Oyster Festival Planned In Shady Side + Ghost Paddle Trip Slated In Lothian

MARYLAND — The leaves are starting to change, and the air is getting nippy. That means autumn is here.

Marylanders can enjoy fall with an oyster festival or a ghost paddle trip. Residents can also take a scenic road trip, visit a manicured garden or carve a Chesapeake Bay-themed pumpkin. An equestrian event rounds out the local offerings.

Patch recently partnered with several local organizations to bring you their latest news. This guest contribution comes from National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways and Chesapeake Conservancy. Here's what Jody Hedeman Couser submitted to help you explore the Chesapeake Bay:

"25th Annual Oyster Festival

Captain Avery made his living by oystering here in the Bay and selling his oysters up in Baltimore. The Captain Avery Museum Oyster Festival is a great community celebration of one of the [Chesapeake's] favorite foods. There will be lots of fresh oysters, music, fun, and games! In partnership with the Anne Arundel Waterman’s Association, the museum has gathered bushels of fresh Bay oysters to be enjoyed raw, with sauce, or in a shooter! Two local restaurants will also be serving up cooked oyster dishes and other fare, as well as beverages and a bake sale. Kids will enjoy free crafts and posing for pirate selfies. $10 for adults and $5 for children. Oct. 15, 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Captain Avery Museum, Shady Side, MD. More information."

"Ghost Canoe Paddle

Up for a 'spooky,' but fun evening on the water? Join Jug Bay for an unforgettable evening paddle along the Patuxent River. Make a stop by the water’s edge where guides will share local legends and ghost stories around a campfire. Enjoy hot cider, sandwiches, and popcorn. Hopefully during your paddle, you will get to see beaver, otter, muskrat, birds and other wildlife along the shoreline. Oct. 15, 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Lothian, MD. More information and registration"

"Fall Foliage Driving Tours

The Chesapeake Bay watershed is spectacularly beautiful in the autumn. Blessed with water ... everywhere and some of the best hardwood forests on the planet, you don’t have to travel too far to see the fall spectacle. But there is a certain lure to taking a road trip in the fall, so we’ve put together a collection of great places for fall driving tours. Elk Neck State Park features that unbeatable watershed combination – views of the Chesapeake Bay and diverse landscapes presenting brilliant colors. Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC is an urban gem that provides an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life any time of year, but is really special in the fall. The 236-mile C&O Canal Scenic Byway, a mix of country roads and state highways from Washington, D.C. to Cumberland takes you through the heart of Maryland’s fall beauty. In Virginia, Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway ... meander 469 miles from Shenandoah National Park to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina, following the Appalachian Mountains and boasting some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. See more places for fall driving tours in New York state, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware."

"Glory of Fall Brookside Garden Tour

This walking tour highlights the spectacular fall colors in Brookside Garden’s woody and herbaceous plant collections, with a closer look at the garden staff’s favorite fall blooming perennials, like asters, coneflowers, sedums and grasses. $10 per person for nonmembers. Oct. 27, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Oct. 28, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD. More information and registration"

"Make Your Own Ches-O'-Lanterns

Show your love for the Chesapeake this Halloween with a specially carved jack-o-lantern, using carving patterns you can get delivered to your inbox from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Chesapeake-themed ideas include a blue crab, mummichog, osprey and river otter. Once you're finished with your masterpiece, you can share it with the Bay Foundation and other Bay lovers on social media using #ChesOLanterns. Request your Chesapeake carving designs."

"Maryland 5-Star at Fair Hill

One of only two 5 Star events in the U.S., the 5 Star designation is the pinnacle of the sport of Eventing, best described as an equestrian triathlon. This second edition of the Maryland 5 Star will feature new events and facilities, so be sure to reserve your place now to experience Maryland's proud equestrian tradition. October 13-16, Fair Hill Special Event Zone, Elkton, MD. More information and tickets"

Related:

• War Of 1812 Event In Pasadena + Hispanic Heritage Month In Annapolis
• Birders Unite For Full-Day Watch + Waterfront Event Hosted In Spanish
• Annapolis To Host Kunta Kinte Festival + Small Boat Fair Coming To MD
• Watermen's Festival, Charitable Swim To Protect Waterways Coming To MD
• Raft-Up Boat Concert To Feature Annapolis Band + Railroad Event Slated
• Fleet Week Returning To MD + Bark In The Park Will Teach Pet Safety
• Historic MD Ship To Be Commissioned + Tall Ship Festival Coming Soon
• Visit White Sand Beach On Eastern Shore + Enjoy Western MD Mountains
• Enjoy Free Day At National Parks In MD + Visit Local Farmers Market
• Ghost Tour Offered On Historic Ship + Fishing Tournament Planned In MD
• Latino Conservation Week Approaches + Native American Festival On Tap
• Sharkfest Coming To MD + London Town To Celebrate Independence Day
• Chesapeake Bay History Celebrated + Annapolis Prepares For Fireworks
• Fireworks Shows In MD, DC + Introduction To Stand-Up Paddle Boarding
• Seining Class At Sandy Point + Juneteenth Celebration In Annapolis
• Strawberry Festival In Linthicum + Snakehead Fishing In MD
• Antique Boat Show Coming To MD + Father's Day Cruise Offered
• All of the stories from year one of this partnership are posted here