Carroll Arts Center Gears up for 15th Annual Festival of Wreaths

This year's Annual Festival of Wreaths is set to begin earlier than usual to coincide with Westminster's holiday parade, tree lighting and Small Business Saturday. This year's Festival of Wreaths will begin Nov. 24 and run through Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Carroll Arts Center.

The Festival traditionally features more than 220 uniquely decorated theme wreaths that range from wacky to whimsical and from elegant to eclectic.  There is an amazing level of creativity, engineering and generosity exemplified in the diverse entries.  Proceeds from the week-long silent auction benefit the Carroll County Arts Council.

Previous Wreath Festivals have generated an average of $25,000 per year in support of the Arts Council’s wide variety of public programming.

The event is free to the public and will be open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Arts Council Executive Director Sandy Oxx said that each year they try to add some new "twists" to keep the event fun and fresh. This year, the following events will coincide with the Festival of Wreaths at the Carroll Arts Center:

• On Opening Day, Saturday, Nov. 24, watch a free screening of the classic film “Miracle on 34th Street” at 3 p.m. 
• On Sunday, Nov. 25 catch entertainment by the talented Westminster Ringers from 2 to 4 p.m. 
• On Friday, Nov. 30 it gets ugly with the first annual Ugly Sweater Party from 5 to 7 p.m.  Folks are invited to don their most garish, glittery holiday sweaters or silly Christmas neck ties for a night of frivolity, festivities and fruitcake! There will be a host of prizes awarded for the “ugliest” holiday attire and finalists will get to model their garish fashions on stage. 
• On closing day, Dec. 1, enjoy free, continuous holiday cartoons from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The Carroll Arts Center is located at 91 West Main Street in Westminster, two blocks west of the intersection of Maryland Routes 27 and 32. For more information or travel directions call 410/848-7272 or visit www.CarrollCountyArtsCouncil.org