Dorchester News | Jan 2025
WHAT'S INSIDE: Cambridge Ice & Oyster Fest Jan. 17-18 | Top 10 Ideas for Winter Fun | MHAA Letters of Intent Due Jan. 27 | January Events | Arts & Music | Save the Dates for 2025 Annual Events | Dorchester Tourism News
Cambridge Ice & Oyster Fest Jan. 17-18
Catch the chills and thrills at the outdoor Cambridge Ice & Oyster Fest Jan. 17-18,. featuring more than 50 dazzling ice sculptures showcasing Eastern Shore culture and wildlife, a full-size ice slide, master ice carver demonstrations, interactive ice games, oyster bar, fire pits and s’mores stations, ice bars, and live music. It's a great family-friendly event – and admission is free! Follow the latest updates on Facebook or Instagram.
This is the fourth year for the winter event, produced by the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce and the local company Ice Lab, with support from Cambridge Main Street and Dorchester County Tourism. The Ice Lab carvers will use more than 400,000 pounds of ice to create the ice sculptures!
Ice & Oyster Fest highlights
FRIDAY:
Events in THREE locations on FRIDAY only from 5 to 8pm:
- The Packing House in Cambridge has music, demos, ice sculptures, beverages, fire pits, s'mores, food.
- Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort has a synthetic ice skating rink and Winter Village with hot cocoa bar, cocktails, fire pits, local vendors.
- Downtown Cambridge features ice sculptures for viewing and interaction.
- NOTE: A shuttle will run among the three locations. Park once and enjoy all the fun!
SATURDAY:
Downtown Cambridge – behind Chesapeake College (use 411 Academy St. for GPS), 11am-7pm:
- Ice sculptures
- Kid-friendly mini-golf, thrones, ice slide and other games – all made of ice!
- Local oysters, both wild and farmed – on the half shell, grilled, scalded, Chesapeake-style
- Ice bars with craft beer and cocktails
- Ice carving demonstrations and oyster shucking demos
- Fire pits and s'mores
- Live music on two stages
- BONUS: Across the street, visit the Rescue Fire Company Train Garden, usually open only in December. Now in its 90th year! 307 Gay St.
Also, the Hyatt Chesapeake will offer up ice skating and more at their Winter Village.
NOTE: A shuttle will run between Downtown Cambridge and the Hyatt Chesapeake.
Top 10 ideas for winter fun!
The temperatures have dipped, but there's still plenty to do in Dorchester County – both indoors and outdoors! We've rounded up 10 ideas for winter fun – from outdoor adventuring (including one of the best winter birding spots around), road trips into history, one-of-a-kind events, delicious oysters, mural exploring, fireplaces to cozy up to, and more. Plan your winter fun!
MHAA Letters of Intent due Jan. 27
It’s time to begin planning heritage projects in Dorchester County’s Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area! The Maryland Heritage Areas Authority FY26 grant round for capital and non-capital heritage projects is now open. This opportunity is for projects beginning in July 2025. Begin the required first step in the application process by filling out the required Intent to Apply form, due by 11:59pm on Jan. 27. Full applications are due by 11:59pm on March 3. See more information about the MHAA grant program and links to the forms.
JANUARY EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Jan. 10-12
Help control the deer population while entering to win $1,000. No entry fee. Area Farm Bureaus host this hunt. For each doe or antler less deer (whitetail or sika) harvested, hunters get a chance to win.
Jan. 11, 12-2pm
Join Layton's Chance for a fun afternoon as the Modern Graze provides you with charcuterie tips to step up your football party this season! All supplies and your own football shaped charcuterie board are included. Buy tickets.
Jan. 19, 2-4pm
Featuring motivational speaker and MLK impersonator Rev. Dr. John Moore, with the theme "Extending the Dream." Includes a meal. At the Harriet Tubman Freedom Center. Buy tickets.
Jan. 25, 1-5pm
Combine birding and Underground Railroad history during this guided, self-driven tour and learn about the life and times of Harriet Tubman. The route courses through the farms and Chesapeake Bay marshes of Dorchester County.
JANUARY EVENT HIGHLIGHTS, cont'd
Jan. 25, 5am
Neck District Volunteer Fire Co. sponsors a waterfowl hunt starting at 5am. Watch for info here.
Jan 25, 7:30pm
The menfolk trade in their camo for evening gowns and bathing suits. Not a drag show; open to amateurs only; 18 and over. The event happens at the Cambridge Elks, 5464 Elks Lodge Road, Cambridge. Doors open 6:45pm. $10. Benefits the National Outdoor Show (set for Feb. 21-22). Sign up by Jan. 23 at 443-521-0422.
Jan. 25 and Feb. 1, 10am-2pm
Learn to create an Ohio Star quilt block in this two-day workshop at the Dorchester County Historical Society. For ages 10 and up. $15 per person. Register at 410-228-7953 or dchs@verizon.net.
Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, 6:30-9:30pm
Layton's Chance Winery hosts a fun night of mystery, mayhem, and mullets. The event includes a signature drink and heavy hors d'oeuvres.
