Free concert to share ‘Wingate Stories’ at Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

From 5:30–7:30pm on Thursday, May 17, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md., will host “A Boy in the Boatyard: Wingate Stories with Pres Harding.” In this free, public concert, Harding, grandson of renowned boatbuilder Bronza Parks, will perform both original music and some regional classics inspired by his experiences growing up in the maritime community of Wingate in the mid-20th century.

Wingate, once a center for boatbuilding and watermen’s culture in Dorchester County, has dwindled in the latter part of the 20th century. Harding’s personal stories and family photographs documenting the life and work of the community will be presented during the event and later archived in CBMM’s permanent collections. He will be accompanied on some songs by vocalist Jodie Littleton of Chestertown.

An accomplished guitarist, Harding plays regularly at The Mainstay in Rock Hall, Md., and The Avalon Theatre in Easton, Md. His grandfather, Bronza Parks, built Martha, Rosie Parks, and Dorothy Lee, some of the most significant boats in CBMM’s floating fleet of historic Chesapeake Bay vessels.

Held in CBMM’s Van Lennep Auditorium, this concert is generously supported by the Talbot County Arts Council. To learn more, visit cbmm.org.

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~ Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum