News Release

Annapolis Maritime Museum / 723 Second St / Annapolis, MD 21403
Contact: Jeff Holland / 410-295-0104

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 10, 2011

First Annual Annapolis Oyster Roast
Saturday, March 19, 2011, Annapolis Maritime Museum

Packed program set including live entertainment, kids’ activities,
oyster tasting competition, and traditional sock burning

The Annapolis Maritime Museum is on track to host the First Annual Annapolis Oyster Roast on Saturday, March 19, 2011, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Museum campus located at the historic McNasby Oyster Company in Eastport at Back Creek.

The festivities include a traditional burning of the socks, plus live music by The Rovers and bluegrass artist Jon Wood. Area restaurants, including the Boatyard Bar & Grill, Carpaccio’s, Hell Point Seafood, The Main Ingredient, Pirate’s Cove and Wild Orchid will participate in the “First Annual Oyster Tasting Contest” where attendees can sample the restaurants’ best oyster dishes, then vote for their favorite recipes.

Admission is $25 per adult and includes oysters on the half shell, raw & roasted, and oyster tastings from the competition, while supplies last. Kids 13-18 pay $5, and kids 12 and under are FREE. Other food and beverages, including fried oyster sandwiches and other fresh-caught Bay delicacies from Wild Country Seafood, Pit Boys’ barbecue sandwiches, and gourmet grilled hot dogs from Peace, Love & Hot Dogs, LLC, plus soft drinks, beer and wine will be available for a modest additional fee. All proceeds go towards the Museum’s operational and educational programs.

Tickets are available to purchase at amaritime.org/oysterroast2011.html or by calling the Museum at 410-295-0104.

There will also be oyster shucking contests, family activities and exhibits that highlight the importance of the oyster to the health of the Chesapeake Bay, as well as this area’s unique maritime heritage. In addition, the Museum’s exhibition gallery will be open with the exhibit, Oysters on the Half Shell.

Adults and accompanied children 12 and older can experience a once-in-a-lifetime chance to go tonging for oysters with a working waterman. For an additional $15 fee, Capt. John VanAlstine will offer trips out to the nearby Tolley Point oyster bar aboard his workboat, Patricia Anne. Each passenger will have a chance to harvest oysters using traditional long-shafted hand tongs. The oysters will then be returned to the Bay. Each trip will last about 1 hour 15 minutes. 

See the website for directions to nearby free parking. Free eCruisers shuttles will run on a continuous schedule.

About the Annapolis Maritime Museum
The Annapolis Maritime Museum is a 501(C) (3) non-profit educational institution dedicated to preserving and commemorating the maritime heritage of Annapolis and the neighboring waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Located on Back Creek right around the corner from City Dock and designated an official Chesapeake Bay Gateways site by the National Park Service as well as a heritage site by the Four Rivers Heritage Area, the Museum is working to provide the vital connection for residents and visitors—both children and adults—to the Chesapeake Bay’s natural environment and culture through a variety of educational and public programs and exhibitions. 

For more information: www.amaritime.org or 410-295-0104.

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