Dorchester News | June 2025
WHAT’S INSIDE: 2025 Family Summer Fun Guide | Eagleman to Bring Thousands to Cambridge | New Restaurant, Campsite, Ice Cream, More! | June Events | Arts & Music
This summer's Family Fun Guide!
We’ve pulled together lots of ideas for things to do with the family here in the Heart of the Chesapeake – paddling, taking the helm of a skipjack, digging into history, learning to create with clay, picking berries, fishing, and more! Many of these opportunities are free of charge! Start making your summer plans.
June 8 Eagleman to bring thousands to Cambridge
Cheer on triathletes from all over the world as they grind through a 70.3-mile race that begins with a 1.2-mile swim in the Choptank River, followed by 56 miles by bicycle through Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and surrounding areas, and finishes up with a half marathon (13.1-mile run). Watch along the courses or at Gerry Boyle Park at Great Marsh in Cambridge. See the 2025 Spectator Guide. Triathletes love our sense of community here – and a big part of that comes through the many volunteers who make the event happen. Volunteers are still needed before, during, and after the race for everything from athlete check-in to aid stations to the finish line – and it's a fun way to meet fellow volunteers and athletes from all over! See the list of volunteer opportunities. Note that the triathlon will affect traffic in some parts of the county on June 8. See the Traffic Impact.
New restaurant, campsite, ice cream, more!
- Christopher’s Corner is now open in a beautifully restored historic building in the heart of downtown Cambridge offering “a hauntingly refined culinary affair.” Open Thursday–Monday, 4-10pm. 534 Poplar St., Cambridge. Reserve online.
- Sunset Pointe is now open! This waterfront camping area on Hoopers Island offers 4 tent/pop-up camper sites, 3 RV sites, and 1 fully-equipped 37-foot RV with everything you need (other than food). Communal fire pit, too. 2806 Hoopers Island Rd., Church Creek. Book through HIPCAMP. Questions? Call 443-521-6787.
- Groove City Sweets & Treats is now open with more than two dozen flavors of hand-packed ice cream. 601 Pine St., Cambridge.
- Chilly Billy’s is now open. This ice cream truck serves up homemade, hand-dipped Frozen Farmer ice cream. 600 Roslyn Ave., Cambridge; 443-205-5170
- Blue Point Provision Co. at the Hyatt Chesapeake has re-opened for the warm season. Thursday night deck parties starting soon!
- Blackwater Adventures has all their on-the-water fun available, both at the Hyatt Chesapeake and at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Bikes, too. (They’ll even deliver to your vacation rental!)
- Palm Beach Willies and its tiki bar has re-opened for the warm season! Stay tuned for news about the paddlewheeler (not yet open).
- Roll’n Crab is opening with their signature crab egg rolls. Curbside pickup at the Packing House in Cambridge.
- Night Kitchen Coffee plans to return to Downtown Cambridge this summer (they started here several years ago before relocating to Denton) with their primary roasting operations, espresso bar, teas, and some food items.
- Nordic Cottage, a Scandinavian bakery, is in the works in East New Market. Follow their progress on their Facebook page.
JUNE EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
W.T. Ruark Fishing Tournament
June 1
Open to adults and youth. Cash and trophy prizes plus door prizes. Register by 7pm on May 31. The event benefits Hoopers Island Volunteer Fire Co.
June 4, 7pm
Cambridge native Dion Banks talks about local African American history and his new children’s book, “Kofi the Wind Whisperer.” At the Robbins Heritage Center, Dorchester County Historical Society, 1003 Greenway Dr., Cambridge. Part of the South Dorchester Folk Museum Series.
June 6, 7:30pm; June 7, 2:30 & 7pm; June 8, 2:30pm
Groove Theatre Company is back with a classic story that's fun for the whole family! At the Cambridge branch of the Dorchester Public Library. Tickets will NOT be available at the door. Buy tickets.
