Maryland and seafood go hand in hand, with traditions rooted as deeply as the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Locals crack open blue crabs, savor the snap of fresh oysters, and gather year after year to celebrate it all at bustling festivals.
These events aren’t just about filling plates – they’re about music, community, and a proud taste of Mid-Atlantic heritage served with plenty of butter and Old Bay.
1. Maryland Seafood Festival – Annapolis
Crabs crack and music flows at Sandy Point State Park each September during this Chesapeake tradition. The famous crab soup cook-off pits local chefs against each other in a delicious battle for supremacy.
Kids bounce in the dedicated zone while adults sample fresh catches and watch cooking demonstrations. General admission gets you in the door, but bring extra cash for the mouthwatering seafood and refreshing drinks available throughout the grounds.
2. National Hard Crab Derby & Fair – Crisfield
Only in Maryland would racing crabs become a beloved Labor Day tradition! At Somers Cove Marina, numbered crustaceans scuttle across circular tracks while spectators cheer on their favorites like they’re thoroughbreds at the Preakness…