Celebrating colonial resistance to British rule, Chestertown, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, will hold its Annual Tea Party Festival Saturday, May 26, 2018. Street Party to be held Friday, May 25, 2018.

In response to British Parliament’s closing of the port of Boston, the citizens of Chestertown, Maryland met in May of 1774 and set forth “Resolves” forbidding importing, selling, or consuming tea in Chestertown. According to local legend, residents then gathered at the town center, marched down High Street to the brigantine Geddes, which was anchored in the Chester River, and tossed her cargo of tea overboard. The annual reenactment of that event is the centerpiece of the Chestertown Tea Party Festival. The re-enactment is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. All Festival events take place along the Chester River and in the historic district of 18th-century  Chestertown, Maryland. There is no admission charge to the Festival.

Start training now for this year’s Classic Distance 10 Mile Run and 5k Run/Walk. Or join the festival-goers that line High Street each year to cheer the passing of colonial militia, marching bands, costume-garbed children and more in the Colonial Parade. A Walking Tour of the historic district is offered to visitors and local residents. The tour is conducted by trained docents who are residents of Kent County. Not only can you purchase many handcrafted Colonial goods at the Festival, but you can also see a live demonstration of how those items are made. On Sunday, challenge yourself and your engineering skills by competing in this year’s Annual Raft Race. You’ll be amazed at the sites and sounds of the Chestertown Tea Party Festival!

Tea Toss Reenactment, Colonial Parade, Street Party, Raft Race, Street Performances, Colonial Crafts, Strolling Musicians, Local Fare, 5k & 10 mile run and more including…
Wine and Craft Beer Tasting held on Sunday at Wilmer Park from noon to 4 p.m. The event will feature local Maryland wineries and craft brewers.

Town ordinance prohibits dogs at the festival.

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FOR MORE DETAILS VISIT THE EVENT PAGE ON FACEBOOK BY CLICKING HERE

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Dick Goodall to Receive the Edna Ross Award at the Chestertown Tea Party Festival

The Edna Ross Award is given annually to a local business person for outstanding service to the community. The award was created by Chestertown Tea Party Festival organizers in 2011 to honor Ross and all she had done for Chestertown.

Past Recipients:

2016 Edna Ross Award

Jay and Lisa Yerkes to Receive the Edna Ross Award at the Chestertown Tea Party Festival The Edna Ross Award is given annually to a local business person for outstanding service to the community. The award was created by Chestertown Tea Party Festival organizers in 2011 to honor Ross and all she had done for...

2015 Edna Ross Award - Margaret and Bob Morris

Margaret and Bob Morris to Receive the Edna Ross Award at the Chestertown Tea Party Festival The Edna Ross Award is given annually to a local business person for outstanding service to the community. The award was created by Chestertown Tea Party Festival organizers in 2011 to honor Ross and all she had done for...

2013 Edna Ross Award - Lucia Foster

2013 Recipient Two years ago, the Chestertown Tea Party introduced the Edna Ross Award, to be given out for outstanding service for the community. The award was created to honor Mrs. Ross and all she had done for Chestertown. Last year the award was given to Lanny Parks, known for her years of service at...

2014 Edna Ross Award - Anna Scott Cole

Anna Scott Cole  to Receive the Edna Ross Award at the Chestertown Tea Party Festival   The Edna Ross Award, created by the Chestertown Tea Party in 2011, is given to a local business person for outstanding service to the community . The award was created to honor Mrs. Ross and all she had done...

2012 – Lanny Parks

2011 – Edna Ross

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Chestertown Tea Party Festival 2017
Thomas Yeager

Previous recipients:

2016 Grand Marshal

Chestertown Tea Party Festival 2016 Mark Mumford   Print Page

2015 Grand Marshal - Margo Bailey

Chestertown Tea Party Festival 2015 Margo Bailey Margo Bailey, Chestertown’s five-term mayor, will be grand marshal of this year’s Tea Party Festival. Sabine Harvey, chairman of the Tea Party Festival committee, said in an email Tuesday, May 5, “After having been mayor for 20 years, it seemed that Margo was the absolute obvious choice as...

