Bill Powell

Despite the weather, the 19th annual “Scary Halloween” event at Deltaville Maritime Museum (DMM) and Holly Point Nature Park moved all inside the spacious events pavilion and, thanks to volunteers and staff, had plenty of lights, decorations, illusions and just plain “scary stuff” for everyone. Folks showed their appreciation by coming out and more than 800 filled the pavilion.

We know that more than 70 museum volunteers, groups and organizations stepped up to make this a one-of-a-kind night.

Deltaville Maritime Museum and Holly Point Nature Park, a volunteer, all-donation, nonprofit organization, is located in Deltaville at 287 Jackson Creek Road and on Mill Creek. To get to DMM and the park, follow General Puller Highway (Route 33) east through Deltaville and turn right across from the Chris Mart Citco convenience store.

To find out everything you need to know about DMM and the park, donate, volunteer, or become a member with all its many benefits, visit our website at www.deltavillemuseum.com, or Google “Deltaville Maritime Museum.” You may also email the DMM office at office@deltavillemuseum.com, write to P.O. Box 466, Deltaville, VA 23043 or call the office at 804-776-7200.

(Bill Powell is events coordinator for Deltaville Maritime Museum.)

Yes, Halloween is on what we will for this year name “Terrible Tuesday,”  and, ready or not, the goblins, ghouls, ghosties, and maybe a witch, warlock, and  zombie or two are beginning to stir, moan and generally raise a ruckus in the “Wailin’ Woods” and for the hayrides in the “Field of Screams” out at Deltaville Maritime Museum’s (DMM) Maritime Park.

All the volunteers at DMM’s Annual “Scary Halloween in the Park” are turning up the “scariness” factor as our always unpredictable Halloween takes place Tuesday, Oct. 31, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Maritime Park, located at 287 Jackson Creek Road. Please note new times!

There’ll be plenty of candy and levels of scariness for costumed folks (and real spooks) of all ages. Parking in our convenient lots and admission to this event are always free to the public.

Volunteers are still needed — call Kristen or Joy at the DMM office between 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday or noon-4 p.m. Sunday. DMM is closed Wednesday.

Julius Ray Pittman and the Revival, arguably one of the best horn bands and perhaps the best soul band in Virginia, takes the stage at Deltaville Maritime Museum (DMM) and Holly Point Nature Park’s Taste of Middlesex Festival Saturday, Oct. 21. Ray and the Revival will play 1-4 p.m. Deltaville’s own Ollie and Sandy Adcock open the day of live music in the DMM events  pavilion from 10-11 a.m. From 11 a.m.-1 p.m. we welcome back Susan Greenbaum Band to our stage. The Revival kicks in the horns at 1 p.m.

This 10 a.m.-4 p.m. concert is free. Parking per vehicle is a $5 donation.

There will be plenty of local foods from area chefs and festival food available in the events pavilion kitchen  and there is a beer and wine cash bar in the concert area and a bloody Mary and mimosa bar in the pavilion’s north wing, although it may move out to the south wing.

For information, visit www.deltavillemuseum.com or call 804-776-7200.

The Deltaville Maritime Museum (DMM) and Holly Point Nature Park is capping off its Holly Point Market season this Saturday, Sept. 23. There’s the wonderful Holly Point Market vendor mix, but the day is more than just produce as art, crafts, peanuts, photographs, live music, model trains, hot food, and a wealth of unusual items fill the market.

Captain Pete Cordozo and the free Jackson Creek Discovery Cruises will begin at 10 a.m. on the Pierwalk on Mill Creek. The National Landmark F.D. Crockett will open for tours on the Pierwalk at 10 a.m as well.

Live music will be featured in the waterfront park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. as our own songbirds Sandy and OT Adcock make their own music and offer an open mic to local musicians. Bring your instrument and join us!

Breakfast sandwiches will be served at the One Cracked Yolk food trailer next to the tea house beginning at 8:30 a.m. with hot dogs grilling at 10 a.m.

The Tom Euler Trio takes the stage on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 5:30-8 p.m. at the last Groovin’ in the Park of 2023.

Tickets for this special Groovin’ are $15 advance and $20 at the door. Children younger than 12 are admitted for free. Get yours at the DMM office, on the DMM website or at Nauti Nell’s store in Deltaville.

The Tom Euler Trio takes Deltaville Maritime Museum’s (DMM) waterfront stage 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23 in the last Groovin’ in the Park concert of 2023. 

Tom has picked up his acoustic guitar, written some new songs, and will be opening for himself and his trio playing “unplugged.” For information, visit www.tomeuler.com.

The Holly Point Market will be offered that morning from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. with donation-only DMM admission. Check out the new gift shop items.

The gate opens at 4:30 p.m. for those wanting to come early, stake out their favorite spot, and picnic.

Advance $15 tickets are available at Nauti Nell’s store and the DMM office.

It’s “baaack”! After a two-year hiatus, due to you know what, the popular annual Oyster Roast and Dance is coming up Saturday, Sept. 9, at the Deltaville Maritime Museum (DMM)-Holly Point Nature Park Events Pavilion. World Champion Deborah Pratt will be shuckin’ oysters alongside her son, Davila Redmond. You can’t eat ’em as fast as they can shuck ’em.

