Labor Day at Sugar Water: Make a Weekend of It on the Eastern Shore

Labor Day weekend is your last official excuse to squeeze a little more summer out of the season, and there’s no better way to do it than with a weekend on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

At Sugar Water, we’ll be open on Labor Day from 11 AM–7 PM, serving our regular breakfast and lunch menus. So whether you’re spending the weekend exploring, heading to one of the Shore’s favorite Labor Day traditions, or simply looking for a good meal, stop in and make Sugar Water part of your weekend. And if you’re looking for something to do while you’re here, two Eastern Shore traditions are happening just down the road.

⛵ Deal Island Skipjack Races

Every Labor Day weekend, Deal Island comes alive for the Deal Island Skipjack Races, celebrating the Chesapeake Bay’s maritime heritage and the iconic boats that have called these waters home.

Skipjacks were traditionally used by Chesapeake watermen to dredge for oysters, and today these historic sailing vessels gather for a day of racing on the Bay. It’s a chance to see these beautiful boats under sail while experiencing a tradition that is deeply connected to the history and culture of the Eastern Shore.

It’s also a quintessential Shore day: boats, water, food, community, and plenty of fresh air.

🦀 National Hard Crab Derby

Of course, no Labor Day weekend on the lower Eastern Shore would be complete without a trip to Crisfield for the National Hard Crab Derby.

The Derby is one of the Shore’s most recognizable Labor Day traditions, bringing together locals and visitors for a weekend filled with food, entertainment, vendors, contests, and, naturally, crab racing.

It’s part festival, part community celebration, and completely Eastern Shore.

Whether you’ve been going for years or have never experienced a crab race in your life, the Derby is one of those wonderfully unique local traditions that makes this part of Maryland special.

Come for the Weekend. Stay for the Shore.

Planning to visit for the Skipjack Races or the Hard Crab Derby? Make a weekend of it.

Spend the day exploring, stop by Sugar Water for a meal, and stay overnight at the historic Washington Hotel. Then wake up, enjoy breakfast, and take your time exploring everything Somerset County and the surrounding Shore have to offer.

Because summer may be winding down, but there’s still plenty of Shore left to enjoy.

Join us at Sugar Water this Labor Day, and make the most of your last summer weekend. 🌊🦀⛵