TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2026
ST. MARY’S INSIDER
THE LOCAL GUIDE TO WHAT’S ACTUALLY HAPPENING
Good morning, St. Mary’s. 👋
Welcome to the 137 new readers who joined us in the past week. Glad you’re here.
Let’s get into it.
🗓️ I Made You a Calendar
You’ve asked for a way to plan farther ahead, so I’m building The Insider’s Local Calendar. It brings county and town events, gatherings from local businesses and organizers, and good finds buried on Facebook into one place. Browse the month, search, and filter by what you’re into. Less scrolling past things you don’t care about, and more time enjoying all the great events going on here.
It’s a work in progress. I’m adding events and improving the ways you can find them, so bear with me while I get the structure right. If something’s missing or you have an idea that would make it more useful, just reply and tell me. I’ll still send my list every Tuesday; this gives you a head start. Explore the calendar →
🎃 Keep the Halloween Guide Handy
The Insider’s Halloween Guide gathers October plans, from trunk-or-treats and library crafts to haunted nights. Save it now so you can spend less time digging through Facebook and more time deciding where to go.
🏡 Around the County
🦪 There’s an Oyster Trail Now: Visit St. Mary’s has launched an interactive trail of local restaurants, seafood markets and oyster events. Check in as you go for a chance at oyster-themed prizes. Good timing for the festival weekend.
🗳️ Voter Registration Closes Today: The general-election registration and party-affiliation deadline is 5 PM at the elections office or 11:59 PM online. If you meant to check your registration before November 3, today is the day.
🏘️ Last Call on the St. Mary’s 2050 Plan: Written comments on the county’s draft comprehensive plan are due by 5 PM today. The plan will guide decisions about growth and land use for years.
🛝 Two Splash Pads Get State Backing: State funding was approved to replace the Nicolet Park splash pad, add one at Leonard Hall Miedzinski Park and renovate the Snow Hill Park barn. These are approved projects but still a ways out, so keep the bathing suits in storage for now.
🚁 New Medical Helicopter Visits Leonardtown: MedSTAR showed its new Airbus H145 D3 at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital last week. The aircraft joins the regional transport fleet with more room for patients, medical equipment and care teams during complex flights.
🐮 Fair Auction Tops $305,000: The county fair’s livestock auction brought in more than $305,000! Some buyers donated their purchases to local 4-H programs, and meat from the auction went to groups feeding local families.
📚 Friends’ Fall Book Sale Heads to the Fairgrounds: Last fall’s sale was at Leonardtown Library; this year it’s in the fairgrounds auditorium on Saturday, November 7. Members shop from 10 AM to noon, then everyone can browse until 5 PM. That gives you a few weeks to clear a shelf.
⭐ The Top Pick
Saturday, October 17, 10 AM–6 PM; Sunday, October 18, 11 AM–6 PM
St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds | Leonardtown
Oysters take over the fairgrounds this weekend for the national shucking championship, the oyster cook-off, music, local food and plenty to browse. The shucking champion earns a shot at representing the country in Ireland. No pressure. Just an entire nation counting on your oyster knife.
👻 Insider Spotlight (Sponsored)
Ghost Stories on the Solomons Boardwalk
Solomons has plenty of history for a small waterfront town. Spooky Solomons knows where some of its stranger stories are buried.
The walking tours start at the boardwalk gazebo and last about 90 minutes to two hours. Ghost stories lead into the real people and places behind them, with stories drawn from more than 70 interviews with local residents.
It’s as much about learning the island as it is about getting spooked. You don’t have to believe in ghosts to enjoy hearing a story where it happened.
Here’s the part I especially like: after expenses, Spooky Solomons donates its profits to local charities and community groups. That’s a good reason to stay longer the next time you’re across the bridge.
🗓️ Your Weekly Calendar
🟢 Wednesday, October 14
Booked & Buzzed Book Club | 6–8 PM @ Juice Buzz, 13924 HG Trueman Road, Solomons. Jess from Read & Rally brings readers together for a relaxed book club; no book report required.
🟢 Thursday, October 15
Sea to Sea: An Italian Journey in Food & Wine | 6–8 PM @ Pier450, Ridge. A five-course tasting dinner with wine pairings; reserve ahead.
Latin & Soul Dance Night | 7–10 PM @ La Vida Mexican Bar & Grill, California. Start with a Latin dance lesson and Southern Soul line dancing, then join the DJ-led social dancing.
Young Life Gala registration deadline | Today. Register by October 15 for the October 22 gala and silent auction at the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum.
🟢 Friday, October 16
FAST Fall Nationals | @ Maryland International Raceway, Mechanicsville. Friday qualifying opens the two-day drag-racing meet; eliminations follow Saturday.
