Opening convocation and signing the President's Book: The freshman class is welcomed to St. Mary's in a convocation ceremony held in the reconstructed State House of 1634 on Historic St. Mary's City's grounds. At the end of the ceremony, each student signs his or her name in the President's book.

Christmas in April auction: This annual fund-raiser for Christmas in April building day includes hilarious auction items like singing telegrams from the SMC Men's a capella group and a dinner for students cooked by the Admissions staff.

Homecoming/Family Weekend: Alums come back to campus for the Great Cardboard Boat Race every fall. They compete against current students, faculty, and staff to build the most sea-worthy cardboard boat using nothing but cardboard, duct tape, wood, and plastic!

Pondings: Be ready for a dip in St. John's Pond on your birthday. It's a campus tradition to be tossed in on your special day!

World Carnival: Celebrate the diverse cultures, food, and music of the world at this spring festival run entirely by students.

The Black Student Union (BSU) Fashion Show: The best-dressed list begins here for a night of fun and fashion provided by the BSU.

Senior Gala: The capstone event of Senior Week is the gala. It may be the only time you actually get dressed up as a student at St. Mary's. Dinner, drinks, and dancing, usually held outdoors at neighboring Brome-Howard Inn.

Oyster Festival: The oyster-shucking contest at this annual festival is the last stop before the international championships of oyster shucking!

St. Mary's County Fair: A true hometown county fair, complete with 4-H events, prize-winning animals, food, arts and crafts, and a carnival too.

Point Lookout Ghost Tour: Twelve miles south of the College, Point Lookout State Park includes the remains of a Civil War prison for Confederate soldiers, many of whom died of malaria waiting for the War to end. A tour of their ghostly remains is held on Halloween.

Concerts at Calvert Marine Museum: Big names perform at this outdoor venue, right across the bridge in Calvert County: Bob Dylan, The Allman Brothers, Travis Tritt, Martina McBride, Eddie from Ohio.

River Concert Series: Free outdoor summer concerts on the Townhouse Green, overlooking the St. Mary's River. Bring a blanket and enjoy the music of the Chesapeake Orchestra. Vendors sell food and drinks at this terrific summer tradition, now in its eighth year.

Governor's Cup Yacht Race: Now in its 35^th year, this grueling yacht race is not for the faint-of-heart. This all-night race on the Chesapeake Bay begins at sunset in Maryland's current capital (Annapolis) and ends at its historic first capital (St. Mary's City). An all-day shore-side party at the College makes this event a summer favorite.

Student-Only Events

Many campus events are open to the general public but not all. Some events are just for students. Here's an example of some of the acts that came to campus last spring that were just for students:

• College Comedy Series:
  • Michael Dean Ester
  • Kaitlin Colombo
  • Daniel Kinno
  • Andrew Kennedy
  • Pete Lee
  • Eddie Ifft
• Bread and Puppet theater troupe
• Hypnotist Dan LaRosa
• and many more...

Looking for more?

Check out our SGA Programs Board Calender or our News & Events  sections for all the fun, stories, and activities.