Kent Island Day ’24 has unfortunately been cancelled due to weather.
Each year on the third Saturday in May the Kent Island Heritage Society celebrates the heritage, life, and culture of Kent Island. The celebration this year will be on Saturday, May 18. The Kent Island Day tradition began in 1977 with the signing of a proclamation by Acting Governor Blair Lee, recognizing Kent Island as the first permanent English settlement within Maryland.
The family friendly community festival takes place in one of Kent Island’s oldest and most picturesque communities, the “Mayberry-like” village of Historic Stevensville, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and an official Maryland Arts and Entertainment District. It will feature the Heritage Society’s Historic sites, all of which will be opened with period docents, a working blacksmith, local authors, artists, vendors, great local food, kids’ activities, an old fashioned parade, and great on-stage entertainment.
The opening ceremony will be at 10:15 a.m. with the National Anthem, salute to the flag, and a reading of the original Kent Island Day Proclamation.
The parade will step out at Kent Island Elementary School at 10:30 and will flow down Main Street through downtown Stevensville. “The parade will feature a great hometown mix of old cars and tractors, boats, historic costumes, music, scouts, civic groups, horses, fire engines, elected officials, and candidates”, said Jack Broderick, Kent Island Heritage Society President and KI Day Parade Chair. “There’s always room in the parade, so if you want to be part of it, give us a call”.
There will be an expanded food court area featuring local specialties, a large area of plants and gardening information, next to the Historic Cray House, including plants and displays by The Kent Island Garden Club. Military reenactors, the Maryland Independent Blues and the Fort McHenry Guards, will be encamped at the Cray House which dates to the time period those units represent. A model train display will be set up next to the Historic Train Station. Kid’s activities will include a moon bounce, crafts, and face painting. A mini Kent Island Farmers’ Market will be set up on the Green with information and samples from this unique weekly Farmers’ Market.
Entertainment will begin at 11:30 on stage in the Stevensville Pocket Park next to the Historic Bank and continue throughout the day. The entertainment will include The Chesapeake Bay Community Band and special local guest entertainers.
Kent Island Day offers an informative and entertaining day for the whole family, spiced with good food, fun, and friendship, celebrating Kent Island’s heritage. For more information on Kent Island Day, visit the Heritage Society’s website at kentislandheritagesociety.org.