Discover Easton Director’s Report

June 2019- The transition from winter to warmer months is always a welcome time of the year on the Eastern Shore; the cold snap breaks and patrons begin returning to their usual shopping habits, getting ready for vacation, holidays, and much more. Summer’s arrival is certainly not discreet in Easton, as diners begin clambering for seats at our outdoor restaurants, downtown fills up during the Avalon Foundation’s outdoor concerts, and our hashtag #discovereaston is saturated with beautiful wedding pictures every day of the week. And while we’d all prefer not to visibly age while waiting to cross Route 50, the truth is most of the indicators of the season’s change mean welcomed, wonderful things for our community, especially for our growing arts presence in Easton.

The “sounds of summer” are more present in Easton than in most small towns around the country, and it’s all kicked off with the Avalon’s Outdoor Concert Series each year. The June 1 concert featured LatinX taking the Harrison Street stage, and the next concert, the local favorite U.S. Navy Band Commodores, will perform on Saturday, June 15. These free, community concerts bring together Easton residents and visitors from all walks of life, and help form many summertime memories for their attendees.

Chesapeake Music continues the musical theme throughout the month of June with their annual Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival, which kicked off yesterday and continues through June 15. Featuring artists from around the world, this premier chamber music event has its home in Easton and brings together fans from across the region to celebrate one of the most beautiful musical styles each year.

Finally, the beginning of our summer of the arts wouldn’t be complete without a nod to the 15th Annual Plein Air Easton Art Festival. Coming the week of July 14, Plein Air Easton has grown to become the largest outdoor arts competition in the U.S., and a jewel among Talbot County’s events. Look for a fun-filled week with opportunities for amateur and professional artists to novice art enthusiasts and professionals alike.

All of these great events, and many more, will soon take place in the new Easton Arts District, our prospective State of Maryland Arts & Entertainment District that we are excited to launch in the coming months upon approval from the state. The new arts district will not only offer tax incentives to local artists and arts enterprises, but will also spur continued arts events and businesses within the district’s borders. The first of these events, the Easton Arts District Culture Crossing, will begin this summer on the Easton Rails-to-Trails, offering an artisan’s market, live music, and other cultural wares to residents and visitors.

So as we welcome the summer months into Easton, make a plan to embrace the arts all season long. Whether you choose a stroll through the Academy Art Museum or a fun night gallery hopping during the First Friday gallery walk, we’re just happy you’ll choose to support the arts that have made this town as great as it is to residents and visitors for so many years.