June 7, 9am-1pm
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge’s non-competitive, catch-and-release event introduces children to the fun of fishing. For youth 15 and under. Free! The first 100 registered youth to check in at the event receive a t-shirt and gift. Free lunch, too. Pre-register by calling 410-228-2677 or register at the event.
JUNE EVENT HIGHLIGHTS, cont'd
June 12, 2-6pm
Combine history and nature – join Harriet Tubman Tours and Delmarva Birding Weekends as they go birding along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway.
June 14, 12-2pm
Sign up for summer reading, pick up a free book/goodie bag. Plus free food, face painting, balloon animals, games, crafts, more. Second Saturday Book Sale, too. At the Cambridge branch.
June 14, 12:30-3pm
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park hosts a liberating afternoon of history, conversation, art making, and a performance of a new immersive play, "Ya Dig?" by Sisi Reid.
Chalking Up on the Choptank
June 14, 10am-2pm
Bring the kids for a fun-filled day of sidewalk chalk coloring! For ages 1-12. Prizes for each age group. At the Cambridge Yacht Basin at Long Wharf, Cambridge.
June 14, 3-9pm
Join Cambridge Main Street for enhanced outdoor dining, shopping, gallery walks, kids fun, and music from NightCats 5:30-8pm. Streets close at 3pm. Poplar and Race Streets, Cambridge.
June 14, 6:30pm-8pm
The first in the Friends of Blackwater "Distinguished Speaker Series" features the Smithsonian National Zoo's Chief Veterinarian, Dr. Don Neiffer, who will share stories from his fascinating career caring for a wide variety of animals. At the Intergenerational Center, 108 Chesapeake St., Cambridge. For ages 21 and older. Buy tickets.
JUNE EVENT HIGHLIGHTS, cont'd
June 15, 11am
As Old Trinity Church continues to mark its 350th anniversary in 2025, they will have a historical service on Trinity Sunday featuring Holy Communion from the 1789 Book of Common Prayer, the first liturgy of the Episcopal Church in the USA. Vestments and furnishings will be arranged in keeping with the period. After the service, the Friends of Old Trinity will have their annal meeting and 350th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon. RSVP: rector@oldtrinity.net
Around the World in a Day Cooking Class: June 17: 1:30-3:30pm or 5:30-7:30pm
Learn how to prepare 3 delicious pasta dishes from 3 different countries with the rich flavors of Italian, Latin, and Asian cuisines.
Plant-Based Pleasures Cooking Class: June 19: 1:30-3:30pm or 5:30-7:30pm
Learn how to prepare flavorful, wholesome dishes that are as nourishing as they are delicious. For all skill levels.
Four Eleven Kitchen: Brunch & Bougie Saturday: June 21, 11a-1pm
Learn how to whip up next-level brunch dishes in style. Think bold flavors, hands-on fun, and bougie vibes.
June 20, 5-8pm
The Nanticoke Historic Preservation Alliance invites all to the 20th Anniversary Summer Soiree at the historic Benjamin Gaither Tubman House in Cambridge. Plentiful appetizers, wine, beer, signature cocktail. Benefits projects at Handsell Historic Site. Buy tickets.
June 21, 5-9pm
The Dorchester Center for the Arts celebrates the generosity of the Feldman Family with a buffet, cocktails, silent auction, and live music by Jayla Elise, a soulful 21-year-old singer-songwriter whose music blends the emotive power of R&B and soul. The evening includes a caricature artist for creations on-site. Proceeds support DCA's “Art for All." At the Chesapeake Grove Intergenerational Center, Cambridge.
June 21, 6pm
Groove City Entertainment presents line dancing with Big Mucci on Juneteenth weekend. Plus door prizes, dance workshop for all skill levels. Minnette Dick Hall, Cambridge. Benefits Groove City Culture Fest. Buy tickets.
