Chesapeake Catfish Cook-Off
Saturday, May 16, 2026
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Join us at the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park for the Chesapeake Catfish Cook-Off, a waterfront celebration of great food, live music, and Chesapeake Bay stewardship.
Saturday, May 16, 2026
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Park Campus
7300 Edgewood Road
Annapolis, Maryland 21403
Your ticket includes tastings from a lineup of regional chefs, each creating a unique dish featuring Chesapeake blue catfish. Guests will also enjoy raw oysters and a variety of Southern-inspired sides, along with live cooking demonstrations, educational talks, and complimentary boat rides throughout the afternoon.
Spend the day on the water with live music, great food, and time to relax with friends. Lawn chairs are encouraged. Strollers are welcome. While we love our furry friends, please no dogs at this event.
Food and Drink
Chef tastings, oysters, and select sides are included with your ticket. Additional food vendors, beer, wine, and cocktails will be available for purchase.
Outside food and beverages are not permitted, with the exception of water.
Parking and Transportation
Parking at the Park Campus is limited. Off-site parking will be available with a shuttle running regularly to and from the event. Rideshare is encouraged for ease of access.
Ride smart and be rewarded. Guests who arrive by rideshare or bicycle will receive one complimentary drink ticket.
Weather
The event will take place rain or shine.
Why It Matters
The Chesapeake Catfish Cook-Off highlights the impact of invasive blue catfish on the Bay and turns it into a community-driven solution. Proceeds support AMM’s environmental education programs, helping connect thousands of students to the Chesapeake Bay each year.
Related Articles
Catfish Appetizer
Invasive catfish threaten the Chesapeake Bay, and one way to tackle the problem head-on is by cooking up a tasty Catfish appetizer. Chef Matt Lego from Leo Annapolis provides this recipe. The Annapolis Maritime Museum has an inaugural foodie event on May 3, where you can taste dishes like this and others from Leo Annapolis and 10 other local restaurants.
In a first-of-its-kind event, some of the Chesapeake Bay’s most celebrated chefs will compete for the title of best blue catfish dish. Yes, the Bay’s oversized, unwelcome interloper will be the key ingredient at the inaugural Chesapeake Catfish Cookoff. It’s being held at the Annapolis Maritime Museum’s scenic pavilion on Back Creek on May 3, from 12-4 p.m.
Chef Jeremiah Langhorne On Being A Champion Of The Chesapeake
Today, the health of the bay is better, and yet not without its challenges. “Another issue that has occurred and has been difficult to overcome, outside the shellfish realm, is blue catfish,” Langhorne said. “It’s an invasive species that was introduced from Asia and originally introduced for sport fishing. But guess what? On the plus side, blue catfish are delicious.”
