MEDIA RELEASE

December 10, 2024

Contact:  Gwen Asbury

Gwen@CarrollCountyArtsCouncil.org

410-848-7272

Carroll County Arts Council concludes the 27th Annual Festival of Wreaths

The Carroll County Arts Council kicked off the holiday season on Black Friday with their 27th Annual Festival of Wreaths, which ended on Sunday, December 3. This year’s festival featured 116 unique theme wreaths created by individuals, businesses, and clubs that were offered to the public in a 10-day silent auction that raised $14,030 for the Arts Council. These funds help support the CCAC’s mission of culturally enriching Carroll County all year long. Over 2,500 visitors came to the festival to marvel at and bid on these handmade wreaths and holiday decor. For the first time this year, money raised on Bidding Tuesday (a spin on Giving Tuesday), went towards the Marquee Maintenance Project; $1,940 was raised for this project!

Visitors voted for their favorite entries to determine this year’s Audience Choice award winners.

The ten winners are as follows in alphabetical order by title:

Entry #48 Don't Tell Grandma!, Donated by Ray Arnold
Entry #20 Every Page is a New Adventure, Donated by Stefanie Basalik, Adventure Park USA, International Spy Museum, and Tree Trekkers
Entry #53 Forest for the Trees, Donated by Rickey Thomas
Entry #88 Ghosts of Christmas Past, Donated by Pipe the Side Brewing Company
Entry #31 "It's a Wonderful Life"...at the Beach!, Donated by Gayle Molander and Sara Simantel with framing by Ain't That a Frame
Entry #45 Jake and Elwood Blues, Donated by Saint Nick Vincent of Nathan's Forge, Ltd
Entry #62 Let's Go O's, Donated by Sue & Mike DiPietro
Entry #59 Pretty Pink Christmas, Donated by Coral O'hara (10 years old)
Entry #99 Shelter from the Storm, Donated by Rachel Miller
Entry #12 There's Some Good in this World, Donated by Amber Harte Maurer-Farran 

The Sponsor's Choice winner: Entry #114 The Perpetual Wreath, made by Frank Baylor and donated by the Probst Family

A big thank you to the festival sponsors Karen and Richard Soisson, Visiting Angels, and Apple Plumbing, Heating, & Air

To see photos of all the winners and more wonderful wreaths, visit FestivalofWreaths.com to view the online album.

PHOTO CREDIT:

“Shelter from the Storm,” Donated by Rachel Miller 

“Forest for the Trees,” Donated by Rickey Thomas 

“Every Page is a New Adventure,” Donated by Stefanie Basalik, Adventure Park USA, International Spy Museum, and Tree Trekkers.