Easton

Around Easton

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Town and around · Maryland · 38k people

Easton

Locals say Mid-Shore · “Land of Pleasant Living”

Chesapeake calm, Eastern Shore soul.

Chesapeake Bay blueEastern Shore green

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Welcome to the Mid-Shore! Whether you're here for the water, the art, or the crabs, you're in good company. Get ready to slow down and enjoy the tide.

Clubs for Easton

No clubs for Easton yet.

The room

One room for everyone around Easton. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

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All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

Coming up

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Easton. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Historic boats, skipjacks, and the Hooper Strait Lighthouse in St. Michaels.
  • Avalon Theatre Historic 1920s theater in Easton hosting concerts and films.
  • Academy Art Museum Regional art exhibitions and classes in downtown Easton.
  • Oxford-Bellevue Ferry One of the oldest privately operated ferries in the US, crossing the Tred Avon River.
  • Tilghman Island Working watermen's community famous for skipjack cruises and seafood.
  • Idlewild Park Large community park in Easton with trails, sports fields, and a dog park.
  • Outdoors Kayaking on the Tred Avon River
  • Outdoors Sailing on the Miles River
  • With kids Exploring the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
  • With kids Taking the Oxford-Bellevue ferry
  • Evenings Live music at the Avalon Theatre
  • Evenings Sunset drinks at a St. Michaels waterfront bar
  • Locals love Crab houses
  • Locals love Waterfront dining decks

Through the year

  • Plein Air Easton July A major juried plein air painting competition and festival in July.
  • Waterfowl Festival November A huge celebration of waterfowl art, decoys, and hunting heritage in Easton.
  • Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum OysterFest October Oyster shucking, live music, and local seafood in St. Michaels.
  • Oxford Day April A town-wide celebration with a parade, crafts, and community activities.
  • Talbot County Fair July A traditional county fair with rides, livestock, and local food.

Hot, humid summers and mild winters define the Mid-Shore. Spring and fall are ideal for being outside—May and October are perfect. Best: Spring (May) and fall (October) are perfect for being outside.

Talk like a local

“Mid-Shore”
The local name for the region around Easton, St. Michaels, and Oxford.
“St. Mike's”
Short for St. Michaels.
“Tilghman”
Pronounced TILL-man, the island town.
“The Shore”
Refers to the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Getaways

  • Cambridge Historic waterfront town with the Harriet Tubman Museum and Blackwater refuge.
  • Baltimore Inner Harbor, museums, and major league sports.
  • Washington DC Monuments, museums, and the National Mall.
  • Ocean Pines Gateway to the Ocean City beaches and boardwalk.

Local flavour

Rooting for Baltimore Orioles, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Capitals, University of Maryland Terrapins

Eat and drink

  • Maryland blue crab (steamed crabs with Old Bay) A regional staple, often served at crab feasts.
  • Crab cakes Broiled or fried, made with lump crabmeat.
  • Oyster fritters Fried oysters, a Chesapeake Bay classic.
  • Rockfish (striped bass) Local fish, often grilled or baked.
  • Beaten biscuits A traditional Eastern Shore bread, dense and crisp.
  • Smith Island cake A multi-layer cake with fudge icing, Maryland's state dessert.
  • Orange Crush cocktail A refreshing drink made with orange vodka, triple sec, and orange juice, popular on the Shore.

Where people go

  • Crab houses Casual seafood restaurants where crabs are steamed and served on paper-covered tables.
  • Marinas Docks and harbours filled with sailboats, skipjacks, and workboats.
  • Historic waterfront towns Towns like St. Michaels and Oxford with 18th-century architecture and waterfront views.
  • Skipjack cruises
  • Farm stands Roadside stands selling local produce, from tomatoes to peaches.
  • Art galleries Easton's vibrant arts scene, with galleries and studios in the historic district.
  • Bed and breakfasts Charming inns in restored homes, offering a cozy stay.

Heritage and traditions

Easton and the Mid-Shore are proud of their Chesapeake Bay watermen heritage, historic small towns, and a thriving arts scene anchored by Plein Air Easton and the Avalon Theatre.

