|
NEWS IN BRIEF
The Star-Spangled Spectacular!
It’s a celebration two centuries in the making and the Star-Spangled Spectacular, going on now through September 16, is finally here! On Saturday, Vice-President Joe Biden will set the tone at Fort McHenry as he helps honor the valiant fight and the famed Star-Spangled Banner that was raised o’er the ramparts those 200 years ago. A Pier Six concert featuring legendary performers including Smokey Robinson, Melissa Etheridge and Kenny Rodgers will be broadcast live on PBS setting the nation to song and kicking off a fireworks show even bigger than the one the British put on back in 1814. Tall ships and navy gray hulls representing more than a dozen nations will be in port and offering daily tours and flying top cover for it all, the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels.
As amazing as Saturday’s concert will be, Sunday’s Hampstead Hill Festival packs a full card of serious musical thunder with O’Malley’s March taking the stage, the final heavy metal history performance of 1814! The Rock Opera and the United States Army’s Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. Outside the city, Martin State Airport will host a two day open house featuring historic aircraft, military planes and a send off for the Blue Angels as they takeoff Saturday and Sunday’s air shows over Fort McHenry and Baltimore Harbor. These events alone would be enough to make the Star-Spangled Spectacular a party for the ages, but they are just a few of the more than 75 events planned for the Greater Baltimore Region between now and September 16.
This is going to be an event to tell your grandchildren about, but word to the wise, know before you go! Downtown parking will be at a premium, some traffic patterns will be altered, boating will be restricted on stretches of the Patapsco and heightened security means no bags or outside liquids in the fort, at Martin State Airport or on the gray hulls. Suggestions for alternate routes, public transportation, event shuttles and a list of security protocols can be found at Starspangled200’s Know Before You Go page. If you just can’t wait another moment to start your celebration, the staff here at DBED has put together this little Star-Spangled ditty and the folks at WBAL Channel 11 and NBC got in on the action. Enjoy!
Governor Endorses Plan to Extend Summer Break
Governor Martin O’Malley has signed a petition to push the start of Maryland’s school year until after the Labor Day holiday. While Governor O’Malley’s signature may only be one of the nearly 3,000 gathered so far, his support carries a great deal of weight for a plan that could prove a big boon for Maryland families and the state’s tourism industry.
Last September, Governor O’Malley convened a state task force to study the proposal. On May 20, after eight months of deliberation, the commission made up of parents, educators, business leaders and elected officials voted 11-4 in favor of the proposal. Buoyed by the commission’s findings, Comptroller Peter Franchot launched the petition on August 14 as part of his “Let Summer Be Summer” campaign. Comptroller Franchot says the change could generate $74.7 million in direct activities and another $7.7 million in tax revenue.
Governor O’Malley signed the petition during a September 3 Board of Public Works meeting and added jokingly, “I'm tempted to do an executive order extending summer by another month.” Franchot hopes to collect 10,000 signatures for the petition which enjoys huge support among tourism industry leaders. It will be presented to the Maryland State Legislature who will take up the issue when they convene in January.
Chesapeake and South Asian Film Festivals Take Center Stage
September is a great month for Maryland movie lovers with a pair of fantastic film festivals on tap. The seventh annual Chesapeake Film Festival will run September 19-21 following Gaithersburg’s third annual Washington DC South Asian Film Festival (DCSAFF) running the 12 to the 14.
Since its debut in 2007, the Chesapeake Film Festival has brought some of the best new documentaries and independent films to the Eastern Shore. This year’s festival kicks off with an opening night question and answer session and screening of “Good Ol Freda,” a heartwarming look at Freda Kelly, a secretary from Liverpool who, for 11 years, worked for some lads known as The Beatles. The three-day festival also features Slam Dance’s standout comedy “The Republic of Rick,” the inspiring documentary “Desert Runners,” notable selectees from the Pendragwyn Youth Film Festival and much more. Tickets and a full schedule are available at chesapeakefilmfestival.com.
On the other side of the Chesapeake, Gaithersburg’s DCSAFF is North America’s premier film festival dedicated to South Asian cinema. DCSAFF provides a unique view into the world’s biggest movie making industry. The festival opens with a gala screening of “Club 60” and a question and answer session with director Sanjay Tripathy. Find tickets, show times and more at dcsaff.com.