Autumn Harvest at Lyon Family Farms | 10 AM–5 PM @ Mechanicsville. The milo maze, farm animals and other fall activities return; the farm is also open Saturday and Sunday.
Pearls & Pours Oyster Festival Kickoff | 6–9 PM @ Patuxent River Naval Air Museum, Lexington Park. Oysters, hors d’oeuvres, drinks and live music from Bootleggers.
The Addams Family | 7 PM @ Three Notch Theatre, Lexington Park. Newtowne Players’ musical also runs Saturday at 7 PM and Sunday at 3 PM.
🟢 Saturday, October 17
Hollywood VFD Inaugural Barbecue Competition | 7 AM–5 PM @ Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department, 24801 Three Notch Road. Watch local teams compete and enter the raffles; food and drinks are available for visitors.
The Vintage Source | 8 AM–4 PM @ 22080 Newtowne Neck Road, Compton. Browse furniture, art, clothes and housewares at this monthly shop opening; Also open Sunday.
CalvertHealth Breast Cancer 5K | 8:30 AM start; registration opens 7 AM @ 14090 HG Trueman Road, Solomons. Run or walk to support local breast care. Worth the Drive.
Rust & Grain Vintage Market | 9 AM–4 PM @ 30155 Three Notch Road, Charlotte Hall. Indoor market with vintage finds and local vendors.
Bowles Farms Corn Maze | 10 AM–6 PM @ Clements. Fourteen acres of corn, animals and a pumpkin patch; also open Sunday 10 AM–5 PM.
Floral Pumpkin Workshop | 10 AM–noon @ Xella Winery, Mechanicsville. Make a pumpkin arrangement with locally grown flowers.
U.S. Oyster Festival | 10 AM–6 PM @ St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds, Leonardtown. Eat oysters, watch shucking contests and browse vendors while live music plays.
Calvert Bluegrass & Acoustic Music Festival | 11 AM–5 PM @ Waters Memorial UMC, St. Leonard. Hear five bluegrass and acoustic bands while food trucks serve lunch; donations support Calvert Hospice. Worth the Drive.
Seahawk Fall Festival & Bamboo Boat Race | Festival noon–4 PM; race 4 PM @ St. Mary’s College waterfront. Family festival with food trucks, games and pumpkin painting; watch teams race their bamboo boats at 4.
Annual Car Show & Bull Roast | Noon–4 PM @ American Legion Post 255, Ridge. Check out the cars, grab a bull roast lunch and catch music by The Hat Trick; proceeds support local veterans and charities.
Blazin Keys Dueling Pianos | 5 PM dinner; 6–9 PM show @ Ridge Volunteer Fire Department. Two pianists trade songs and take requests from the crowd, turning the firehouse into a singalong.
Potluck at Potluck Karaoke Party | 5–10 PM @ Potluck Produce, Lexington Park. Wear the outfit you never get to wear, bring a potluck dish and stay for karaoke and a bonfire.
Jackson Perkins at The Rex | 8 PM @ The Rex Theatre, Leonardtown. Marine Corps captain and country singer Jackson Perkins brings his original songs to The Rex.
🟢 Sunday, October 18
U.S. Oyster Festival | 11 AM–6 PM @ St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds. The second and final day to get your oysters, music and shucking.
Craft & Vendor Fair for Clements Cuties | 11:30 AM–3:30 PM @ Mechanicsville Moose Lodge. Shop local vendors at this benefit held in memory of Peyton Greer.
Mamma Mia! ABBA Beach Party | 2–5 PM @ Pier450, Ridge. Sarah Gravelle and friends lead an ABBA sing-along with drinks and snacks.
The Addams Family | 3 PM @ Three Notch Theatre, Lexington Park. Sunday matinee of the Newtowne Players musical.
🎉 The Insider Circle
Share your link below. Every three verified referrals in a month earns one entry in that month’s $25 local gift card drawing. Reach 10 all-time referrals for a $50 gift card, or 25 for dinner for two. Good neighbors deserve a thank you.
* Contest details are at the bottom of this email.
That’s your Insider for this week.
Know someone who always texts "anything going on this weekend?" Send this to them.
If this was forwarded to you, get the Insider delivered every Tuesday morning by subscribing right here.
See you next Tuesday. ✌️
🤝 Our Local Sponsors
These local businesses and organizations help make The Insider possible.
St. Mary’s Insider is supported by local sponsors. Sponsored sections are clearly identified. Reply to this email to learn more about partnership opportunities.
Drawing details: No purchase or payment required. Every 3 verified referrals earned in a calendar month gives you one entry in that month’s drawing for a $25 gift card usable at 15 local spots. Odds depend on total entries. One winner is drawn on the last day of the month and announced in the next month’s first Tuesday issue.