Farms, Fathers and Family Fun - Calvert County is a Treat for All

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md., -- May 19, 2005 -- June could possibly be the busiest month of the year. With weddings, graduations, yard work, vacation plans, anniversaries and end-of-school activities and projects, it seems there just aren’t enough days available to get it all done. But in the middle of your harried social schedule, be sure to leave a little time for fun – Calvert County style.

On June 5, children will enjoy a magical Day on the Farm at Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum in St. Leonard. From 11 am to 5 pm, there will be music, farm animals, a magician, storyteller, petting zoo, pony rides and an antique tractor parade along the riverside at this 20th annual celebration of Southern Maryland’s rural heritage. Admission is free (and so is the fun)!

Also, at Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, African-American Family Community Day kicks off at 11 am on June 18. This annual family event features live music, African dancing and drumming, exhibits, wagon rides, gospel music, children’s activities and a fashion show, plus food and craft vendors. This year’s theme, “Celebrating a Patchwork of Cultures,” promises a fun time for the whole family. Admission is free and details can be found at www.jefpat.org.

Father’s Day comes only once a year – so how about treating dad to a special two-hour tour around the Solomons waterfront? The Calvert Marine Museum hosts their annual Father’s Day Brunch and Dinner cruises aboard the Wm. B. Tennison on June 19. The brunch cruise departs at 11:00 am and the dinner cruise departs at 5:00 pm. Advance registration is required and reservations can be made by calling 410.326.2042 ext. 41. The Tennison is the oldest licensed passenger vessel in the Fifth Coast Guard District and reputedly the second oldest in the United States. Originally built in 1899, this famous bugeye was used for many years as buy boat and an oyster-dredging vessel.

If dad is a golfer, the Chesapeake Hills Golf Club in Lusby is just the ticket for his special day. With new cart paths and bunkers, this Calvert County gem offers the perfect opportunity for dad to practice his putting, driving and even his mulligans. For more information on Chesapeake Hills and their 2005 capital improvement plan, or to schedule your tee time, visit www.chesapeakehills.com.

And, as you’re coming or going, stop by the Calvert Country Market to stock up on farm-fresh foods, artisan-baked bread and locally raised meats and seafood. The Calvert Country Market offers locally grown fresh produce, baked goods, honey, pies, certified organic products and local crafts. Additionally, the Market features a bakery, seafood, butcher, green grocer, delicatessen, yarn, ceramics, wood crafts, polymer clay supplies, antiques shop, fine jewelry, candies, kettle corn, essential oils and shea butter and a gourd shop.

For more information on the Calvert County, Maryland Department of Economic Development, our visitor sites and attractions and the services available to assist County businesses, call 410.535.4583, 800.331.9771 or 301.855.1880; or send an e-mail to info@ecalvert.com