Upcoming Event Details

Sat. April 21 : Ninth Annual "Burn Your Socks" Cookout and Flea Market

(Rain Date Sun. April 22)

The annual "Sock Burning" tradition seems to have been started in Eastport by Bob Turner in the mid 1970s. It is carried out in the hope that burning your socks will signal the end of winter.  The event first occurred with a small group of boatyard employees setting their socks afire in a paint tray. Participation has grown each year.

The sock burning is held close to the vernal equinox, when day and night are equal in length, signaling the first day of spring.

Seeing as we often still have snow in the forcast on the Equinox, PSA's version of this event is usually held about a month (or more!) later.  It is a combination cookout and nautical flea market, and will be held on Sat April 21 at Oak Harbor Marina in Pasadena MD, hosted by Ed & Joan Criscuolo. Oak Harbor has a nice large outdoor deck with grills and picnic tables.

This is a "pot luck" affair, with everybody bringing whatever they want to grill and drink.  Plates, plasticware, napkins, and condiments will be provided.  The flea market begins at 11am, and the grills fire up around 12.  With spring comissioning here, this could be a great opportunity to recycle old gear or pick up some bargains!  RSVP to ed@chessie.com.

Jeff Holland, director of the Annapolis Maritime Museum and Poet Laureate of Eastport, wrote the following in 1995:

Ode to the Sock Burners

Them Eastport boys got an odd tradition When the sun swings to its Equinoxical position, They build a little fire down along the docks, They doff their shoes and they burn their winter socks. Yes, they burn their socks at the Equinox. You might think that’s peculiar, but I think it’s not, See, they’re the same socks they put on last fall, And they never took’em off to wash’em, not at all... So they burn their socks at the Equinox In a little ol’ fire burning nice and hot. Some think incineration is the only solution, ‘Cause washin’ ‘em contributes to the Chesapeake’s pollution.

Directions to Oak Harbor:

From Baltimore and points North, take I95 south
From Washington and points South, take I95 north.
From Annapolis, take I97 north.

In all cases, exit at MD 100 east towards Gibson Island.

Follow MD 100 past Glen Burnie to the first stoplight at Magothy Bridge Road (Rt 607).

Turn Left at Magothy Bridge Rd.

At the first light, the name changes to Hogs Neck Rd.

Continue on Hogs Neck to the second light at Ft. Smallwood Rd.

Turn right on Ft. Smallwood.

Follow Ft. Smallwood Rd. for 1/2 mile to Water Oak Point Rd.

Turn left on Water Oak Point Rd.

After the first speed-bump, turn left on Old Water Oak Point Rd (Blue sign for Oak Harbor)

After 3 more speed-bumps, turn left into the marina driveway.