As part of a weekend of activities set to celebrate the 375 Anniversary of Maryland founding and first settlement in St. Mary’s county, On Saturday, June 20, Historic St. Mary’s City will host an array of historic vessels.  On Sunday morning, June 21, several will be sailing together on the St. Mary's River.

“We're anticipating the Kalmar Nyckel, Delaware's reproduction seventeenth-century pinnace, the Maryland Dove,  the Sultana, a reproduction of a 1768 schooner, a one or more skipjacks, and miscellaneous other historic crafts will join the sail,” said Susan Wilkinson Director of Marketing and Communications of HSMC.

For those who wish to get a great view of these historic tall ships, the sail should take the ‘parade’ across Church Point below Trinity Church at 11 a.m.

Also part of the 375th Birthday Celebration Weekend are four more events for people to enjoy. Leading the way on Friday, June 19 is the River Concert World Premier at St. Mary's College of Maryland. The free concert series kicks off its new season at 7 p.m. featuring the Chesapeake Orchestra with Jeffrey Silberschlag as music director. This first concert in honor of the 375 Anniversary celebration will have a world premier of the symphonic work "Terrae Mariae: A Creation Story" by Maryland composer Nathan Lincoln-DeCusatis. The symphony incorporates spoken texts culled from early writings on Maryland's founding prepared by Jennifer Cognard-Black, Associate Professor of English at SMCM

Maestro Silberschlag says: "This work attempts to tell about the arrival of the English colonists and their thrill of seeing Maryland for the first time."

The concert also includes music of the 1600's, Handel's "Trumpet Spectacular" and Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 - "The New World." For more information contact (240) 895-4107 or visit www.riverconcertseries.com.

Next up for the birthday celebration is an all day celebration in Historic St. Mary's City on Saturday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The day will feature colonial dancing, American Indian dancing, and period entertainment.

Attendees can relax with live music by Calico Jack, David Norris, Ship's Company, and David Hildebrand. There will also be seventeenth-century style food, make-and-take crafts at living history sites, sutlers (vendors), music, and whimsey.

The day will close with a special River Concert, to include a reprise of "Terrae Mariae: A Creation Story" and fireworks. For more information call (800) 762-1634 or visit www.stmaryscity.org.

Also on Saturday, June 20 is the Juneteenth Celebration at Freedom Park in Lexington Park at Three Notch Road and Tulagi Place beginning at noon. At the event there will be entertainment for all ages celebrating cultural diversity and freedom.

There will be an early evening jazz concert featuring saxophonist Phillip Martin plus music by jazz and R&B vocalist Shang and gospel singing with Rev. James Flowers, Jr. and Family. Other festivities include African dancing and drumming, exhibits, Minority Outreach Coalition Mini Health Fair, games, vendors, food and more. For more information, call (301) 862-4868 or visit www.ucaconline.org.

And all day on Saturday, June 20 Maryland International Raceway in Budds Creek will host Pinks All Out. Speed TV will be filming an episode of PINKS All Out. Hundreds of the best drag racers in the country will bring their game to MIR in search of glory and their share of $18,000 in cold, hard cash. Host Rich Christensen hosts the all-day shootout that pits egos and cars against one another on the quarter mile. For information on this ticketed event call (301) 884-9833 or visit www.mirdrag.com.

On Sunday, June 21, the celebration continues with ‘Celebrate Family, Fun and Fitness!’ held at the College of Southern Maryland’s Leonardtown Campus. The event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., is one in which CSM celebrates 375 years with wellness, fitness and recreation activities for the whole family.

People are encouraged to come dressed to play on Father's Day as the enjoy fitness demos, fun lawn games, and a self-guided walk through historic Leonardtown. Health and fitness demos will include a Tai Chi demo, easy at-home exercises, fitness evaluations, Ask the Nutritionist, Health Connection: Skin Cancer Screenings.

Other fun family activities include a moonbounce, face painting and tattoos, balloon stomp, kid’s fitness challenge and family obstacle course, kickball games, hula dance demo, Dance, Dance Revolution and more. For more information on this free event call (301) 934-7703 or (240) 725-5312 or visit www.csmd.edu/FamilyFun.