Celebrate farm life with Agriculture Week in Worcester County, which runs from August 3-11.
“From combines to crab races to countywide fairs, farm life will take center stage for this weeklong celebration,” said Melanie Pursel, director of Worcester County Tourism and Economic Development (WCTED). “We invite everyone to come out and discover the people, places, and festivals that make up the heartbeat of our vibrant, rural Worcester County farming community.”
August 3 two events will kick off Agriculture Week. The 24th annual Blessing of the Combines begins at 11 a.m. in Snow Hill. Experience the grounds rumble, as the fleet of 13-ton combines and farm equipment roll into town. Celebrating local agriculture and honoring farm families, this event is packed with family fun, including a petting barnyard, live music, pedal tractor pull, hayrides, food, and beverages. View the schedule at www.blessingofthecombines.org.
Also that day from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., the scent of peaches will be in the air for the annual Peach Festival on the Taylor House Museum lawn in Berlin. Stroll the grounds and enjoy live music, food, kids’ activities, and of course peach pies, peach slushies, and more available to purchase. Learn more about this sweet event at www.taylorhousemuseum.org.
August 4 two events will take place. Explore a locally owned apiary and experience beekeeping at BayBees Honey, at 11244 Hall Road in Whaleyville. Learn why everyone should be a beekeeper and how to make honey products. The cost is on special for $35 per person. THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT. Thank you to those that signed up to participate.
Then from 2-4 p.m., indulge in ice cream made fresh at Chesapeake Bay Farms, at 4111 Whitesburg Road in Pocomoke. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of ice cream making operations at Worcester County’s last working dairy farm. All participants will receive a free waffle cone upgrade with any ice cream purchase. It’s sure to be a delicious experience.
August 5 two events will take place. From 3-5 p.m., cheer the fastest decapod to victory during the crab races, learn about scallops and bivalves, and paddle out on the bay at Baywater Landing, at 3908 Bayside Road in Snow Hill. Visitors will learn about the seafood industry and how this aquaculture business operates.
Then at 6 p.m., children ages 8-12 are invited to dive into STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) at Peach Oak Farm, at 10839 St. Martin’s Road in Berlin. Participants will explore the process of the four chambered stomach. Space is limited. RSVP in advance at 443-397-2113.
August 6 from 2-4 p.m., get creative at Libelle Homestead, at 8152 Libertytown Road in Berlin. Watch a Japanese kokedama making demonstration and shop at the pottery studio. Parking is limited to the first 20 vehicles. Wear comfortable shoes. Heels are not permitted in the greenhouse.
August 7 beginning at 11:00 a.m., there will be a virtual presentation from the Maryland Department of Agriculture - Seafood Division (Maryland's Best). This event is for restaurants interested in learning more about the partnership opportunities for seafood and overall marketing. Please RSVP online. Then from 2-6 p.m. experience life on a working horse farm at Rusted Star Ranch, at 8616 Cedar Lane Road in Berlin. There will be an open house and free kids’ activities. Children must wear closed-toed shoes for pony rides in the arena.
August 8 two events will take place. From 3-6 p.m. take part in a fiber processing workshop at Marshall Creek Farm, at 9048 Marshall Creek Road in Newark. Signature cocktails and light refreshments will be provided. The cost per person is $55. Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/Fiber-Processing-Workshop. Due to inclement weather, this event has been canceled. We hope to reschedule for a future date.
Then starting at 6:30 p.m., indulge in Practice Where You Peach yoga at Bennett Orchards, at 31442 Peachtree Lane in Frankford, DE. Enjoy a night of meditation through yoga and sound bath. After the class, enjoy complimentary gather alfajores and pick-your-own ¼ peck bag of peaches. This event will be open to the first 75 individuals. The cost to participate is $45/person. Get your ticket at https://tinyurl.com/Bennett-Orchards. Due to inclement weather, this event has been rescheduled for August 15 with a rain date of August 16. We hope to see you there!
August 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., savor fresh, delicious tomatoes and learn about the harvesting process at Cross Farm, at 9933 Pitts Road in Berlin. Tour the farm and take part in an heirloom tomato tasting event to be hosted by The Blacksmith Restaurant.
The grand finale of Agriculture Week includes not one, but two fairs. August 8-11 don’t miss the action at the Great Pocomoke Fair, at 2037 Broad Street in Pocomoke. Witness Bullride Mania Rodeo Company cowboys tame their steeds. Then take in carnival rides, games, live entertainment, and more at this iconic country fair.
August 9-11, take in the Worcester County Fair, at John Walter Smith Park at 6022 Public Landing Road in Snow Hill. This fair celebrates the fruits of harvest, handiwork of local artisans, and the prowess of farmers, young and old alike, who raise crops and blue-ribbon quality livestock.
Both fairs will include a lineup of live entertainment, kids’ activities, farm animals, and farm-fresh food and beverages. Learn more about the schedule of events at www.thegreatpocomokefair.org or www.worcestercountyfair.org.
Agriculture Week in Worcester County is being hosted by WCTED in partnership with the Worcester County Department of Recreation and Parks.
“Shopping at area farmers markets is a great way to eat healthy and support local farm families,” WCTED Advertising and Destination Marketing Specialist Brianna Dix said. “There’s no better time than Agriculture Week to discover fresh farm-to-table foods and crafts from local artisans at the farmers markets that operate in each of the seven districts within Maryland’s Coast.”
Farmers markets schedules are as follows: Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Ocean Pines Farmers and Artisans Market takes place at White Horse Park. Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Berlin Farmers Market takes place on Pitts, Commerce, and Main Streets. Thursdays from 12-5 p.m. the Snow Hill Farmers Market takes place at the Green Street Parking Lot. Fridays beginning at 7 a.m., the Pocomoke Farmers Market takes place at 3 Market Street. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. the Ocean City Farmers Market takes place at Gold Coast Mall.
Learn more about the lineup of events taking place during Agriculture Week at www.visitmarylandscoast.org or visit the individual Facebook event pages for each event offering. For additional information, contact Dix at bdix@co.worcester.md.us or 410-632-3112 x2123.