
Join the pros at Annapolis School of Seamanship for a weekend of training using charts, tide tables and the Coast Pilot, plus learning to plot courses, prepare for trips and brush up on rules of the road and aids to navigation. Annapolis School of Seamanship, Annapolis. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 410-263-8848; www.annapolisschoolofseamanship.com

27-30
Downrigging Weekend
The schooner Sultana welcomes the Bay's tall ships and historic vessels to join her at her home port of Chestertown, Md., to end the sailing season with a weekend full of dockside tours and public sails, a wooden boat show, fireworks and plenty of other activities throughout the weekend. Chestertown, Md. 410-778-5954; www.sultanaprojects.org

29-30
Build a Model Pride of Baltimore II
Join the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum's model guild and build your own half-hull model of the iconic Baltimore clipper. Preregistration required. Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michaels, Md. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 410-745-2916; www.cbmm.org

29-30
Monster Rockfish Tournament and Festival
Visit Greenwell State Park along the banks of the Patuxent River to enjoy a celebratory festival after the previous day's prize-packed open rockfish tournament. The Festival will feature a rockfish cook-off, kayak demonstrations, tours of historic Rosedale Manor, arts and crafts vendors, outdoor outfitters vendors, horseback riding demonstrations and the tournament awards ceremony. Greenwell State Park, Hollywood, Md. Sat. fishing 5 a.m.-3 p.m. Sun. festival 11 a.m.-5 p.m. www.monsterrockfishtournament.com