Maryland’s Eastern Shore is rolling out the red carpet for its very own film festival. The 11th annual Chesapeake Film Festival welcomes filmmakers and film lovers to screen feature-length and short film documentaries—many with an environmental theme. The screenings, which will take place from Oct. 11-14, will be held at the Avalon Theatre and Academy Art Museum in Easton, Cambridge Premier Cinemas and Dorchester Center for the Arts in Cambridge, and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels. Find out more about the films at chesapeakefilmfestival.com, but look no further to find out what to do outside the theaters. //chesapeakefilmfestival.com; 410-822-3500; $11.25-$150
St. Michaels
St. Michaels has its very own film credit, serving as the backdrop for 2005’s Wedding Crashers. But this town’s claim to fame is still its easy access to the Miles River. There are any number of ways to enjoy the water, like taking a boat tour with Selina II Sailing Charters, or setting out on your own on paddleboards or kayaks at Tilghman Island. Delicious seafood, to no surprise, is readily available, with notable offerings including Bistro St. Michaels or the Crab Claw for the full crab experience. Finish everything off with a taste of Lyon Distilling Company’s original spirits. Lay your head down at The Inn at Perry Cabin to cap off your day.
Cambridge
Dating back to 1684, Cambridge is one of the oldest colonial cities in Maryland, and it has many features honoring its rich history. A museum about Harriet Tubman, who was born nearby, resides in the downtown district, where it is joined by art galleries like Dorchester Center for the Arts and Chesapeake Country Mural Trail that feature work related to Cambridge’s maritime history of shipbuilding, crabbing and fishing. During the Chesapeake Film Festival, the Breckenridge Adventures 9-acre corn maze is also slated to be open. Nearly every restaurant in town offers local crabs or oysters, but highlights include Portside Restaurant and Snapper’s Waterfront Cafe. Accommodations range from traditional hotels (Days Inn and Holiday Inn) to bed & breakfasts (Cambridge House and Mill Street Inn) to the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort.
Easton
Known as Talbot County’s “big city,” Easton is the center of the Eastern Shore’s arts and culture scene. The two venues being used for the film festival, the Avalon Theatre and Academy of Art Museum, are filled with history and local art, but there’s plenty more to see. Immerse yourself in nature at the Pickering Creek Audubon Center or Easton Point Marina. Guided tours of the town are also available via The Hill Walking Tour or Chesapeake Ghost Walks (if you’re up for a scare). Finish the day with either the popular Scossa Restaurant or T at the General Store. Staying for the entire fest? Check in at The Tidewater Inn or The Bartlett Pear Inn.
