TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2026
ST. MARY’S INSIDER
THE LOCAL GUIDE TO WHAT’S ACTUALLY HAPPENING
No crime, no politics, just the good stuff.
Good morning, St. Mary’s. 👋
Welcome to the 227 new readers who joined us since last Tuesday morning. Glad you’re here!
My kids asked why it’s already dark at dinner. I told them the sun goes to bed earlier than they do now, and they should take notes. They did not take notes.
Let’s get into it.
🍂 November Is Filling Up Fast
Holiday markets, book sales and Leonardtown’s Christmas on the Square are already on the calendar. The Insider’s Local Calendar has 90 November event dates in one place.
🏡 Around the County
Charleys Is Open on Great Mills Road: Charleys Cheesesteaks & Wings opened October 29 at 21650 Great Mills Road in Lexington Park. There’s a drive-thru, of course. It also brings the old Burger King building back after years sitting empty.
McKay’s Opens Its Doors in Charlotte Hall: McKay’s Grapes, Grains and Gatherings celebrates its Charlotte Hall opening with a ribbon cutting Thursday, November 5, at 11 AM.
So Long, Curtis Tire: Curtis Tire Center on Great Mills Road closed October 30 after 55 years. The family thanked the customers who became friends along the way.
Our Jeopardy! Champ’s Final Tally: Stefanie Landeweer, a chemistry professor at St. Mary’s College, won back-to-back games on October 28 and 29 for $30,000. Her run ended Friday, October 30, when Erica Doornek took the title.
A New Way Around Three Notch Road: The new stretch of FDR Boulevard from Buck Hewitt Road to Pegg Road in Lexington Park is done. The county cuts the ribbon Tuesday, November 10, at 1 PM. It gives you a way around Three Notch Road, with room for walkers and bikes.
10X Pilates Opens in Mechanicsville: 10X Pilates is now open at New Market Plaza, 29015 Three Notch Road, Unit 2B. Its Sculptformer classes started November 2. New to Pilates? There’s a 30-minute Xperience class for first-timers.
A Saturday Drop-Off for Old Household Chemicals: The county’s household hazardous waste collection is Saturday, November 7, from 8 AM to 2 PM at St. Andrews Landfill. Bring household cleaners, pesticides, oil-based paint and other accepted chemicals.
WARM Needs Volunteer Drivers: The winter shelter program starts Sunday, November 8, and needs drivers to take guests between pickup locations and host churches. The county provides the vans. Volunteers must be at least 18 with a valid driver’s license, with morning and evening shifts available. Contact Cynthia Brown at 301-475-4200, ext. 1846, to help.
Art Gals: Four local women artists are opening four studios together on the second floor of 22660 Washington St. in Leonardtown. No opening date yet, but the open studio schedule is coming soon.
🍂 This Week’s Poll
🗓️ What are you hitting this weekend?
⭐ The Top Pick
Saturday, November 7 | 9:30 AM to 4 PM | Town Market, Leonardtown
Keep those robes out of the closet. Halloween may be over, but Town Market is turning into Hogwarts for the day. Pick up a quest list when you arrive and hunt for all the Horcruxes.
Come dressed up: there’s a prize for the best Harry Potter costume at 1 PM. Between quests, browse local vendors for crafts, apparel, tumblers, desserts, mums and pumpkins.
Find it at The Bell Building, 22675 Washington Street, Unit 106, in downtown Leonardtown.
🎲 Insider Spotlight (Sponsored)
Thirty Hours of Gaming for a Good Cause
Some game shops feel like walking into the middle of someone else's conversation. Swords & Spoons is the opposite.
The California shop is a fantasy-themed tabletop game store, built for adventurers and dreamers. They run 25 to 40 events a week: Friday Night Magic, Dungeons & Dragons, Pokemon, board game nights, and plenty more. Never played? That’s the point. A lot of their events are designed for people who are still learning, no regular group required. And yes, they keep snacks on hand. Game night runs better with snacks.
Circle November 14. That is when Swords & Spoons kicks off its Extra Life charity event: 30 hours of live-streamed gaming, starting 10 AM Saturday and running straight through into Sunday evening. Play, watch, donate, or just stop by to witness what gamers running on pure determination look like at hour 28.
