The festival is a celebration of life by the sea. For two full days, artists, crafters, authors and historians will join together for a weekend of fun and festivities! There are also antique boats, pirates, performers and demonstrations by men and women of the sea – plus great food!
The whole event is free and open to the public.
On Saturday at 10 a.m. author and performer Chris Kastle will tell the story, “The Lighthouse Keeper’s Wish” from her new book of maritime supernatural and ghost stories, From the Icy Fingers of the Deep.
The presentation will be followed by a discussion with the audience about the sources, writing techniques, and inspiration for the short stories included in the work. Copies of the book will be available afterward for sale and signing at the Authors Tent.
On Sunday at 10 a.m. Kastle will perform “Songs and Stories” of the Sea.
As a recording artist Kastle has released 12 critically acclaimed music CDs and a DVD as well as three solo CDs.
As an educator, she has worked as the Director of Education at St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum, as an instructor for the Inland Seas Education Association, as a visiting professor at Governors State University, Community Educator for Friends of A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway, and is currently on the faculty at the Old Town School of Folk Music, and a Teaching Artist for VSAFL (Very Special Arts Florida).
She is the author/illustrator of the children’s book, Dolly the Decorator Crab, inspired by her work as a teaching artist for VSAFL.
Kastle has helped students of many ages and abilities to create personal and collaborative artwork such as sculpture, collage, set design, and puppets. Her work has been displayed at the Cummer Museum of Arts and Gardens and by the Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts.
She is the Executive Director of Common Times, the folk-arts organization that presents the “Chicago Maritime Festival” and the “Chinquapin Folk Music and Storytelling Festival” and has served on the boards of the Florida Storytelling Association and the Tale Tellers of St. Augustine.
Find out more about her at http://www.chriskastle.com.
On Saturday, June 21 at noon Valerie Vaughn and The Earth Tones will perform.
Valerie Vaughn is a singer, musician and songwriter from Tuckerton who specializes in teaching through music, local history, folklore of South Jersey, and songs of the environment. She has performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington and numerous school assemblies. Her repertoire includes folk, blues, rock, country, Celtic and jazz. She’s put together a terrific little band to accompany her at this year’s Festival, so be sure to come out and see her.
On both days at 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. author Carolyn Miller will meet folks and sign her book Counting the Fish in the Sea, a non-fiction book for children ages 8-12.
This beautiful book tells the true story of how researchers from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science tackle what might seem an impossible task—figuring out just how many alewife, bluefish, croaker, and other species swim beneath the ocean waves.
The book, by reporter and former teacher Carolyn Miller, depicts a day-in-the-life of VIMS Multispecies Survey Leader Jim Gartland and his team of scientists aboard the fishing vesselDarana R.
Each page is laden with action-packed photographs depicting the most exciting moments of a research cruise, from boarding the boat in Cape May to spending the day gathering and literally counting fish.
Gartland and his team—VIMS scientists Stephanie Dukes, Jameson Gregg, David Lange, and Evan McOmber—operate as part of the Northeast Atlantic Monitoring and Assessment Program (NEAMAP). They participate each year in an autumn and a spring cruise, with the goal to collect fisheries-independent data between Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Hatteras.
Survey results are used by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), the Mid Atlantic Fisheries Management Council (MAFMC), the New England Fisheries Management Council (NEFMC), and the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC).
Gartland has served as team leader on NEAMAP’s Mid-Atlantic/Southern New England Nearshore Trawl Survey since its start in 2006. He does so under the auspices of NEAMAP’s lead scientists, VIMS Professor Rob Latour and Fisheries Data Analyst Chris Bonzek.
Gartland and Miller met during a NEAMAP demonstration tow in 2008. Miller—a writer for the Cape May County Herald in New Jersey—immediately thought the story of the scientists and their program at sea would make a great subject for a children’s book.
A former teacher, Miller says her students were always interested in ecology and environmental issues, especially living in such proximity to the ocean. “Children are not strangers to the sea, but they don’t really understand what’s going on beneath it,” she says. “They know the excitement that comes with catching a fish, but it’s important for them to know there are rules and regulations to keep the sea healthy and the fisheries well-managed and secure for generations to come.”
In addition to the book, Miller created a website and interactive blog at www.epektales.com
that follows the adventures of Sandy the Flounder. Kids are able to ask questions about the book or marine fishes, with Carolyn right there to answer their questions.
Also at the Festival: the first ever Best Dressed Pirate Competition! We’re looking for Pirates of all kinds and ages, from 18 to 80!
Come to the Festival on Sunday, June 22 in your best, sexiest or most outrageous Pirate Costume. Roam the streets, entertain the crowds or simply show off your rags!
Contestants are asked to show up between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 22. Judging will take place at our center stage beginning at 1 p.m.
Three prizes will be awarded: Best Male Pirate, Best Female Pirate and Best Pirate Couple. If you’d like to, send a photo of yourself ahead of time and it will be posted to https://www.facebook.com/HerefordInletLighthouseMaritimeFestival, but that’s up to you matey!
Also, to help celebrate the 140th Anniversary of the Historic Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, the first ever Young Person’s Art Show & Competition will take place. All young aspiring artists between the ages of 5 and 17 are invited to participate.
Each artist is asked to draw, sketch or paint something commemorating the 140th Anniversary of North Wildwood’s Hereford Inlet Lighthouse.
One work from each artist will be hung for display at the Festival. Every entry will receive a special certificate of merit and appreciation. One artist from each age category (5-8, 9-12, 13-17) will receive a special award for outstanding artistic achievement of $50 to $100, plus a 1ST place ribbon!
Go to www.herefordlighthousefestival.org for an application and more information.
