Sea Glass Festival a big draw at CBMM

ST. MICHAELS — A two-day Eastern Shore Sea Glass and Coastal Arts Festival on the campus of Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum last weekend drew over 5,000 visitors to a colorful mixture of mermaids, live music and coastal art.

The festival has been growing since it was launched in 2010 with just sea glass. The following year, coastal art was added. The crowd took in the 90 different vendors, who came from coasts as far away as Maine.

“People from the local business community didn’t seem to get it. But when thousands of people started to come, they are like, ‘When is the seaglass festival?’” said Kim Hannon, president of Eastern Shore Sea Glass Association.

The crowds throughout the weekend were large — 4,000 people on Saturday and another 1,500 on Sunday, Hannon said, adding that the numbers were most likely larger because many visitors bought one ticket for both days.

Vendor after vendor said it was busier Saturday, but that it was well worth the effort to come and set up for the weekend.

Lectures about the over-harvesting of sea glass and the the rising tide’s effect on disappearing beaches brought an educational aspect to the event.

Mary McCarthy, who lives in Tilghman Island, is an author, a former journalist and the former vice president of North American Sea Glass Association.

She lectured on real versus fake sea glass in the Steamboat Building, her head adorned with a hat ringed with sea glass.

“There are diminishing shorelines and less sea glass,” McCarthy said. “The sea glass is disappearing between everything being made of plastic and over harvesting.”

She said coastal erosion makes it harder to find sea glass, pointing to islands that are disappearing from the Chesapeake Bay.

“With coastal erosion, no one will be able to find sea glass,” McCarthy said. “Holland Island went down most recently. Tangier and Smith are next.”

As she talked, she stood in front of a mountain of real sea glass on her beachcombers table and rows of worn-glass Coke bottles. People were digging through, trying to find their special piece.

Hannon is the unofficial mayor of this event. Wandering the museum grounds, she gets smiles from the vendors. She says it is like a family, and she wants to see everyone succeed.

“It is like a reunion now,” she said. “I love art, music and food.”

And there were lots of all three — art, food and music.

A variety of food offerings included a bacon truck with bacon-wrapped sausage links, sriracha honey dipped bacon and bacon wrapped little smokies. There was coconut-flavored Lyon rum and a lobster food truck. There was pit beef and crabcakes.

The aroma of food was not the only thing filling the air. Music wafted over the crowds as well.

Bobby Reed of Cambridge was cranking out ‘80s hits on his electrified acoustic guitar. On the other side of the museum campus, Jeff Washington had Prince cranked up and was shredding along on his electric guitar.

Shannon Mitchell, museum vice president of engagement, was thrilled with the festival.

“It has extended our season earlier into April,” Mitchell said. “We appreciate any new group who gets to experience the museum.”

Museum Chief Advancement Officer Liz LaCorte added, “Anytime we get this many people on campus, it’s a success.”