The Arts in January
Dorchester Center for the Arts has "Flood, Flower, Field, and Forest," an exhibition by Anna Harding and the Botanical Art League of the Eastern Shore Jan. 7-25. Free Second Saturday reception Jan. 11, 5-7pm.
DCA Art Classes & Workshops: Resolve to expand your creativity in 2025 with a class at the Dorchester Center for the Arts! They have everything from painting to pottery, photography to furniture painting, decoy carving to stained glass. Plus a free "Stretch and Sketch" that combines yoga and drawing! See the catalog.
Main Street Gallery continues "All That Glitters: A Metalsmith Collective," a show of fine jewelry and art glass, through March 1. Exhibiting artists, who will show alongside the gallery's member artists are: Cindy Ayd, Wanda Jester, Alexa Matthai, Charles McMillin, Robin Morgan, Linda Starling and Barbara Trower. Free Second Saturday reception on Jan. 11, 5-8pm.
3ten Creative Design & Gift Gallery continues "A Rock & Roll Art Show" with original paintings by B.J Wheatley, Brian Wozney, Mike James, Sherry Christopher, and Lori Dever. Free Second Saturday reception on Jan. 11 at 6pm.
Music in January
Tuesdays, 6-9pm
Dorchester Center for the Arts hosts a weekly Open Mic Night on Tuesdays, January through April. Bring your voice and instrument and join the lineup, or just come enjoy! All are welcome. Admission is free; cash bar and snacks.
Fridays, 6:30pm
Calling all musicians, poets, comedians, and other entertainers. Come strut your stuff or just enjoy the performances at Open Mic Night at Overflow Cafe in Cambridge. Alcohol-free.
Wednesdays Through the Winter, 5-9pm
Popular musician Pete Baker will perform on Wednesday evenings at Blue Ruin in Cambridge.
Jan. 11, 6-10pm
Dance the night away to the tunes of Bird Dog and the Road Kings. Plus raffles. At Portside Seafood Restaurant. Benefits the Dorchester Seafood Heritage Association.
Save the dates for these 2025 events!
Annual Events
Get these events on your calendar! We'll have more to share on VisitDorchester.org as event organizers put their plans in place.
Hearts on Main with Cambridge Main Street
Feb. 8, 2025
National Outdoor Show
Feb. 21-22, 2025
Eagle Festival
March 15, 2025
Chicone Village Day
April 26, 2025
Cambridge Classic Powerboat Regatta
May 17-18, 2025
Eagleman 70.3 IRONMAN Triathlon
June 8, 2025
Old Trinity Church's 350th Anniversary
June 14, 2025
Taylors Island Boat Docking Challenge
August. 24, 2025
IRONMAN Maryland Triathlon
Sept. 20, 2025
Choptank Heritage Skipjack Race
Sept. 27, 2025
Nanticoke River Jamboree
Oct. 11, 2025
Ongoing Seasonal Happenings
- Skipjack Nathan of Dorchester Sails: Sail on a traditional oystering vessel. Long Wharf, Cambridge. Reserve at skipjack-nathan.org. Most Saturdays, May–October
- Choptank Riverboat Cruises: Sightseeing cruises, crab feasts, more. April–October
- Choptank River Lighthouse Tours: Free, self-guided tours. Long Wharf Park, Cambridge. May–October, 9:30am–5:30pm daily; November–April, by appointment, call 410-463-2653
- Birding Tours: Expert birder leads tours at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in the spring and fall.
- Cambridge Ghost Walks: Tour Maryland’s most haunted street. Usually April-December.
- Horn Point Laboratory Tours: Behind-the-scenes look at environmental research lab. Tuesdays, Memorial Day–Labor Day
- Cambridge Farmers Market: Long Wharf, Cambridge. Thursdays, May–November, 3–6pm
- Night Sky Tours: See the night sky through an astronomical telescope. Monthly.
- Second Saturday/Art Walk: Shops and galleries stay open late; galleries host free receptions. Downtown Cambridge. Second Saturday of each month.
Dorchester County Tourism News
Pet supply drive continues until Jan. 30
In memory of one of the Dorchester Visitor Center's most frequent guests, Millie (2006-2023), we're holding a drive for pet supplies through Jan. 30. Bring pet food, bedding, blankets, towels, toys, or treats to the visitor center during our regular hours (Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm; Saturday-Sunday 10am-2pm). Benefits Baywater Animal Rescue and Dorchester County Dog Control. Questions? Call 410-228-1000. Thank you!
Follow us on social media
Facebook: @I Love Dorchester Heritage & Tourism
Instagram: @Visit Dorchester
Browse free brochures
Dorchester County Tourism offers a wide selection of free digital brochures on our website, including a Dining Guide, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway Map & Guide, Cycling Guide, Paddling Guide, Birding Guide, and Heritage Guide. View and download them as PDF files.
Dorchester County Tourism | 2 Rose Hill Place, Cambridge, MD 21613
2 rose hill place, Cambridge, MD 21613