Tickets are on sale now for A River Affair. Click here to get your ticket!

Celebrate the St. Mary's River at A River Affair!

A River Affair is the St. Mary's River Watershed Association's largest fundraiser of the year. By purchasing tickets, hosting, or donating auction items, you are supporting our work to protect, improve, and promote the sustainability of the St. Mary's River.

Please join us at the Ruddy Duck Seafood and Alehouse (16800 Piney Point Rd, Piney Point, MD 20674) on April 6, 2025, from 12 pm to 3 pm. The event will feature heavy hors d'oeuvres including oysters Rockefeller, poached salmon, and shrimp flatbread, bottomless brews and wine, and a live and silent auction. We will also honor our incredible River Champions: Diana Mendes and the late Mark Bassett and Russell Miller. All proceeds will benefit the St. Mary's River.

If you are interested in hosting A River Affair ($1,000 and four tickets), please contact Emma at emmasmrwa@gmail.com.

Purchase Tickets

Tickets are $100 ($35 is tax-deductible). Tickets can be purchased online (see below) or by sending a check to PO Box 94, St. Mary's City, MD 20686. Checks should be made out to "SMRWA" or the "St. Mary's River Watershed Association."

Our 2025 River Champions

The St. Mary's River Watershed Association is proud to announce our 2025 River Champions: Diana Mendes and the late Mark Bassett and Russell Miller! These three incredible honorees were instrumental in our 2024 operations, and we look forward to honoring them at A River Affair.

Russell Miller

When we were looking for a new field site for our oyster restoration operations last year, Russell Miller, a general contractor and property manager in St. Mary's County, stepped up. He generously offered one of his properties in St. Inigoes at a greatly reduced fee becuase as someone who enjoys fishing and sailing onthe river, he knew how improtant our work is. His generosity didn’t stop there—he has consistently donated equipment, time, and support to help advance our work. This field site has given us greater visibility with its prime location right off Point Lookout Rd.

Diana Mendes & Mark Bassett

Diana Mendes and her late husband, Mark Bassett, have graciously supported SMRWA since they moved to their “forever home” along the river in 2017. As long-term donors, they’ve played a vital role in sustaining our programs and initiatives. Their commitment to our work extended into their toughest times, when Mark asked his family and friends to donate to SMRWA to honor his life and legacy. The Mark Bassett Tribute Fund has raised almost $10,000.

Our Hosts for the Afternoon:

Jeff Clark
Mary Barber & Curtis Von Kann
John Giusti & Sherry Stanley
Gail & John Harmon
Barry & Kate Muchnick
Christine O'Brien & Paul Paulson
Larry & Julie O'Brien
Bob & Susan Paul

Featured Auction Items:

Hand carved and painted striped bass sculpture. The fish is made from red maple and black walnut, and the base is made from rock maple. The sculpture is painted with acrylic paints and is 30" long and 15" high.

This special baby quilt is hand sewn and hand quilted with love from 100% cotton fabric with a cotton flannel batting interior. 38” x 48” overall.

Handmade mosaic side table constructed from plywood blocks, red cedar, and maple plywood. The table is 25" long x 17.5" wide x 22.5" high.

Family portrait session, overnight stay in New York or Miami, and 20" canvas wall portrait

Japanese porcelain vase with painted iris motif. Made by the Fukagawa Porcelain Company, in business since the 1890s. This piece dates from the late 1970s and stands 9.5” tall.

The St. Mary's County History package includes many books including these three!

Enjoy a week-long stay in this oceanfront condo is St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. This condo is 2 beds and 2 bath, sleeping 4 comfortably and is located right on the beach in Christiansted.

This 11-book Harley-Davidson collection features several books that are now out of print. Perfect for any motorcycle and history lover.