7 Things in Annapolis: Peggy Stewart Day returns with a drone show

Peggy Stewart Day was never an official holiday that gave people a day off work. Well, except for the first one. And a hundred years later.

The day is named for a merchant ship that had the misfortune of arriving in Annapolis on October 19, 1774, shortly after rebels in Boston threw a cargo of tea overboard in protest of taxes. Even more unfortunate was that there were several hundred pounds of tea on board. Radicals forced the owner to set fire to his cargo ship as crowds from around Maryland lined the shore to watch.

It became known as the Annapolis Tea Party, an extravagant moment in the American Revolution. A century later, the fire was accompanied by a much happier party.

“The centennial … was celebrated in style today, with the ringing of bells, the firing of cannons, the closing of all city offices and public schools, a display of flags on the waterfront and in the harbor, and a military parade in the afternoon,” The New York Times reported .

Since then, celebrations of the holiday have waxed and waned, mostly at the whim of the Peggy Stewart Tea Party Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Back in 1957, the Annapolis Chamber of Commerce burned the ship in effigy to protest modern taxes, and the 200th anniversary in 1974 was celebrated with a parade of horse-drawn carriages.

On Saturday, the DAR will sail again alongside other history and tourism groups to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the episode in Maryland’s revolutionary saga.

The centerpiece will be a drone show highlighting history in the waters off City Dock at 7 p.m. The DAR and the John Paul Jones Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and Children of the American Revolution will offer additional pieces of history on land. The schooner Sultana will replace the ill-fated brigantine Peggy Stewart, although no one plans to burn her.

The day begins on nearby Pinkney Street, where historic Annapolis hosts the city’s largest historical reenactment. More than 40 costumed historians will speak about their lives and times from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Waterfront Warehouse, Shiplap House and Hogshead’s historic buildings.

At 6:30 p.m., University of Maryland historian Richard Bell will summarize the crucial moments leading up to the fire in a presentation at City Dock. Reenactors will be in the crowd and the Monumental City Fife and Drum Corps will play before the drones fly.

The drone show, lecture and music are free. The living history event on Pinkney Street is $10, with discounts for HA members and volunteers, military personnel and children ages 10 to 17. Advance registration is recommended.

Far overshadowed by other events – the Revolution probably began on September 5, 1774, with the start of the First Continental Congress – Peggy Stuart would probably have been forgotten if it had not been for Francis Blackwell Mayer, a painter of historical scenes from Annapolis who helped carry out the centenary celebrations.

Twelve years later, he donated his monumental work “The Burning of the Peggy Stewart” to the state, which has been on display at the State House ever since.

The centenary ended incongruously. “That evening the ladies of Annapolis held a large tea party at the House of Representatives,” The Times reported.

So does the bicentenary.

Famous Maryland shipbuilder Melbourne Smith, who helped build the original Pride of Baltimore, attempted to build a replica of the Peggy Stewart in 1976 to celebrate America’s 200th anniversary. State officials adopted the idea, but nothing more than a model and a painting emerged from it.

“The money just never came along,” he told The Baltimore Sun in 1979.

However, Peggy Stewart Day lives on.

Here are some more events in the city for the coming week.

Meet the artists

Thursday, 7 p.m

You can meet the artists behind Abriendo Caminos at a reception at the Earl Gallery in Maryland Hall.

The exhibition features works by members of the Anne Arundel Latino American Art Collective. It explores concepts of Latin American and Caribbean traditions and intercultural experiences.

This exhibition celebrates Hispanic heritage with works by artists from El Salvador, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Peru, Honduras and Mexico. It runs until January 2nd.

Figaro. Figaro. Figaro!

Friday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 3 p.m

The Annapolis Opera opens its season with a performance of Gioachino Rossini’s The Barber of Seville.

The classic comedy opera, performed in Italian with English subtitles, pits hairdresser Figaro against Dr. Bartolo to ensure that true love prevails. Kevin Godínez leads the cast as Figaro. Musicologist Nicole Steinberg will examine the work before each performance.

Tickets cost $28 to $100 plus taxes and fees. The lecture is free, but registration is required.

Curtain up

Friday, 8 p.m

Compass Rose Theater celebrates its production of “Same Time Next Year” at Maryland Hall.

The 1975 play, which was later made into a film, stars Ann Marie Taglavore as Doris and Omar A. Said as George. The story is about Doris and George, who are each married to someone else and meet once a year for 25 years for a secret rendezvous.

The show runs until November 17th and takes place on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 to $55 plus taxes and fees. Discounts are available for students, seniors, active military, veterans and groups of 12 or more.

Keep the series alive

Saturday, 3:30 p.m

Navy football returns to Annapolis with its best winning streak in years, 5-0.

After a week of bye, the Naval Academy Midshipmen take on the UNC-Charlotte 49ers at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Kick-off is at 3:30 p.m

Tickets to Navy games become harder to find when the team wins, and there is only one home game left this season. The Mids play Notre Dame next Saturday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The team could qualify for the AAC conference championship on Dec. 6 when it faces fellow undefeated rival Army. Anyway, the Army-Navy game is December 16th at Northwest Stadium (formerly FedEx Field) in Landover.

General admission starts at $55 plus taxes and fees, general admission tickets are $40. Children’s tickets are $30. If you can’t find a ticket, CBS will broadcast the game on its broadcast and streaming services.

Autumn on the avenue

Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m

Merchants on Maryland Avenue and State Circle celebrate the cooler weather with their fall festival.

Music, dancing, food and shopping at local stores culminate in the Halloween Pup Parade. Free admission.

Set sail

Tuesday, 1 p.m. – October 26, 11 a.m

Hundreds of boats will compete in the J/22 World Championships on the Severn River and Chesapeake Bay, so watching them from shore without a boat can be challenging.

But you can see some of the host organization’s competitors, Eastport Yacht Club, and more on YouTube at T2TPV On Demand. The first races begin on Tuesday afternoon, the award ceremony takes place after the final race four days later. Free.