Wharf Activities and Musical Acts Finalized For

For Immediate Release: January 26, 2019

Wharf Activities and musical acts finalized for

Raiders & Invaders War of 1812 Weekend, June 6-8

Leonardtown, MD: St. Mary’s County Division of Tourism and the Town of Leonardtown announcewaterside activitiesat the Leonardtown Wharf on June 7, 2014 during Raiders & Invaders Saturday Festival. Activities includeInvasion Route Boat Tours, Paddleboard Jousting, historic vessel walk-ons, vendor activities and Old Bay Circus. Several musical acts are set to perform on stages at the Wharf and around town, including “The British Invasion Tribute,” who headline the evening Concert at the Wharf. Raiders & Invaders weekend is a 3-day, multi-component experience for all agestaking place in Leonardtown and throughout St. Mary’s County June 6-8, 2014.

Various historic watercraft, including “The Dee of St. Mary’s” from the Calvert Marine Museum, the jolly boats “Parrot” and “Olive Branch” from Historic St. Mary’s City, and Oyster Buy Boats will be present at the Wharf. The captains, crews, and staff from each vessel will give a hands-on look at the historical significance of their boats to the region.

Tickets can be purchased at the info booth for Invasion Route Boat Tours aboard the Lisa S., where noted historian Pete Himmelheber and Captain Phil Langley will provide insight into the 1814 British invasion of Leonardtown, as well as an understanding of Chesapeake Bay heritage, while cruising Breton Bay.

Patuxent Adventure Center will feature Paddleboard Jousting in a bracket-style tournament, with prizes awarded to the top 3 participants. In Wharf Park, the jugglers, aerialists and entertainers of Old Bay Circus will be performing throughout the afternoon and giving workshops in traditional circus skills.

Downrange U.S. Army Band will perform popular, country and rock ‘n roll hits in the afternoon on the Wharf Stage. Justin Myles, former5-year member of the acclaimed musical STOMP, will open the free Concert at the Wharf Saturday Evening at 6PM. “The British Invasion Tribute” headlines the concert, performing favorite “British Invasion” classics from the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and more.

Acts set to perform at the Tudor Hall Music Stage include Baltimore-area acoustic-rock band ILYAIMY, period music from Matthew Dodd, and lively sea-songs from Calico Jenny. The Courthouse Steps will feature children’s variety acts from Nicolo Whimsey, period storytelling from Ming Diaz, and more. The Tavern Tent on the Square will house musical acts all day, including traditional folk & country music from Harmony Grit, seas chanteys from Ships’ Company Chanteymen, and popular music fromnoted local musicians Ben Connelly and Joe Parsons.

Kicking off a Star-Spangled Summer, Raiders & Invadersis part of the State of Maryland’s War of 1812 Chesapeake Campaign – a year of bicentennial events and activities that follow the 1814 British push up the Chesapeake and Patuxent to Washington D.C. and Baltimore. Though there were few battles in Southern Maryland, the British continually harassed coastline residents and invadedthe tiny Town of Leonardtown – population approximately 300. But victory was not as easy as it seemed. The Town residents convinced the British commander with his force of 1,500 not to burn the courthouse, but to move on out of town. And that, say event organizers, is worth commemorating.

For the most current event information, the public can log on to the event website

Event Information Contacts:

Andrew M. Ponti, Tourism Coordinator, St. Mary’s County Tourism: 301-475-4200 X1404 or

Maria Fleming, Leonardtown Event Coordinator: 301-475-9791 or