(Month of Fright!)
With the Chesapeake City July 2010 Fireworks display behind them, an event that was described by visitors and residents as spectacular, the organizational committee responsible for bringing this event back to Chesapeake City are not sitting idly by. Three organizations have combined efforts to make Chesapeake City a “must see town” for annual and fall events. Members of the Chesapeake City Merchants Association Natalie Gentry, Manager of the Bayard House, Gianmarco Martuscelli (John) owner of the Chesapeake Inn, Michael Estes Board of Director for the Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 of Chesapeake City Inc., and Ron Francis of the Chesapeake City Civic Association have all partnered together to bring new and innovative events and festivals to visitors and residents of Chesapeake City.
Bringing back the annual fireworks display to Chesapeake City was key in our effort to launch all of our new events and ideas said Michael Estes. Work began in early March to secure the property where the fireworks would be shot from as well as town and county permits, approvals, and event security. The fireworks have been absent far to long and when I approached the Merchants and Civic associations to sponsor this event everyone stepped up and provided funding and support. It seemed like the right time to bring this event back. With the number of spectators that attended and the comments we received work has already begun on the 2011 event.
Mike along with the committee members have also been working on two huge events scheduled for August and October 2010. The first event scheduled will be a “Fire Boat and Apparatus Muster coupled with a family beach party to be held at the Chesapeake Inn. The event will be held on August 21, 2010 and will run from 10 – 6 PM. Visitors can expect to see Fire Boats from Philadelphia, Wilmington, US Army as well as local and surrounding fire companies. Specialty apparatus and units will also be on display in Pell Gardens along with vendors and food. This new event is designed to be very family friendly allowing both adults and children the opportunity to see and tour unique fire fighting apparatus and specialty units while enjoying a day out on the water and some good food and music.
The October event is expected to be the crowning jewel in the committees arsenal to make Chesapeake City a must see during the fall season. Work began in early spring for the October event and has been nicknamed a “Month of Fright”. The October event is actually multiple events going on during the month and various weekends in Chesapeake City. The event kicks off on October 1st, 2010 with the Chesapeake City Vol. Fire Company hosting their 2010 “Haunted Trail”. This event will run Friday – Sunday every week through October. Festival goers can expect a scary stroll through the Haunted Trail.
On October 17th Chesapeake City will host a kids Halloween day in Pell Gardens where children will compete for costume prizes, have a pie eating contest and test their distance skills at spiting pumpkin seeds. Families and visitors can also enjoy the various vendors and food booths. On October 22nd and 23rd the Chesapeake Civic Association will host their “Haunted Ghost Walk” a town favorite for the past 10 years. The event culminates on October 30th with a Halloween Festival that will be held throughout Chesapeake City and the Pell Garden area. As part of the festival Chesapeake City will attempt to break the current Guinness Book of Records for the most carved and lit pumpkins in a single location. Residents and visitors from the tri-state area will be asked to bring a carved pumpkin or pumpkins to the event, register them at various drop stations manned with volunteers and certified public accountants who then will assign the pumpkin a number and take it for display. Pumpkins must have a carved face (eyes, nose, mouth) as well as a 3 inch candle and a carved lid to be considered for the event. Folks can bring as many pumpkins as they wish to enter.
Volunteers will then take all of the pumpkins collected and place them throughout Chesapeake City and along the South side of the canal and at dusk will light all of the pumpkins where visitors can then view all of the Halloween sculptures. Visitors will also be treated to vendors and food booths where they can enjoy the tastes of the fall season. Activities will be scheduled and there will be something for everyone. We are hopeful that this event will be extremely successful and will put Chesapeake City on the event map for must see fall events. We also hope to break the current record of carved and lit pumpkins said Estes which currently stands at 30,168. As the event gets closer we will be advertising throughout the county and Tri-State area for participation so we can take the record from Boston and bring it to Cecil County.
Estes said the primary reason these events were created was to develop community involvement with families, visitors, and businesses while providing alternative ways to sustain Chesapeake City stores and restaurants during these tough economic times. Everyone loves the fall season and both adults and children love to carve pumpkins so why not combine these and create a great festival. Should any business or vendors like to be considered for these events as well as Corporate Sponsorship please contact Mike Estes at 443-553-1203 to receive further information on booth space and sponsorship packages.
