Experience the rich maritime history of the Chesapeake Bay at the Solomons Maritime Festival! Be sure to check out Wm. B. Tennison cruises, educational programs, special events, and the first month of openings for Cove Point Lighthouse and Lore Oyster House this season!

Explore how the prehistoric past, natural environments, and maritime heritage come to life and tell a unique story of the Chesapeake Bay. The Calvert Marine Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Admission is $11.00 for adults; $9.00 for seniors, military, and veterans with valid I.D, AAA and AARP members; $6.00 for children ages 5 – 12; children under 5 and museum members are admitted free. Proud participant in Museums for ALL. For more information about the museum, upcoming events, or membership and to purchase tickets for all events, visit the website at www.calvertmarinemuseum.com or call 410-326-2042. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

Wednesday, May 1 – Lore Oyster House 2 – 4 p.m.

Join us for the first official open day of the season at the newly refurbished Lore Oyster House. Located six-tenths of a mile south of the main museum campus on Solomons Island Road, this 1934 seafood packing house offers exhibits that explore all aspects of oyster processing. No admission required. Visit our website for all summer dates.

Wednesday through Sunday, the month of May – Wm. B. Tennison Public Cruise 2 p.m.

Relax and enjoy a leisurely one-hour sightseeing cruise on the river aboard the Wm. B. Tennison, a log-built bugeye. Capacity allows for 40 guests. Cost is $9 for adults and $5 for children, infant through 12 years. *Please note: May 4 will follow the event schedule for the Solomons Maritime Festival and a May 19 cruise will not be available due to the Blessing of the Fleet event.

Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, in the month of May – Cove Point Lighthouse grounds and Visitors Center 1 – 4 p.m.

The Cove Point Lighthouse grounds are open to the public during the summer months to enjoy a view of the Calvert Cliffs, explore the base of the lighthouse tower, and learn about the history of the oldest continuously operating lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay. No admission required. NOTE: The beach is not open to the public.

 Thursdays, May 2, 9 & 16 – Sea Squirts: Marsh Detective 10:15 & 11:15 a.m. 

Children 18 months to 3 years, with an adult, are invited to discover the museum together through music, stories, and special activities. Join us for story time and a craft, available while supplies last. Sessions are 25-40 minutes. Cost is free with museum admission. Sign up at the Admissions Desk when you arrive. For more information visit: Sea Squirts | Calvert Marine Museum, MD – Official Website

 Friday, May 3 – First Fossil Friday! 1 – 4:30 p.m.

Fossil hunters, bring your fossil finds from the Calvert Cliffs or other local areas to be identified! This service is provided for free; however, admission fees apply for access to CMM exhibits.

Friday – Sunday, May 3 – 5 – Solomons Small Craft Gathering All day
The Patuxent Small Craft Guild (PSCG) Chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association (TSCA), in association with the Calvert Marine Museum (CMM), invites you to join us for a weekend of messing about in small boats. All small craft are welcome, whether propelled by wind, paddle, oar, pedal, or motor. The gathering will be informal with no fees, signups (unless you choose to camp at the museum) or planned events. The event will coincide with CMM’s Solomons Maritime Festival on Saturday, May 4. This allows interested attendees to enjoy free admission to the museum on Saturday and the opportunity to enjoy festival activities.

 Saturday, May 4 – Solomons Maritime Festival 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Celebrate Southern Maryland traditions at this FREE festival! Visitors of all ages are invited to join us for exciting activities including cooking demonstrations, traditional LIVE music, toy boat building, Quilts of Valor display, Chesapeake Bay Retriever demonstrations, antique boats and motors, plus 30-minute cruises on the Wm. B. Tennison! Food vendors will be on-site. Admission to the festival and the museum is FREE!

Sundays, May 5, 12, 19 & 26 – Sunday Afternoons with Poppie 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Make your Sunday afternoon memorable by coming to visit with our very own Pop Star “Poppie,” our Virginia Opossum. You can join the Poppie paparazzi in the museum lobby with one of our educational interpreters, learn all kinds of fun possum facts, and visit our Museum Store for possum fan gear.  Since the welfare of our animals is our primary concern, Poppie’s ability to visit with her adoring public may occasionally be subject to change on short notice.

 Sunday, May 12 – Mother’s Day Evening Cruise 4:30 – 6 p.m.

Celebrate mom or your “special” someone aboard the Wm. B. Tennison! Relax together and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Solomons Harbor and Patuxent River. Heavy hors d’oeuvre and a special dessert will be served. Guests are welcome to bring their own beverages; water, tea and lemonade will be provided. Cost is $40 for adults, $20 for children ages 5-12, and $10 for children 4 and under.

 Friday, May 17 – Night at the Museum for Friends with Disabilities 5 – 7 p.m.

The museum and grounds will be open exclusively for guests with disabilities and their families, friends, or caregivers. This FREE evening of fun is offered through a collaboration with CCPR Therapeutic Recreation Services (TRS). Enjoy the skates and rays, fish, fossils, and maritime history in a relaxed and

supportive environment. Learn about river otters and meet Bubbles, our otter mascot. Poppie the opossum will also make an appearance. Explore the Discovery Room, boat basin, and Drum Point Lighthouse.

The Museum Store will be open and full of items for all ages and interests. Take a 30-minute cruise on the Wm. B. Tennison at 5 p.m., 5:45 p.m., or 6:30 p.m. A calming room is available. PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED for each person to ride the Wm. B. Tennison – Call 410-535-1600, ext. 8204 or 8205 to register for a cruise. Pre-registration is encouraged but not required for museum access – Register online at Preregister to access the museum and search for Activity #470773.

 Monday, May 27 – Wm. B. Tennison Holiday Public Cruise 2 p.m.

Celebrate Memorial Day with a leisurely one-hour sightseeing cruise on the river aboard the Wm. B. Tennison, a log-built bugeye. Capacity allows for 40 guests. Cost is $9 for adults and $5 for children, infant through 12 years.