2014 Grand Marshal - Sylvia Maloney

Chestertown Tea Party Festival 2014 Sylvia Maloney Chosen as Grand Marshall Chestertown, MD, May 2014:  Sylvia Maloney, long-time Chestertown resident, Kent County teacher, and former member of the Chestertown Tea Party Festival will be honored as the Grand Marshall of the 2014 Chestertown Tea Party Festival Parade. Mrs. Maloney began volunteering with the festival in...

2013 Grand Marshal - Curtis Dorsey

Chestertown Tea Party Festival 2013 Curtis Dorsey Chosen as Grand Marshall Chestertown, MD, May 2013:  Curtis Dorsey, lifetime Kent County resident and owner operator of Dorsey Bus Services will be honored posthumously as the Grand Marshall of the 2013 Chestertown Tea Party Festival Parade.  Mrs. Anna Mae Dorsey and Mrs. Ruth Briscoe will represent Mr....

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HISTORIC WALKING TOUR OF 18TH CENTURY CHESTERTOWN AT THE TEA PARTY FESTIVAL

Learn about what life really would have been like for a merchant, a slave or a child in Chestertown in 1774! As part of the Tea Party annual festivities, guided walking tours of Chestertown’s historic district are offered to the public. The tours bring the 18th century to life by using colonial houses and public buildings as a way to tell funny, exciting, and always true stories, historical accounts and anecdotes about Chestertown’s lively past as an official port of London.

The tour lasts 45 minutes, and is suitable for adults and families with children over 8 years of age. Lead by costumed docents, the tour covers several blocks and addresses topics as varied and compelling as colonial medicine and the healing power of leeches, clothing and the “evil weed” tobacco, Chestertown’s 18th century ‘pig problem’, and what really WAS the secret ingredient in the White Swan Tavern’ s punch.

Ticket sales for the walking tours will be offered the day of the Tea Party Festival at the Festival’s information booth. No pre-registration required.

For more information, contact walkingtour@chestertownteaparty.org

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AUDITIONS!

Calling all actors for this year’s Revolutionary Theatre show, Naught But Knitting Needles!

Written by Tia Glomb, Naught But Knitting Needles gives us a new look at what happened that fateful evening…

Auditions will be held at the Garfield Theatre at the following dates/times:
4/11 @ 5:30pm
4/13 @ 5:30pm
4/15 @ 11:00am

Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. We welcome actors of various ages and levels of experience. Acting not your thing? We’re always looking for help with sets, props, costumes, lighting, and sound.

Showtimes are on May 27th, at 11am and 3pm.

If you have any questions, or wish to be involved with the show but cannot attend auditions, feel free to email Sarah Crump at sarahcevents@gmail.com

See you there!

A special “thanks!” to Jim Landskroener for inspiring this competition!

Watch a production from the Revolutionary Theatre by visiting our Video Gallery.

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We are always looking for volunteers for the many Tea Party Festival committees and events. If you are interested please take a minute to complete our volunteer form and someone will get back to you as soon as possible! Thank you!

We’re using SignUp.com (the leading online SignUp and reminder tool) to organize our upcoming SignUps.

Here’s how it works in 3 easy steps:

1) Click this link to see our SignUp on SignUp.com: http://signup.com/go/FBZrhlT
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
3) Sign up! It’s Easy – you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp.com.

Note: SignUp.com does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me at volunteer@chestertowteaparty.org and I can sign you up manually.

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The Chestertown Tea Party Festival is always looking for more sponsors! Click here to find out more about our sponsorship opportunities.

Platinum Sponsors

www.cambiowifi.com

East Coast Storage

https://www.washcoll.edu/

 Gold Sponsors

A Plus Sanitation
410-708-6281

Kelly Distributors
http://www.kellydistributors.com

 
WCTR

Silver Sponsors

The Peoples Bank

 Cross Street Realtors

Price Rentals and Events

Kent School

 
Taylor Laughry

Yerkes Construction
Chestertown Runners
http://www.yerkesconstruction.com/

Infinity Recycling

Bronze Sponsors

Unity Nursery

Grants

Friends

Sultana Education Foundation
http://www.sultanaeducatiom.org

Echo Hill Outdoor School
http://www.ehos.orgKent Amateur Radio Society
http://www.k3ars.org
OPERATIONS ASSISTANCE & SUPPORT

