Now in its 23nd year, the Sultana Education Foundation’s Downrigging Weekend Festival is one of the largest annual tall ship gatherings in North America. The festival features a long-weekend of Tall Ship sails, tours, incredible live bluegrass music, lectures, exhibits, family activities, regional food and more. Proceeds benefit the Foundation’s environmental literacy programs and the other nonprofits participating in the festival.

Festival Schedule:

Thursday, October 26, 2023
 
4:30pm EDT
Tall Ships America Downrigging Meeting
 
Friday, October 27, 2023
 
7:00am EDT
Lawrence Wetlands Preserve Exploration

12:00pm EDT
Tour the Tall Ships

3:00pm EDT
SAIL THE TALL SHIPS

4:00pm EDT
Music Festival Village & Vendors Open

4:15pm EDT
Kid Davis and the Bullets

4:30pm EDT
Tall Ships Parade Home

5:00pm EDT
Marc Castelli Annual Exhibit - Laying Down the Sun

5:30pm EDT
Flatland Drive

6:00pm EDT
Tall Ships Illuminated

6:45pm EDT
The High & Wides

8:00pm EDT
Fireworks
 
Saturday, October 28, 2023
 
7:00am EDT
Lawrence Wetlands Preserve Exploration

9:00am EDT
Tour the Tall ShipsExtended Dove Tours
Classic Boats with ACBSCocktail Class Wooden Boat Racing AssociationLog Canoe Silver Heel Exhibit

10:00am EDT
Castelli Artist Talk - Laying Down the Sun
Book Talk with Samuel Heed - KALMAR NYCKELL: The Tall Ship of Delaware
Bookmark Making &Book Signing with Kate Milford
Chestertown African American History Walking TourWhat's in the Ditty Bag?
Echos of NatureFamily Day at the Holt Center
Model Boat & Ship ExhibitMarc Castelli Annual Exhibit - Laying Down the Sun

10:30am EDT
SAIL THE TALL SHIPS
Music Festival Village & Vendors Open

11:00am EDT
The Plate Scrapers - Set #1"Blacks on the Water" Exhibit

11:30am EDT
Book Plate Book Talk with Michael Dirda - Sailing Into Harms Way

12:05pm EDT
Wicked Sycamore - Set #1

12:30pm EDT
Tall Ships Parade Home

1:00pm EDT
Castelli Artist Talk - Laying Down the Sun
Chestertown Halloween Parade
Book Plate Book Talk with Nancy Taylor Robson - Woman in the Wheelhouse

1:15pm EDT
Dirty Grass Players - Set #1

2:25pm EDT
Della Mae - Set #1

2:30pm EDT
Book Plate Book Talk with Adam Goodheart - The Last Island: Discovery, Defiance, And The Most Elusive Tribe On EarthSAIL THE TALL SHIPS

3:30pm EDT
Wicked Sycamore - Set #2

4:00pm EDT
Book Talk with Phillip Reid - A Boston Schooner in the Royal Navy

4:30pm EDT
Tall Ships Parade Home

4:35pm EDT
The Plate Scrapers - Set #2

5:40pm EDT
Dirty Grass Players - Set #2

6:00pm EDT
Tall Ships Illuminated

7:05pm EDT
Della Mae - Set #2

8:00pm EDT
Fireworks (raindate)
 
Sunday, October 29, 2023
 
7:00am EDT
Lawrence Wetlands Preserve Exploration

10:00am EDT
Classic Boats with ACBSCocktail Class Wooden Boat Racing Association

11:00am EDT
An Interactive Chesapeake Voyage: Chesapeake Through the Ages
Tour the Tall Ships
Marc Castelli Annual Exhibit - Laying Down the SunLog Canoe Silver Heel Exhibit

11:30am EDT
Music Festival Village & Vendors Open

11:45am EDT
Sombarkin'

12:30pm EDT
An Interactive Chesapeake Voyage: Native Americans of the Chesapeake Bay

1:00pm EDT
The Simmons Family
SAIL THE TALL SHIPS

2:00pm EDT
Jake BlountAn Interactive Chesapeake Voyage: Chesapeake Through the Ages

3:00pm EDT
Tall Ships Parade Home

Fest Date: October 27 - 29, 2023

Location: Various Locations in Chestertown, MD

Click here for more information.