Chesapeake Highlights

Home Sweet Home

On June 10, the Eastport Civic Association is sponsoring the Eastport Home and Garden Tour, focusing on homes and gardens in the area of Sarles Boatyard & Marina on Spa Creek. The beautiful homes and gardens were chosen to reflect the unique mix of architectural styles found in Eastport and the maritime culture of this special neighborhood. (410) 267-8218, (410) 268-2680, or www.eastportcivic.org.

Sandals, Sun & Fun—All for a Good Cause

On June 16 get ready to travel to the tropics— Chesapeake Bay style. Bands in the Sand is a fundraising event for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation at the Philip Merrill Environmental Center in Annapolis . With cool drinks, hot reggae, Bay views, tasty grilled food, and live and silent auctions of wonderful Chesapeake Bay artwork it's a win-win event for everybody. (410) 268-8816 or www.cbf.org/bandsinthesand.

The Party of the Year!

What does it feel like to mix and mingle with Annapolis 's Best ? Find out—or enjoy it once again—at the annual Best of Annapolis Party this June 14 at Loews Hotel in Annapolis . The party salutes the 2007 Best of Annapolis winners and features their dazzling food and drink stations. Entertainment, a silent auction, and prizes round out this unique event. (410) 267-9390 or www.whatsupmag.com.

Strawberry Celebration

One of summer's fave fruits, the strawberry, is the guest of honor at the 17 th Annual Strawberry Festival on June 9 at the Benson-Hammond House in Linthicum. The festival will feature entertainment, crafts, kids' activities, strawberries for sale, and much more! (410) 766-1758 or www.aachs.org.

Bring Your Mitt

You can catch fourteen Baltimore Orioles home games this June at Camden Yards, and maybe even a home run! The O's face Colorado , Washington , and Arizona in inter-league play before taking on the New York Yankees in a divisional series near the end of the month. (888) 848-BIRD or www.orioles.com.

Window to World Culture

The 41 st Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival takes over the National Mall in D.C. June 27 through July 1 and again July 4–8. The diverse world cultures that are explored through demos, crafts, activities, and more include those of the Mekong River in South Asia; Northern Ireland; and, closer to home, the roots of Virginia. (202) 633-6440 or www.folklife.si.edu.

Fenders Beware!

The Nation-Wide Demolition Derby returns to the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds in Crownsville on June 2. It's fender-bender mayhem as local drivers smash their cars into one another—last car standing wins the Grand Championship. (410) 923-3400 or www.aacountyfair.org.