For many Memorial Day weekend is associated with Chestertown and the Tea Party Festival that celebrates the town’s colonial past.

In 1774 the town issued “The Chestertown Resolves” which was their answer to the British after learning of the Boston Tea Act, that was in retaliation for Bostonians dumping tea into the harbor.

The fourth Resolve states “that whoever shall import, or in any way aid or assist in importing, or introducing from any part of Great Britain, or any other place whatsoever, into this town or country, any tea subject to the payment of a duty imposed by the aforesaid act of Parliament. Or, whoever shall wilfully and knowingly sell, buy or consume, or in any way assist in the sale, purchase, or consumption of any tea imported as aforesaid subject to a duty, he, or they, shall be stigmatized as enemies to the liberties of America.”

Local lore is that on May 23rd, 1774, there was a gathering at the town center and they marched down High Street to the brigantine Geddes, and tossed her cargo of tea into the Chester River.

Vendors will be set up all along High Street from Fountain Park to the Chester River when the opens at 9am. If you want to get a good view of the Colonial Parade that begins at 10am, you’ll want to get there early.

The Tea Party re-enactment, the highlight of the day, is at 2 p.m. after the reading of the “Chestertown Resolves”. They will march down High Street, have a stand off with the Red Coats before rowing out to Chestertown’s 18th century replica tall ship, Sultana (standing in for the original Geddes) and throw its cargo of tea overboard.

I have been photographing the festival for many years and will be back with camera in hand. Here’s a few photos from past festivals.