This time of year in Easton

  • Oyster roasts Fall Community gatherings in the fall.
  • OysterFest October Hosted by the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, celebrates oyster culture.

Say it like a local: “Rockfish” — Striped bass, a prized local fish.

Festivals

  • Plein Air Easton June One of the largest plein air painting festivals in the US.
  • Waterfowl Festival November Celebrates the region's waterfowl hunting and decoy carving traditions.
  • OysterFest October Hosted by the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, celebrates oyster culture.
  • Oxford Day May A town-wide celebration in Oxford with parades and activities.
  • Talbot County Fair July Traditional county fair with livestock and rides.
  • First Friday Gallery Walk Monthly Monthly art walk in downtown Easton.

Landmarks with a story

  • Third Haven Friends Meeting House Oldest Quaker meeting house in America, built in 1682.
  • Wye House Historic plantation with ties to Frederick Douglass.
  • Talbot County Courthouse 19th-century courthouse in Easton.
  • Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Showcases Bay history, skipjacks, and the Hooper Strait Lighthouse.
  • Avalon Theatre Restored 1920s theatre in downtown Easton.
  • Academy Art Museum Regional art exhibitions and programs.

Food traditions

  • Oyster roasts Community gatherings in fall where oysters are roasted over open fires and served with melted butter.
  • Soft-shell crab sandwiches A spring/summer delicacy when blue crabs molt, served fried on a bun.
  • Maryland crab soup A tomato-based soup with crab meat, vegetables, and Old Bay, enjoyed year-round.
  • Scrapple A Mid-Atlantic breakfast meat made from pork scraps and cornmeal, sliced and fried.

Music and arts

  • Plein Air painting Easton is a hub for plein air artists, with the annual festival.
  • Decoy carving Traditional craft for waterfowl hunting, celebrated at the Waterfowl Festival.
  • Chesapeake Chamber Music Annual classical music festival.
  • Avalon Theatre Historic venue hosting concerts, plays, and films.

A little history

  • 1682 Third Haven Friends Meeting House established
  • 1710 Easton founded as county seat
  • 1812 St. Michaels 'Town That Fooled the British' – hung lanterns in trees to misdirect bombardment
  • 1838 Frederick Douglass escapes slavery from Talbot County
  • 1900s Waterfowl hunting and decoy carving traditions thrive

Rivalries

  • Easton vs. St. Michaels Friendly town pride and high school sports rivalry.
  • Talbot vs. Dorchester County rivalry over hunting and fishing spots.
  • Bay vs. Ocean Debating whether the Chesapeake Bay or Ocean City beaches are better.
  • Game day Sailing regattas on the Miles River
  • Game day Rockfish fishing tournaments
  • Outdoors Kayaking on the Tred Avon River
  • Outdoors Sailing on the Miles River
  • With kids Exploring the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
  • With kids Taking the Oxford-Bellevue ferry

The Eastern Shore has a distinct accent with a Southern drawl, and locals use watermen's vocabulary tied to the Bay.

Only here

  • The Town That Fooled the British – St. Michaels' clever defense during the War of 1812.
  • The Oxford-Bellevue Ferry, one of the oldest privately operated ferries in the US.
  • The oldest Quaker meeting house in America, Third Haven Friends Meeting House.
  • The Waterfowl Festival, a unique celebration of hunting heritage.
New here? A few tips
  • Learn to love seafood, especially crabs.
  • Pronounce 'Tilghman' as 'TIL-man'.
  • Watch for deer on the roads, especially at dawn and dusk.
  • Summer is humid; dress accordingly.
  • Get to know your neighbors; it's a friendly small town.

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Part of Washington–Baltimore

Nearby

Every area
CambridgeMarylandSmall town, big waterDentonMarylandWhere the Choptank runs slow and the harvest runs deep.ChestertownMarylandWhere the bay meets small-town rhythmSeafordDelawareWhere the bay meets the farmSalisburyMarylandSalt air, crab pots, and slow sunsets.DoverDelawareWhere the First State’s heart beats steady.Lexington ParkMarylandWhere the Chesapeake meets the sky.BaltimoreMarylandCharm City: where the harbor lights meet the rowhouse glow.

Easton, MD. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

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