Oxford, Maryland - waterside town with a heart as big as the Chesapeake

Springing Into Summer In The Town Of Oxford, Maryland, Where Great Things Come In A Small Package

Oxford, Maryland: An historic waterside town with a heart as big as the Chesapeake

Oxford, Maryland Boats

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jan 31, 2011 – Oxford, MD – Nestled on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, the historic Town of Oxford may be diminutive (its population numbers less than 1,000), but its residents and businesses definitely know how to throw a fête – and the spring and summer months, like the visitors they ferry to Oxford’s shores, are welcomed with gusto. A few of the events visitors will enjoy in this tiny but terrific Talbot County town:

Kicking off the spring season, the annual Easter Egg Hunt in beautiful Oxford Park in honor of The Bunny’s big day is a classic event that will entertain the whole family. Also not to be missed is Oxford Day, an extravaganza dating back to 1994. Every resident, organization, and business in town works together to throw a full-day party. Fun events for visitors of all ages include a parade complete with bands, eco-friendly floats, gawk-worthy cars and trucks, and a bagpiper; programs at the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory, featuring hands-on marine science activities and exhibits; a Flower Basket Competition, with entries on display on doors, fences, posts, porches, and more; a 328th birthday celebration for the Oxford Bellevue Ferry; a 10K run and 5K fun walk; The Dog Show and Dog Walk; music galore; and fabulous fresh food offered all around town.

Memorial Day weekend in Oxford revolves around the Fine Arts Fair, which draws as many as 2,000 art lovers from near and far to experience the juried exhibit sponsored by the Oxford Community Center. (Housed in an abandoned school building saved from the wrecking ball by a group of public-spirited citizens, the Oxford Community Center contributes in myriad ways to the social, cultural, and civic life of Oxford.) The fair has grown over the years to enjoy a reputation for quality works of art, fabulous volunteers, and legendary strawberry shortcake.

May also marks the opening of the summer performance season for the famous Tred Avon Players (TAP). TAP presents four or five productions – from musicals to comedies to mysteries -- at the Oxford Community Center every year to great acclaim. Coming in May 2011: "Social Security," written by Andrew Bergman and directed by Patrick Fee, which tells the comedic tale of a married New York couple fending off meddling family members.

June brings hoots and hijinks as intrepid sailors launch onto the chilly Tred Avon River ... in boats made strictly of cardboard! (There’s even a set of construction rules, including a requirement that the boats be biodegradable.) Benefitting Special Olympics Maryland, the Cardboard Boat Races anchor a day full of feasting and frivolity.

There are fireworks on the Fourth of July, of course, on the waterfront near the Tred Avon Yacht Club. Oxford Park is the place to be to watch the pyrotechnics, devour a picnic, and enjoy the breeze off the river. Earlier in the day the Parks and Recreation Department sponsors an Independence Day Bike Parade for the wee ones. It’s quite the heart-warming sight: the little cyclists gather at the ferry dock and proceed down Morris Street, bikes adorned with holiday trimmings, to Oxford Park, where they have a patriotic sing-along and play a variety of games.

The summer season is under full sail in Oxford in August, which features the Oxford Regatta, with its log canoe races, on the second weekend of the month, and the Oxford Heritage Regatta on the fourth weekend. Colorful canvas silhouetted against the brilliant blue sky ... the soothing sounds of the gently lapping river ... crab delicacies and homemade lemonade on hand ... all make for a classic summer weekend, Chesapeake-style.

Of course, no summertime visit to Oxford would be complete without a ride on the world-renowned Oxford-Bellevue Ferry, America’s oldest privately owned ferry. All that’s required to finish off a “ferry tale” visit? A hand-crafted, all-natural, gourmet ice cream cone from The Scottish Highland Creamery, of course.

The Town of Oxford, Maryland: docks, daydreams, discoveries, and so much more


About Oxford, Maryland:

The historic town of Oxford, Maryland, founded in 1683, is located in Talbot County on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Until the American Revolution, Oxford was an international shipping center, surrounded by tobacco plantations and home to a number of prominent national figures. Later it thrived on oyster harvesting and packing and other watermen’s trades, even as tourism and leisure activities increased. It guards its peaceful personality, architectural integrity, and small-town virtues to this day, while warmly welcoming visitors from right next door and around the world. The Oxford Business Association welcomes inquiries by telephone (1-410-226-5122) and at its website (www.portofoxford.com); the Town of Oxford website has a calendar of events and additional information (www.oxfordmd.net); and the Talbot County Office of Tourism offers comprehensive information and trip planning services at its Easton office (1-410-770-8000) and on its website (www.tourtalbot.org).


PRESS INFORMATION
Carlyle Fairfax Smith
Carlyle International
Ph: 703.898.1333
Carlyle@CarlyleInternational.us

January 2011

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