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Thinking about summer
The time is right for planning your summer
Friday, June 12, 2009
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Connie Miller's painting of Cobb Island's lighthouse will be one of many pieces of artwork on display at River Artsfest. The event will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 13 at Indian Head's Village Green, 100 Walter Thomas Road.
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According to the Charles County Arts Alliance, more than 2,000 people attended last year's River Artsfest, an event that unifies the energies of local and regional writers, musicians, thespians, dancers and visual artists.
River Artsfest features live entertainment, food vendors, displays of artwork, activities for children and 13 performers on two stages.
The indoor pavilion will host a mix of performing arts groups. The day begins at 10 a.m. with the Southern Maryland Concert Band and ends with Chesapeake Choral Arts Society from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. In between, one finds outfits such as Port Tobacco Players Encore Kids theater troupe and Judy's Studio of Dance.
At the Gazebo stage, meantime, the day begins at 10:30 a.m. with a raptor conservation program and includes a reading from his book by Washington Post reporter Christian Davenport. Other performers include Port Tobacco Picking Fingers Society, Jon Robert and God's Inspiration. Rock bands Naked and The Wise Guys will close things out with sets from 3 to 4 p.m. and 4 to 5 p.m., respectively.
Here are some upcoming Southern Maryland events to mark your calendar with.
River Concert Series
The 11th annual River Concert Series will celebrate Maryland's 375th birthday with two nights of concerts during its opening weekend. At 7 p.m. June 19, Gov. Martin O'Malley's band, O'Malley's March, will lead off what will be seven weeks of classical music at St. Mary's College with the governor's original Irish rock tunes. After O'Malley's March, Chesapeake Orchestra, under the direction of River Concert Series organizer Jeffrey Silberschlag, will perform the world premiere of Maryland composer N. Lincoln-DeCusatis' symphonic work, "Terrae Mariae: A Creation Story."
On June 20, Historic St. Mary's City will host a day-long festival before a 7 p.m. River Concert Series performance capped by fireworks. Events begin at 10 a.m. with Colonial games and an exhibit of historical documents. Visitors will be able to tour large sailing ships, learn traditional dances, try 1634 Ale from a brewery in Frederick and interact with wandering minstrels. There will be performances by David Hildebrand, Calico Jack, David Norris and Ship's Company Chanteymen. Call 800-SMC-1634. Go to www.riverconcertseries.com or www.stmaryscity.org.
African-American heritage
Juneteenth — The Unified Committee for African-American Contribution will host a free family event from noon-8 p.m. June 20 to celebrate the history and culture of the African-American community, a press release states. The event will be held at Freedom Park in Lexington Park. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. The event features live gospel music, African drumming and dancing, exhibits and activities for children. Freedom Park is at Route 235 and Tulagi Place. Call 301-862-4868.
African-American Family Community Day — The 14th annual event will be held from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. June 20 at Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum. Sponsored by the Calvert branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the multicultural event will include church gospel choirs, exhibits, a car show, health fair, food vendors, arts and crafts, wagon rides and tennis lessons. The theme is "going green," and Christian comedian Sean Sarvis will be the master of ceremonies during the early portion of the event. The museum is at 10515 Mackall Road, St. Leonard. Call 410-535-2730. Go to www.jefpat.org.
Carnival
Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department will have its 48th annual carnival from 7-11 p.m. June 18-21 and 25-28. The event features rides, games and food. Raffle contests will be held each night. Call 301-884-8602.
Movies on the beach
North Beach's family movie series continues at 8 p.m. June 20 with "Journey to the Center of the Earth" in 3-D. Watch the movie on a 40-foot screen on the beach. Bring blankets and chairs. The summer schedule includes "Grease" July 25 and "The Lion King" Aug. 15. Go to www.northbeachevents.com.
Concerts
Trace Adkins — Kool Production's summer concert series at Regency Furniture Stadium continues at 6:30 p.m. July 4 with an Independence Day-themed concert by country star Trace Adkins. His hits includes "Ladies Love Country Boys," "You're Gonna Miss This" and "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk." Call 301-638-9788.
Styx and 38 Special — The 1980s rock groups will perform at 7 p.m. July 7 at Calvert Marine Museum. Tickets are $50 and $40. Call 800-787-9454. Calvert Marine Museum is at 14150 Solomons Island Road, Solomons. Go to www.calvertmarinemuseum.com.
La Plata concert series — Bands will perform on Friday nights at 7 p.m. at 305 Queen Anne St., La Plata through Oct. 2. Upcoming groups include Sweetwater June 12, local band Roadhouse June 19, Steve Potter Blues Band June 26 and The Wise Guys July 10. Special concerts will be held at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 7, Sept. 4 and Oct. 2. All events are free. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket. To check for weather cancellations, call 301-934-8421. Go to www.townoflaplata.org.
North Beach concert series — Bands will perform free concerts from 6:30-9:30 some Friday nights at the North Beach bandstand at Bay Avenue between Fifth and Third streets. The schedule includes Rock Holiday June 13, John Luskey July 11 and Southern Maryland Swing Band Aug. 22. Go to www.northbeachevents.com.
Little Big Town and Phil Vassar — The country acts will perform at 7 p.m. Aug. 29 at St. Leonard Volunteer Fire, Rescue and EMS' Bayside Toyota Pavilion. Alan Jackson will perform Sept. 20. The fire department is at 200 Calvert Beach Road, St. Leonard. Ticket prices range from $40 to $50. Call 800-551-SEAT. Go to www.ticketmaster.com.
Speaker series
Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum — The site will host four more lectures this summer on archaeology. Next up is a July 9 talk about 17th-century Chesapeake life "not found in history books" by Douglas Owsley of the Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C. The events are held at 7 p.m. The museum is at 10515 Mackall Road, St. Leonard. Call 410-586-8501. Go to www.jefpat.org.
Sotterley Plantation — The site will host four more speakers after Godfrey Cheshire June 12. Next up is Patuxent Riverkeeper Fred Tutman, who will deliver a lecture concerning environmental economics and justice at 7 p.m. Aug. 21. Sotterley Plantation is at 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood. Call 301-373-2280. Go to www.sotterley.org.
