CRISFIELD — Kids activities, entertainment, food, awards, and demonstrations — all showcasing the Chesapeake Bay culture of Crisfield — will be part of the first annual Crisfield Heritage Festival, Saturday, Oct. 15, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The free festival will take place along the north side of the J.M. Tawes Museum and Somers Cove Marina.

Also during the festival, the Crisfield Heritage Foundation will announce the recipients of the first annual Legacy Award and third annual Heritage Awards. The public is invited to submit the names of individuals and organizations who have demonstrated a lasting impact on — or made significant contributions to — the Crisfield community.

The 2022 award nomination categories are:

The Heritage Organization Award: Recognizing a business or organization for its significant and long-lasting contribution to the Crisfield community.

The Heritage Individual/Group Award: Recognizing those who continue — or preserve — a traditional craft or livelihood important to the Crisfield area (e.g., waterman, farmer, boatbuilder, etc.)

The Legacy Award: Honoring the remarkable families who over the generations have impacted Crisfield’s character, culture, or economy.

Past award recipients include Norris “Scorchy” Tawes (1921-2007); Handy Seafood; Vernel Cottman and Cottman’s Barbershop; Robert Lee Tawes and Tawes Brothers Buick GMC.

Award nomination forms can be found on the Crisfield Heritage Foundation website (crisfieldheritagefoundation.org) or picked up at the Tawes Museum (Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). Nominations should be submitted by Aug. 31. They are also in the July 20 edition of the Crisfield-Somerset County Times.

Tracing its history to the founding of the J.M. Tawes Museum in 1977, the Crisfield Heritage Foundation preserves and promotes the unique culture of the town once heralded as the “Seafood Capital of the World.”   The museum is located at 3 Ninth Street, call 410-968-2501 for more information.