Princess Anne Preparing for Midnight Muskrat Dive

Photo Courtesy of Adam Riggin.

(PRINCESS ANNE, Md) – New Year’s Eve is fast approaching, and one community is excited for a long-standing tradition surrounding a certain rodent.

For Dana Zucker, who runs Sugar Water Restaurant and the Washington Hotel, it’s going to be a packed house Wednesday as people are coming to Somerset County for New Year’s Eve and celebrate the Muskrat Dive.

Zucker tells WMDT, “We’re very excited. We have exceeded last year’s numbers, and we have already hit our goal for this year for reservations. So we’re just excited to have people here.”

Somerset County Recreation Parks and Tourism walked us through the logistics for this year’s Muskrat Dive, as the eponymous Muskrat dives in to 2026.

“The muskrat will be ringing in the new year around 12:00. It’s going to be a good time. Businesses and shops are open late, so come on out and enjoy a really quirky New Year’s Eve event in Somerset County,” says Adam Riggin with Somerset County Recreation, Parks, and Tourism.

One such business that’s going to have their doors open for the festivities will be Sister’s With a Twist.

And owner AJ Roth is hoping those who brave the cold Wednesday will stop in.

“So tomorrow we welcome everyone to come in and check us out. If you haven’t been here or if you’ve been here before, and we’ll have, offerings here as well. You can ring in the new year. One of our traditions is with, black eyed peas. So we’ll have them on the menu,” says AJ.

And they’re certainly hoping for a large turnout in Princess Anne for what they call “The Quirkiest New Year’s Celebration on the Eastern Shore.”

“It is quirky, and it does bring people from around the country here. We do have people who stay here, actually, who come specifically for the experience of the muskrat trap,” says Dana.

While AJ tells us, “You know, there’s not many places that have a muskrat diving down into the new year. And, Somerset County, you know, muskrat is a big thing around.”

If you’re looking to come down to Somerset County for the Muskrat Dive, you’ll want to get here early.

Police have been letting people know they’re shutting down the street at six o’clock Wednesday evening.

Festivities will be kicking off at 9 P.M. Wednesday night.