SUMMER-LONG EVENTS
- ON-THE-WATER FUN: Step aboard Skipjack Nathan of Dorchester (with regular cruises on Saturday afternoons as well as Sip 'n' Sails June 21 and July 5; Sunset Sails June 27; July 11, 18, 25), Choptank Riverboats (crabfeast, lunch, dinner, and sightseeing cruises), fishing charters, Capt. Phil Gootee Cruises, or Buyboat Dudley Charters. Join a sunset cruise. or paddling adventure with Blackwater Adventures. For details, see our 2025 ON THE WATER GUIDE!
- The Choptank River Lighthouse is open daily, 9:30am-5pm, with free self-guided tours.
- Join a walking tour featuring stories of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Live banjo music is often part of the experience! Led by the Harriet Tubman Museum & Education Center.
- Horn Point Lab Tours happen at 10am each Tuesday through Labor Day. Free!
- Cambridge Ghost Walks take you on Maryland's most haunted street. Check the schedule.
- Handsell Historic Site shares stories of three cultures through self-guided tours. Don’t miss the chance to step into an authentic longhouse!
The Arts in June
ART SHOWS
"Harriet: A Taste of Freedom" Art Exhibition features more than 40 regional artists presenting their creative interpretations of Harriet Tubman at the Harriet Tubman Freedom Center, Cambridge. Opening reception June 29, 1-6pm. Show runs through September 2025.
Dorchester Center for the Arts has Annual Members Show, June 13-July 26. Second Saturday Receptions June 14 and July 12 from 5-7pm with live music and refreshments.
3ten Art Gallery has grand opening in their new location (519 Poplar St., Cambridge) with artist reception June 14, Sat 6-9p. Plus a new show: "The Subliminal State" by Lori Dever, and "Variations in Abstraction & Expression" by Sherry Christopher.
Main Street Gallery features guest artist Carla Huber’s oil paintings and monoprints in the show, "2 Ways About It.” Through June 29. All are welome to artist reception Second Saturday June 14, 5-8pm.
ART HAPPENINGS
Main Street Gallery hosts a fun “Messages for Dad” session – create a string of pennants decorated just for him. June 14, 3-4:30pm. All supplies provided. Free!
Call for Art: The Fiber of Life
Deadline: July 1
Dorchester Center for the Arts invites fiber artists to participate in an exhibition in September/October 2025. They are seeking artists whose works are deeply rooted in storytelling and/or a reflection of self. Questions? Contact LPennypacker@Dorchesterarts.org. Submit here.
Dorchester Center for the Arts has a range of classes and workshops, from painting to collage, photography to fun and funky furniture painting to decoy carving, pottery, stained glass. They even have a ukulele group and a fiber group that meet regularly! See the schedule.
Music in June
Layton's Chance Winery:
June 21: Black Dog Alley, 6-9pm
Portside Seafood Restaurant
June 5: Regan Kent, 5-8pm
June 6: Joe Hickey, 6-9pm
June 7: Colby Sard, 6-9p
June 12: Sam Pugh, 5-8pm
Old Salty’s Restaurant
June 7: Tranzfusion, 6-10pm
Blue Ruin
Check the website for upcoming music.
Fridays, 6:30pm
Local musicians, poets, and comedians are invited to strut your stuff. Every other weekend is a "Praise n Worship" Open Mic. Alcohol-free.
Dorchester Tourism News
Weekend Update
Find out what's going on around the county – check out our roundup of weekend events that we post on our social media each Friday!
Follow us on social media
Facebook: @I Love Dorchester Heritage & Tourism
Instagram: @Visit Dorchester
Dorchester County Tourism offers a wide selection of free digital brochures on our website, including a Dining Guide, Events Guide, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway Map & Guide, Cycling Guide, Paddling Guide, Birding Guide, and Heritage Guide. View and download them as PDF files.
Dorchester County Tourism | 2 Rose Hill Place, Cambridge, MD 21613
2 rose hill place, Cambridge, MD 21613