LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The Potomac Jazz & Seafood Festival’s main event, set for July 12, 2025, from noon to 7 p.m. at St. Clement’s Island Museum in Coltons Point, will mark the highlight of its 25th anniversary celebration. Expected to draw nearly 1,000 jazz enthusiasts to St. Mary’s County, the festival will feature national jazz artists, local seafood, and scenic Potomac River views, reinforcing its status as a premier Mid-Atlantic event.
The day will showcase live performances by Casual Groove, Rebecca Jade, Andréa Lisa, and Chelsey Green, entertaining attendees on the museum’s waterfront lawn. General admission tickets are priced at $75, while VIP tickets, at $95, offer enhanced amenities. The event, part of a four-day “silver celebration” from July 10 to 13, will include seafood vendors offering crab cakes, oysters, shrimp, and rockfish, alongside other Southern Maryland fare. Additional vendors will provide artisan goods, and free water taxi rides to St. Clement’s Island, the site of Maryland’s first English settlement in 1634, will be available, with complimentary museum admission included.
“This isn’t just a festival; it’s a silver jubilee celebration of music, community, and the stunning beauty of the Potomac River,” said a representative from the St. Mary’s County Museum Division. The festival, which began in 1999, expanded to a three-day event in 2019 for its 20th anniversary, earning the Maryland Office of Tourism’s “Maximizing Opportunities Award” that year, the only event in the state to receive this honor. Proceeds will support the Friends of St. Clement’s Island & Piney Point Museums, aiding preservation efforts for historic sites under the St. Mary’s County Museum Division.
Casual Groove, a St. Mary’s County-based band formed in the early 1990s, will open the main event with a mix of jazz, neo-soul, R&B, and classic hits. The ensemble, featuring Roy Johnson on keyboards and Lakeshia Whipple on vocals, will perform covers ranging from Hall & Oates to Erykah Badu. Rebecca Jade, a seasoned singer-songwriter, will follow with her soulful jazz stylings, drawing on nearly two decades of professional experience. Andréa Lisa will deliver dynamic performances to keep the crowd engaged, while Chelsey Green, an associate professor at Berklee College of Music, will close the day with her genre-fusing Green Project, blending jazz, R&B, and funk with classical violin and viola techniques.
Attendees can explore vendor booths and savor local cuisine. The festival’s setting at St. Clement’s Island Museum, located at 38370 Point Breeze Road, will offer a picturesque backdrop, with gentle breezes off the Potomac enhancing the relaxed atmosphere. Event rules prohibit smoking, vaping, and large view-obstructing items like tents, though chairs and blankets are permitted. Food and beverages, including beer and wine for those 21 and older, will be available for purchase, with no outside food allowed.
The main event will follow the festival’s opening days, including a “Jazz at Sunset Affair” on July 10 at Piney Point Lighthouse and a free “Jazz in the Neighborhood” concert on July 11 featuring the U.S. Navy Band, The Commodores. Partnerships with the St. Mary’s County Museum Division, St. Mary’s County Arts Council, and Visit St. Mary’s MD ensure a robust schedule. Tickets and details for all events are available online.
Since its inception, the festival has highlighted St. Mary’s County’s culinary and cultural heritage, drawing visitors to its waterfront venues. The 2025 event, organized by the Friends of St. Clement’s Island & Piney Point Museums, will continue this tradition while supporting local history preservation. The main event is expected to draw significant crowds, building on the festival’s reputation as a regional cornerstone.
The festival will conclude on July 13 with a jazz brunch at Wicomico Shores Golf Course and exclusive jazz cruises on the Potomac, featuring live music by Sax Appeal. The 25th anniversary celebration will reinforce the event’s legacy of combining world-class jazz with Southern Maryland’s natural beauty and culinary specialties.
