Every year on the first Saturday in November, the Maritime Republic of Eastport Navy, under the direction of MRE’s Premier Brett Cureton, blockades Annapolis Harbor as an act of war. Tug of war, that is. This 2013 edition of the “Slaughter Across the Water,” slated for Saturday, November 2, will be the 16th year of this annual event. Starting at the crack of noon, nearly 500 tuggers will pull in as many as nine heats, with 33 competitors on each end of the 1,700-foot-long rope, while thousands cheer on either side.
The tug of war tradition goes way back to last century (1998), when the citizens of Eastport revolted against the City of Annapolis, which had annexed the little village on the Horn Point peninsula across the harbor nearly 50 years before. The drawbridge connecting Eastport with Annapolis was due to be shut down for repairs, and community leaders used that excuse to band together and declare their independence from the City.
The publicity generated by the revolt helped local small businesses sustain themselves through the bridge closure and forged a unique cultural identity that thrives today. Homes and businesses are still festooned with yellow-and-black flags with the MRE coat of arms and the legend, “We like it this way.”
What began as a tongue-in-cheek rebellion evolved into a dynamic community-based non-profit institution that stages fun, creative events like the tug-of-war and the “.05 K Bridge Run” that celebrate the neighborhood’s quirky spirit. While some say the citizens of Eastport are still revolting, over the years, the MRE has raised more than $275,000 for other non-profit groups and charities doing good things for the community.
The logistics of producing a huge event like the tug can be daunting, and in some years, the biggest challenge has been finding teams to pull on the City Dock end of the rope. Last year, the MainStreets Annapolis Partnership (MAP) stepped up and the Annapolis side won most of the tugs. MAP is a nonprofit organization made up of local business owners, property owners, the City of Annapolis, lenders, real estate professionals, residents, and local business and community associations. The partners work together to enhance the traditional business communities downtown, along Inner West Street and in West Annapolis, as well as Eastport.
This year, watch in style as the Annapolis side defends the trophy against the Maritime Republic of Eastport. The MainStreets Annapolis Partnership presents “A Taste of the Tug” on Saturday, November 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Susan C. Campbell Park. Admission is free to watch the fun from the park as up to nine teams of 33 mighty tuggers pull on the Annapolis end of the 1,700-foot long rope spanning the harbor to the Eastport side while the Annapolis Drum and Bugle Corps provides the spirit.
Speaking of spirits, Red Red Wine Bar will be serving Bloody Marys, Mimosas, “Walk the Plank” Rum Punch, craft beers and wine. Soggy Dollar Bar will serve Painkillers, and local restaurants will provide delicious, brunch-style edibles.
You can join sponsors and other VIPs on the upper deck of the Harbor Queen. The boat will be tied to the end of City Dock, providing an eagle-eye view of the action on both sides of the harbor. This VIP lounge, hosted by the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce, will feature a cash bar. A donation of $20 will benefit non-profit organizations doing good work in the Annapolis and Eastport community. For tickets, visit http://www.mainstreetsannapolis.org/events/tug-of-war-xvi/
Don’t miss the 16th Annual Marine Republic of Eastport Tug of War this Saturday, as the Annapolis attempts to defend the trophy it took home last year. The tug starts at “the crack of noon” and both Eastport and Annapolis will host festivities including live music, food, and adult and kid-friendly beverages before, during and after the tugs. For more information, see www.themre.org.
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