Canoe Slalom World Championships Coming to Deep Creek
The finest white-water paddlers from around the world will be in McHenry, MD, September 17th-21st, for the International Canoe Federation’s (ICF) Canoe Slalom World Championships. The 2014 McHenry World Championships mark only the second time in the federation’s 76 year history that the event has been held in the U.S. and the first time since nearby Savage River hosted 25 years ago. Olympic level athletes representing 35 nations will battle with paddles at the state of the art Adventure Sports Center International (ASCI). ASCI offers world-class competitive courses, fantastic site lines for spectators and a host of family friendly activities throughout the weekend.
The event begins with an opening ceremony replete with live music, fireworks and, if white water canoeing isn’t crazy enough for you, xtreme pogo, which is exactly twice as exciting as it sounds. In addition to the heated competition on the water, there will be music, food, and performances by the exciting of the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus. The whole schedule and more is available at www.deepcreek2014.com.
USA Today names Crisfield’s beach one of the 13 best for Labor Day
Labor Day on Crisfield’s Wellington Beach has long been a local favorite, but USA Today Travel caught wind and told the world. Highlighting the 67th running (Scuttling?) of the National Hard Crab Derby and the crowning of Miss Crustacean, USA Today named the “Crab Capital of the World” on of their 13 reasons to do Labor Day at the beach. You may have missed Labor Day, but the water is still warm, the crabs are plentiful and there’s always lots to do in Crisfield.
Maryland Minute
On CBS radio stations in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. plus WBAL-AM, Margot Amelia is featured in the weekly Maryland Minute. This week’s version highlights events for this upcoming weekend.
The World is Here--Are You? (Deep Creek Promo Video)
 Deep Creek 2014 Set to Host the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in McHenry Maryland September 17-21, 2014. The Adventure Sports Center International is the prestigious venue for the event and is the Only Mountaintop re-circulating whitewater course in the World.
Olympic Level Athletes from more than 35 Countries competing for the Gold. The ICF World Championships represent much more than a simple competition. It is a gathering of nations from around the globe joining together in sport and camaraderie. This is the 25 year anniversary of the 1989 World Championship held right here in Garrett County Maryland and only the second time in history this prestigious event has graced the United States.
Now accepting ad reservations for Destination Maryland - Official 2015 Visitors Guide
 The all-new official Destination Maryland Guide presents our tourism partners with a unique, powerful platform. There is no comparable opportunity available that is 100% focused on visitation to Maryland—and there is no better time to speak to its large audience than when they are actively planning their visit to the state. The Destination Maryland Visitors Guide is sent by request directly to highly qualified travelers who are actively planning a Maryland vacation—most often a long one. In addition to 250,000 printed copies distributed, the Visitors Guide will also be available in both an interactive E-book and I-pad versions which click through to advertiser landing pages.
Contact Carly Stedman for rates and details: carly.stedman@milespartnership.com / 202-681-8169. Deadline to reserve space is September 12, 2014
Submit nominations for Maryland Tourism Awards
Nominations for the 2014 Maryland Tourism Awards — as selected by the Office of Tourism and the Maryland Tourism Development Board — will be accepted until September 15, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. Award categories are: Green/Sustainable Tourism; Visit Maryland (promotion of the state as a travel destination); Cultural/Heritage Tourism; and Economic Engine. A program overview and a nomination form are available online.
The awards pay tribute to individuals, organizations, businesses or governmental agencies that have significantly contributed to the efforts of the tourism office and board to boost jobs and economic impact in Maryland's tourism industry, and enhance the state's image to travelers. Winners will be announced at the Maryland Tourism and Travel Summit, November 13, 2014. For more information, call or e-mail Jennifer Jones, 410-767-6296.
|
34th Annual Maryland Tourism and Travel Summit
 |
Date: Nov. 12-14, 2014
Venue: Roland E. Powell Convention Center in partnership with Hilton Ocean City Oceanfront Suites
Address: 4001 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842
VIEW SUMMIT SCHEDULE and REGISTER |
|
|