Kent & Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad

Young Professionals of Kent County

Historical Society of Kent County

Radcliffe Creek School
http://www.radcliffecreekschool.org
Classic Distance Run

Garfield Center for the Arts

Revolutionary Theatre

The Humane Society of Kent County
http://www.kenth umane.org
DOGGY DAYCARE @
Chestertown Fire Hall

Chesapeake Wine Trail
http://shorevinesandwines.com

Community Partners

• Bethel A.M.E Church
• Boy Scout Troop 130
• Centreville Church of God
• Chestertown Elks
• Chestertown Optimist Club
• Christ U.M. Church
• Eastern Shore Alano Club
• Historical Society of Kent County
• Janes United Methodist Church
• Jaycees of Cecil County
• KCHS Music Boosters
• Kent County Community Marching Band
• Kent County Young Farmers
• Kent Ruritan
• Knights of Columbus
• Mt. Olive AME Church
• New Christian Chapel of Love U.M. Church
• Order of the Eastern Star
• Rotary Club of Chestertown
• Thomas H. Kiah #101 Masonic Lodge
• Union U.M. Church
• Unitarian Universalists of Chester River

SUNDAY

• Alano Club of Kent County
• Centerville Church of God
• Jaycees of Cecil County
• KC Community Marching Band
• Mt. Pisgah UM Church

• LOCAL WINERIES
• http://shorevinesandwines.com/
• http://www.shorevines.com/

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Mailing address:
Chestertown Tea Party Festival, P.O. Box 526, Chestertown, Maryland 21620

Executive Committee:
Sabine Harvey –  President
Lamonte Cooke –  Vice President
Susan McRae – Treasurer
Stephen Lozar – Secretary

Organizing Committee:
Bonnie Clark
Butch Clark – Operations
John Dolgos – Operations
Lena Ellwanger – Press
Joe Holt – Artisans
Linda Kuiper – Artisans
Kate Livie – Walking Tours, Raft Race
Mary Simmons – Parade
Hope Thomas – Food Vendors
Steve Atkinson – Social Media Marketing, Photography
Aundra Anderson – Street Party
Andy Goddard – Programming
Juanita Weiczoreck – Programming, Colonial Village
Patsy Whiteley – Information Booth
Jane Nevins – Costumes

Please use email to reach the festival committee for any specific questions.

Email:
General Information: contact@chestertownteaparty.org
Street Party: streetparty@chestertownteaparty.org
Costumes: costumes@chestertownteaparty.org
Food Concession: (Local Non-Profits Only) food@chestertownteaparty.org
Artisans: merchants@chestertownteaparty.org
Parade:  parade@chestertownteaparty.org
Programming: programming@chestertownteaparty.org
Distance Run: run@chestertownteaparty.org
Walking Tours: walkingtours@chestertownteaparty.org

What we do:

Throughout the year, the festival organizers meet a variety of challenges. Some are particular to the Tea Party and many are shared by all non-profit organizations. Among those shared challenges is the need to provide financial stability while accomplishing the group’s mission. Over the years, through good times and bad, the organization has maintained an average of just enough money to seed the following year’s event. We are happy, therefore, when fellow non-profit organizations also benefit from the festival because we have firsthand understanding of the concern for fundraising. About twenty groups make money by selling food to festival-goers. Together, these groups annually make more than $75,000 in funds that are transformed into community services. Consequently, we take pride from the fact that we indirectly contribute to the quality of life we experience in this wonderful place.

Facilitating fundraising, however, is only one facet of the festival. Our mission is to provide a greater understanding of the area’s history, which strengthens our local sense of identity and offers a meaningful perspective on our unique past. Throughout the years, thousands of schoolchildren have been inspired to investigate the nation’s roots because of the reenactment of the Chestertown Tea Party. Our job is heritage education. We understand that with an ongoing infusion of energy and creativity, there is vast potential. We are excited by the possibilities and welcome your help as well as insight.

Producing the festival requires a sacrifice from many, whether money, time, or convenience. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who have given throughout the years and who continue to offer their support in innumerable ways.

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