ST. MICHAELS, Md., Sept. 14, 2026 – Dozens of small boats and the people who build, sail, row, and celebrate them will take over the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s waterfront during the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival on Friday-Sunday, Oct. 2-4.

One of the nation’s largest gatherings of its kind, Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival XLIII will bring together small boat enthusiasts from across the region for a family-friendly weekend filled with camaraderie, tradition, and fun. Learn more about all the festivities planned at cbmm.org/MASCF.

Register as a participant to bring your vessel and join the packed slate of events throughout the weekend, including demos and workshops, guest speakers, races, children’s activities, boat judging and awards, and more. All other guests can enjoy the festival with general admission, which is valid for two consecutive days.

CBMM members save $25 on adult participant registration and receive free entrance to the festival as part of their free general admission throughout the year.

CBMM members become a part of the Chesapeake story and join CBMM’s mission of preservation and exploration. To discover all the terrific benefits of membership and join today, visit cbmm.org/memberships or contact Membership Services Coordinator Debbie Ruzicka at 410-745-4991 or druzicka@cbmm.org.

Each fall, the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival spotlights the craftsmanship and innovation showcased through these vessels, bringing together a unique collection of sailing skiffs, rowing shells, kayaks, canoes, paddle boats, prams, and one-of-a-kind boats.

An enthusiastic group of small craft owners from around the region, including members of the Traditional Small Craft Association, spend the weekend messin’ about together on the Miles River, starting with a Thursday camp cruise to Wye Island.

This year, CBMM is getting in the spirit early by offering sessions of its Intro to Sailing Small Craft course on Oct. 1 and 2. This one-day course teaches how to sail a traditional Chesapeake vessel on the Miles River with one-on-one instruction from a seasoned sailor on CBMM’s Shipyard staff. The cost is $120 for CBMM members and $150 for non-members.

CBMM’s celebration of all things small craft features a variety of activities spread around campus and on the Miles River.

On Saturday, participants can enjoy craft and art workshops, plus boat discussions examining unique Chesapeake creations. This year, the evening program features a keynote speech from Capt. Doug Oeller, who will share highlights and lessons learned from his epic journey to circumnavigate the lower 48 states in a 19-foot sailboat.

Representatives from the Chesapeake Wooden Boat Builders School will offer boatbuilding and maritime demonstrations Saturday, and Chesapeake Light Craft will be on site with a selection of vessels from its fleet for guests to demo.

The children’s activities include cardboard boat construction and racing and model building on Saturday and a Sunday campus scavenger hunt.

The participants will gather in friendly competition Saturday afternoon with a series of sailing (1:30pm) and rowing (3:30pm) races. Guests are invited to cheer on the competitors from CBMM’s waterfront and docks.

Everyone on campus for MASCF will be able to vote for their favorite boat, with the People’s Choice award and others announced among participants on Saturday evening. Limited public offerings will be available Sunday before participants head home.

For safety reasons, non-service dogs must be kept at home during CBMM festivals, including the Mid-Atlantic Small Craft Festival.

CBMM’s fall festival lineup continues with OysterFest (Saturday, Nov. 7), the Holiday Edition of the Eastern Shore Sea Glass & Coastal Arts Festival (Saturday, Nov. 21), and Winter on the Chesapeake (Saturday, Dec. 12). Learn more and buy tickets now at cbmm.org/Festivals.