South Carolina husband-and-wife duo Shovels & Rope channel country, folk, bluegrass, Americana, and blues through a nervy indie-rock prism. Shovels & Rope consists of married singer/songwriters Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst. Prior to teaming up together, Trent played with the indie-rock band the Films while Hearst spent several years pursuing a solo career developing her raw yet melodious and expressive voice. Inspired by the likes of Woody Guthrie, Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan, the Cramps, and the soulful harmonies of Johnny Cash and June Carter, the pair provided tour support for like-minded artists such as Justin Townes Earle, Hayes Carll, and the Felice Brothers before heading into their own impressive career.

Take a nighttime ghostly walk through the Eastern capital of Maryland! Listen to our storyteller talk about the the phantoms of Foxley Hall, the spirit of a murdered actress at the Avalon Theater … and Mr. Grymes, the builder of the Tidewater Inn who is still seen walking the halls. Walk down the narrow passage formerly know as Magazine Alley and pause to hear the sorrowful tales of the "Home of the Friendless" - Easton's old orphanage. Find out about the spirits who still haunt the old jail and how many spirits haunt the town elevators. Filled with history and mystery, the Easton ghost walk is a hauntingly entertaining evening that is fun for the entire family! Advanced registration is required.

Help the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce celebrate Chamber Member Milestone Anniversaries! Join us for a light reception at the Avalon Theater on Saturday, August 27th from 5-7pm. Open to anyone who supports our businesses!

With Easton’s historic Waterfowl Building again remade with concert staging and lighting and a crystal- clear audio system, music lovers can enjoy some of the world’s finest jazz musicians in three shows as Jazz Alive renews it summer concert series!   Jazz Alive concludes its 2022 Summer Concert Series with the powerhouse trio of guitarist Shawn Purcell, organist Pat Bianchi, and drummer Jason Tiemann.  Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Shawn Purcell is a jazz guitarist, educator, arranger, and composer in the Washington DC region whose credits include performances and tours with Terell Stafford, Nicholas Payton, Tim Warfield, Sean Jones, Brian Charette, Regina Carter, The Chicago Jazz Ensemble, The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, Jim Pugh, Chip McNeill, Eddie Daniels, Chris Potter, Steve Allee, and many others. Grammy nominated organist, winner of Downbeat Magazine’s 2016 rising star poll and Hot House magazine’s 2019 poll, Pat Bianchi has established himself as one of the premier organists on the international scene today.  Jason Tiemann is a New York City based jazz drummer who is quickly forging his musical voice on the New York scene by fusing his depth of historical foundation with crisp technique and propulsive, intuitive swing.  With a new recording coming out later this year, you won’t want to miss this great trio!    The Waterfowl Building is at 40 South Harrison Street in Easton, Maryland.  Tickets are $48 and available at jazz-alive.org or at the door the day of the event. Students attend free with a Student ID. A cash bar will be available. Proceeds from ticket and concession sales support Jazz Alive’s mission of providing educational support in developing future artists and preserving this great art form through school and community programs.

Join us for a fun night out in Easton! Every first Friday from 5 pm to 8 pm the streets will be filled with music and excitement. Explore downtown Easton’s phenomenal collection of shops, restaurants, and art galleries on the best night of any week.

The Avalon is excited to announce the Avalon Jazz Experience - Labor Day Weekend, renowned as the “best small town music festival in America”!  What began in 2009 as a single concert by the Monty Alexander Trio with the support and leadership of a small group of local jazz enthusiasts has now grown into an annual three-day extravaganza with world-class jazz musicians performing on the Avalon stage over the Labor Day weekend.  The Avalon will host shows at 8pm Friday and Saturday and at 4pm on Sunday.   The brilliant Marcus Roberts Modern Jazz Generation will perform Saturday night. Also appearing are Dominick Farinacci and Triad as well as Jon Thomas and Firm Roots.    The EEDC will also provide live music on Friday, the 2nd between 5pm and 8pm as part of Easton Night Out.  We will also provided live music on Saturday, the 3rd, between 11am and 7pm at various locations around downtown. 

Don’t miss out on a fabulous evening of celebration, friendship, a delicious dinner, and an exciting live auction with amazing prizes including a one-week stay in Perdido Beach, a crab feast, a tour of a local wooden boat restoration workshop, a Maine vacation cottage, a Talbot County Dining Basket, and much more!    

Join Nigerian-born author Helon Habila and Matthew Davis, Director of the George Mason University Alan Cheuse International Writers Center (ACIWC), for a conversation about Habila’s latest book Travelers. Travelers focuses on a Nigerian scholar who travels to Berlin with his American wife for a fellowship that entails creating a portrait series of African migrants. In a quest to document “real migrants,” the book instead uncovers a multiplicity of narratives that make up the African diaspora.   A spotlight tour of contemporary artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby’s self-portrait in the Museum’s Fickle Mirror exhibition will follow the talk. Born in Nigeria and relocating to the United States as a teenager, Crosby creates work that addresses the complexities of culture clash and belonging through imagery referencing her dual Nigerian and American backgrounds.   Reservations are required

The Hummingbird Inn is once again hosting the Bushels & Brews in downtown Easton! A feast for all your senses, this all you can eat event has scrumptious crabs sourced by LNT Seafood in Preston, MD, and steamed at the inn. Traditional Maryland crab feast sides of steamed red potatoes and corn-on-the-cob are sure to please. You’ll need something to quench your thirst (hello Old Bay!), and Hummingbird Inn never disappoints. In addition to complimentary bottled water, there is also a cash bar serving soft drinks, beer, red & white sangria, and the summertime favorite, orange crushes. The Hummingbird Inn summer crab feast series is always held under a tent on their lovely grounds, with local musicians filling the air with the sounds of summer. This All-You-Can-Eat Crab Feast is $70 for adults & $50 for children 12 and under (Includes 1 Free Drink). September 10th will feature live Music by Jayme D!

After his grandson Conor passed away in 2017 in a tragic swimming pool accident, local businessman Rennie Gay founded the Conor’s Project event to honor his life. The proceeds from Conor’s Project benefit Critchlow Adkins Children Centers, and help to fund swim lessons and educational enrichment programming for the children in CACC’s programs. Conor’s Project skeet shoot and crab feast has become an annual Eastern Shore tradition. We are so very grateful to the Gay/Nashold family for honoring Conor by bettering the lives of other local children.

The Talbot County Chamber of Commerce presents the 36th Annual Chamber Cup Golf Tournament and new this year, the beneficiary will be the Chamber Legacy First Responder Scholarship Fund.   This fund was created in 2021 by the Talbot Chamber Board of Directors to help offset tuition and training expenses for local first responders. 

The EEDC, in Partnership with the Talbot County Library, will host a free outdoor screening of Vivo September 16th at 8pm at Thompson Park! With songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also voices the title character, this animated adventure is fun for the entire family! There will also be popcorn and popsicles for sale. Bring a chair and a friend to help kick off Hispanic Heritage month!