Now in its 17th year, Rock Hall, MD’s annual FallFest has evolved from its first eight years under the wing of The Mainstay – the home of “musical magic” on Main Street – into a community undertaking that brings visitors from throughout the mid-Atlantic region and as far away as New York to the small town by the Bay for a day of good music, wonderful crafts, good food and plenty of fun – and oysters.
On Saturday, October 11, Main Street will again close for the day from Route 20 to Sharp Street to bring live music – on stage and on the street, – oysters, games, crafts and other food and entertainment to local and out-of-town visitors from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The festival has evolved over the years in this historic watermen’s town but the tradition set years ago of free outdoor music and kids’ games continues.
Tom McHugh, founder and executive director of The Mainstay, notes that the popular festival was initially a concept that grew out of a random discussion he had with Jane Hackett, a local artist, and Tom Sabol, former owner of the Mainstay building. “At the time,” explains McHugh, “the only large festival type events in Kent County were the Chestertown Tea Party Festival and Party on the Bay in Rock Hall.”
After considerable brainstorming by the community-minded trio, the festival was envisioned as a tripartite event that would include music, local crafts and old fashioned children’s games. It would be family-oriented and the music and games would be free. The founders expected that attendees would come from Rock Hall and environs “I’m happy to say that this formula succeeded and we have maintained it,” says McHugh, acknowledging that “while the festival attracted mostly local Rock Hall people during the early years, and they still come, now people come from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Baltimore and Washington to enjoy the day.”
Over the years, an independent FallFest Committee formed to manage the festival and to conduct the public fundraising campaign that pays the expenses for the musical groups and other entertainers who perform outdoors during the day. The committee is comprised of Jim Rich, director, George Hardy, treasurer, Bob Kuiper, manager, Tom McHugh, assistant director, Linda Sims, craft booths, and Fred Kaiser, booking agent.
When the committee wanted to honor the Rock Hall watermen’s “oyster tradition” by offering freshly shucked oysters, the new major component became a wildly popular part of the annual celebration. This year, local shuckers will be opening about 3,000 raw oysters at various locations for a dollar an oyster or “a buck a shuck.” For those who like their oysters fried, the Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Department will be offering fried oysters and to add to the oyster theme, the Kent County Waterman’s Association will be selling clothing that celebrates the bivalve.
Performing free on the outdoor stages in front of The Mainstay near Sharp Street or at the other end of Main Street by Bayside Foods will be The Catonsville High School Steel Band, Vic Vacuum & the Attachments, Mulebone, Sombarkin, Paris & Harum Scarum, Philip Dutton & the Alligators, the Obsoleets and Brothers All-Stars. Castro the Magician, Alex the Accordion Man and Goodlife Puppet Theater will be roaming and entertaining throughout the day.
Local crafts and food vendors will be set up along the street. The Betterton Ark, a restored waterman’s shanty, will be positioned at the intersection of Sharp and Main and Deckelman’s big aluminum work boat, the docking contest winner this year at the town’s annual Waterman’s Day, will be located at Route 20 and Main.
The Festival also features three concerts with paid admission at the Mainstay: Chester River Runoff on Friday October 10 at 8:00 p.m., The Eastport Oyster Boys on Saturday October 11 at 8:00 p.m. and Celebrating the Banjo with Diane Jones, Sam Guthridge and Bill Quern on Sunday October 12 at 2:00 p.m. For information and reservations for these concerts call the Mainstay at 410-639-9133. More information is also available at the Mainstay’s website https://www.mainstayrockhall.org
The Mainstay (Home of Musical Magic) is the friendly informal storefront performing arts center on Rock Hall’s old time Main Street.
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