Swords & Spoons is at 22599 MacArthur Blvd in California. Browse the events calendar at swordsandspoons.com and find your game.
🗓️ Your Weekly Calendar
This week’s calendar is sponsored by the St. Mary’s County Museum Division.
🟢 Friday, November 6
Veterans Resource Day | 9 AM to 2 PM @ University of Maryland Southern Maryland, California. Meet more than 20 groups that help veterans, service members and their families, with lunch from Mission BBQ at noon.
Passport to the Holidays First Friday | Evening @ Downtown Leonardtown. Make an evening of the Square’s shops, galleries and restaurants as First Friday turns toward the holidays.
Movie Night on the Farm: Charlotte’s Web | 7 PM @ T and A Farm, Dameron. Bring a blanket for an outdoor showing of Charlotte’s Web.
Spice Girls Tribute | 8 PM @ The Rex, Leonardtown. Wannabe brings the Spice Girls’ ’90s hits to The Rex for a night of singing along, ages 21 and up.
🟢 Saturday, November 7
LPVRS Annual Fall Craft Vendor Show | 9 AM to 2 PM @ LPVRS Station 39, FDR Blvd, Lexington Park. Shop crafts and local vendors at the rescue squad’s fall show.
Summerseat Fall Artisan Market | 9 AM to 3 PM @ Summerseat Farm, Mechanicsville. Browse handmade goods from local makers at the farm’s outdoor market, which goes ahead rain or shine.
Coastal Arts Market | 9 AM to 3 PM @ Leonardtown Wharf Park, Leonardtown. Bring the dog along while you browse pottery, jewelry, woodwork and other handmade pieces down by the water.
Harvest Festival | 10 AM to 1 PM @ Victory Baptist Church, 29855 Eldorado Farm Lane, Mechanicsville. The church field fills with games, prizes and food for the morning’s harvest festival.
Author Fair | 10 AM to 4 PM @ Leonardtown Library, Leonardtown. Meet local authors, catch two author talks and grab lunch from the food trucks between browsing books.
Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale | 10 AM to 5 PM @ St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds Auditorium, Leonardtown. Browse gently used books for your own stack or a few holiday gifts, with members shopping from 10 AM to noon before the doors open to everyone.
KCA Community Carnival, Craft & Vendor Fair | 11 AM to 5 PM @ The King’s Christian Academy, Callaway. Spend the afternoon working through more than 35 games and attractions and browsing the craft and vendor stalls. If rain gets in the way, it moves to November 14.
Fall Fest Carnival Games | 2 to 4 PM @ Charlotte Hall Library, Charlotte Hall. Sign the kids up for an afternoon of messy carnival games for preschoolers through tweens.
Boots & BBQ Hoedown | 4 to 8 PM @ Greenwell Foundation, Hollywood. Grab tickets for an evening of live music, dancing and BBQ that raises money for veterans and first responders, ages 21 and up.
The Reagan Years | 7 to 9 PM @ Dodge Performing Arts Center, St. Mary’s College. The Reagan Years brings ’80s pop, rock and new wave to campus; book your tickets through the college.
🟢 Sunday, November 8
Analog Pop-Up Market | Noon to 5 PM @ Slice House lot, Leonardtown. Dig through vinyl, books, art and more from small local sellers.
Chili Cookoff & Fire Safety Palooza | 1 to 3 PM @ Ridge Volunteer Fire Department, 13820 Point Lookout Road, Ridge. Taste the chili and cast your vote while the kids tour the fire engines and meet Sparky the Fire Dog, then grab a hot dog if you still have room.
🎁 November’s Gift-Card Drawing Is Open
Every month, one lucky reader wins a $25 Love St. Mary’s gift card, good at local shops and restaurants. November’s drawing is wide open. Not bad for telling a few friends what’s going on around here.
Want in? Send your personal link below to a friend.
Every 3 verified signups in a calendar month: one entry in the $25 gift-card drawing.
10 verified signups total: a guaranteed $50 local gift card.
25 verified signups total: dinner for two at a local spot.
🤝 Our Local Partners
These local businesses and organizations help make The Insider possible.
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That’s your Insider for this week.
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