It will be oysters, oysters and more oysters, served on the half shell, steamed, and, served as the delectable and popular “Oysters Rockefeller” prepared by Chef Jane as the “special” on the buffet for the 14th annual Oyster Roast and Dance at DMM this Saturday, Sept. 9, from 5-9 p.m.

The Oyster Roast begins with saxophonist Peyton Brabrand from 5-6 p.m., the buffet opens from 6-7 p.m.-ish and the dance begins at 7 p.m. with The Taters. There will be a wine/beer cash bar.

Tickets for the Oyster Roast and Dance are now $60. The annual Maritime Park Members Meeting precedes the oyster roast from 4-5 p.m. As always, the annual DMM Members Meeting is open to the public.

New this year, a raffle ticket toward a drawing for $100 will be offered at the Taters concert intermission.

One raffle ticket will be given for each dinner ticket at the gate. You must be present to win.

The summer season’s last Holly Point Market is set for 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at the Deltaville Maritime Museum (DMM) and Holly Point Nature Park located at 287 Jackson Creek Road.

There will also be a Holly Point Market and Groovin’ in the Park concert on Sept. 23. Our very own award-winning blues guitarist, Hartfield’s Tom Euler, along with his Tom Euler Trio, will be playing 6-8 p.m. Sept. 23 with Tom opening for himself on acoustic guitar.

Holly Point Market’s vendors, anchored by Pleasant Farms Produce, line the market lanes. There will be lots of unique items from soap to nuts, plus various surprises.

The Aug. 26 Groovin’ in the Park 6 p.m. concert headliner is the Stuck On A Name reggae band, preceded at 5 p.m. by the Deau Eyes band.

They’re coming! Stuck On A Name will be on the waterfront stage to solve all our reggae/musical problems Saturday, Aug. 26, at the Deltaville Maritime Museum (DMM) and Holly Point Nature Park’s Groovin’ in the Park concert series. They’ll be playing 6-8 p.m. under the pines and oaks of the DMM’s waterfront park overlooking Mill Creek. There won’t be palm trees, but it won’t make any difference as Stuck On A Name lays down that island back beat!

No worries. Be happy!

Groovin’ welcomes new opener Deau Eyes with singer/songwriter Ali Thibodeaux starting off the concert at 5 p.m. with a breath of fresh indie-pop air. Gates for the concert open at 4 p.m.

Deau Eyes is Ali Thibodeau, born and raised in Richmond. She is a singer-songwriter, recording artist, and arts educator with a slew of experience in more than 45 colorful occupations to supplement her work. Lifelong dreams of a career in performance brought her to live in New York, Florida, Idaho, and all over Virginia, to work in theaters, theme parks, studios, classrooms, festivals, and cruise ships. For most of her life, Thibodeau has been part of an ensemble — dancing, speaking, and singing from a script. It has only been in recent years that she has listened to herself, to her original inner voice, and began to translate her wide range of experiences into her own music. Her debut album Let it Leave, released in May 2020, delivers a message of power and resilience through loss, leaving, and womanhood.

Ali will be bringing saxophonist and keyboard player Charles Owens for her rhythm line. Charles is a master tenor sax player, composer, educator, bandleader and recording artist.

Ali Thibodeau and Charles Owens as Deau Eyes open Groovin’ in the Park at 5 p.m. and Stuck On a Name takes command of the waterfront stage at 6 p.m.

Tickets may only be purchased online or the DMM office. Nauti Nell’s store also has tickets. Check the website. Unless there is a sellout you will be able to get tickets. You may still purchase online using your Smartphone and showing your receipt at the gate.

I’m not sure how many of you are really aware of all the ways the volunteers and staff at the Deltaville Maritime Museum (DMM) are getting out the word of Middlesex County and its heritage but, just this coming month, DMM’s “floating ambassadors” — the Explorer and our partners on the sloop Luna will be seriously on the move!

Both vessels will be in Urbanna all day Saturday, Aug. 5, for the Urbanna Founders Day celebration.

Luna, a working replica of an early 18th century coastal trading sloop, was built in Deltaville by the Colonial Seaport Foundation (CSF) and has been established to provide pierside education, classroom lectures and possibly underway field trips. Just christened in 2022, Luna has had her sea trials, new sails and a couple of appearances under her belt and is ready to go.

The Explorer is the Deltaville Maritime Museum’s own replica (built for the 2007 Jamestown quadricentennial) of John Smith’s 1608 exploration  shallop. She  has just finished  a major “facelift” by boat shop volunteers Dr. Jim Robusto and Jim Luton, and is headed out next weekend to show off her new good looks in Urbanna.

The Explorer will be on display, Saturday, Aug. 5, on the green space to the north side of Mason Realty at the corner of Cross and Virginia streets. She will be accompanied by Jamestown re-enactor “Anas Todkill,” who was a listed (from John Smith’s journal) crew member on the 1608, 180-day voyage of exploration and mapping by Smith. “Anas,” from his colonial campsite next to Explorer, will regale all with stories about this great adventure exploring what is now the Chesapeake Bay.