Get ready to celebrate!

This weekend is Maryland's 375th Birthday Celebration Weekend!

Starting tonight at 7 PM, come out to St. Mary's College of Maryland and enjoy the season opener of the River Concert Series. In honor of Maryland's 375th, Nathan Lincoln-DeCusatis has written a special symphonic work entitled "In Terrae Mariae: A Creation Song," which makes its debut tonight and features spoken texts culled from early writings on Maryland's founding prepared by Jennifer Cognard-Black, Associate Professor of English at St. Mary's College of Maryland. Visit http://www.riverconcertseries.com/ or call 240-895-4107 for more information.

Tomorrow, Saturday, June 20, the celebration continues at Historic St. Mary's City from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. with a birthday extravaganza. Tour tall ships such as the Kalmar Nyckel, the Maryland Dove, the dory boat Potomac, and the Sultana, a reproduction 1768 schooner. Tap your feet to the music of Calico Jack, David Norris, David Hildebrand, and Ship's Company Chanteyman in the Town Center. Explore the Woodland Indian Hamlet, the Brick Chapel, and the Godiah Spray Tobacco Plantation and experience what life was like back when St. Mary's City was Maryland's capital. The event is free and there will also be plenty of vendors, children's acitvities, and 17th-century style entertainment to help you celebrate Maryland's 375th birthday. Don't miss another River Concert Series at St. Mary's College of Maryland at 7 PM. There will be fireworks after the concert! Visit http://www.stmaryscity.org/ or call 800-762-1634 for more information.

On Saturday, June 20, the Juneteenth Celebration African American Heritage Festival is being held at Freedom Park in Lexington Park from noon until 8 p.m. The festival is held annually as a celebration of cultural diversity and freedom! There will be an early evening jazz concert featuring Saxophonist Phillip Martin, Jazz and R&B Vocalist Shang, Gospel Singing with Rev. James Flowers, Jr., and African dance and drumming. You'll also enjoy exhibits, a Minority Outreach Coalition Mini Health Fair, games, vendors, and food. It's a great way to continue the celebration! Visit http://www.ucaconline.org/ or call 301-862-4868 for more information.

For all of you race fans, don't miss Pinks All Out on Saturday, June 20 at Maryland International Raceway! Speed TV will be filming an episode of Pinks All Out, where hundreds of the best drag racers in the country will bring their game to MIR in search of glory and their share of $18,000 in cold hard cash. Host Rich Christensen hosts the all-day shootout that pits egos and cars against one another on the quarter mile! This is a ticketed event. Please visit http://www.mirdrag.com/ or call 301-884-9833 for more information.

Then, on Sunday, celebrate Maryland's 375th (and Father's Day too!) with the College of Southern Maryland in Leonardtown at the Celebrate Family, Fun and Fitness event! From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., enjoy fitness demos, fun lawn games, a 3.75-mile walk through historic downtown Leonardtown and more. Visit www.csmd.edu/familyfun or call 301-934-7703 or 240-725-5312 for more information.

So this weekend, come down to St. Mary's County and celebrate Maryland's 375th!

Crab Lovers Delight

If you love crabs, then you definitely don't want to miss the St. Mary's Crab Festival on Sunday, June 14. The festival runs from 11 AM until 5 PM and is being held at the St. Mary's County Fairgrounds in Leonardtown. An annual tradition for 23 years, the crab festival is one of those great events that no summer would be complete without. You can get crabs any way you like 'em - steamed crabs, boiled crabs, breaded crabs, crab soup, and crab cakes plus other seafood dishes!

The festival also features regional crafters selling their hand-made pieces and lots of local entertainment to enjoy while you sit back and savor those crabs. Local dance studio teams, the crowd-pleasing Chesapeake Country Cruisers line dance team, and live country music by local legends "Southbound" will make you want to get up and dance!

There is a $5 general admission fee and food purchases cost extra. For more information, please contact the Leonardtown Lions Club at 301-885-8926 or visit www.StMarysCrabFestival.com.

Coming Up This Week: June 1 - June 7

We have a lot of wonderful events coming up this week in St. Mary's County. Here are a few that you won't want to miss!


Week of One Act Plays

From June 4 through 7, The Newtowne Players will be performing a series of one act plays featuring original scripts. The play "A History of St. Mary's County, Maryland in 23 Minutes," is among the plays to be performed and was chosen in honor of Maryland's 375th Birthday! Written by R. Da Silva, the play is a humorous representation of our local history filled with flagrant misrepresentations and gross stereotypes.

The Week of One Act Plays will be held at the Three Notch Theater in Lexington Park. For more information, contact The Newtowne Players at 301-737-5447 or visit http://www.newtowneplayers.org/.


Leonardtown First Friday

This Friday, June 5, from 5 PM until 8 PM, enjoy all the charms of Leonardtown! Join Historic Leonardtown's art galleries, restaurants, cafes, gift shops, antique shops, bookstores, and more as the town hosts a free evening of art, entertainment, and specials.

For more information, contact the Town of Leonardtown Office at 301-475-9791 or visit Leonardtown.somd.com.


Culinary Adventure at Summerseat Farm

Come out and enjoy an old-fashioned community picnic on the beautiful grounds of Summerseat Farm in Mechanicsville! Bring your blanket and picnic basket for a relaxing afternoon in the natural beauty of Summerseat on June 6, from 10 AM to 2 PM. There will also be educational programs and manor house tours plus 120 acres to explore with vineyards, gardens, farm animals and more!

For more information, contact Summerseat Farm at 301-373-6607 or visit http://www.summerseat.org/.


Southern Maryland Soap Box Derby

On your mark...get set...go! Get into the excitement as fast and furious youngsters vie to continue the tradition of sending one local champion to race in the grand finale of the Soap Box Derby! The Southern Maryland Soap Box Derby will be held on June 6, from 9 AM - 4 PM on Patuxent Boulevard, off of Route 4.

For more information, call 301-481-5494.