It’s SPRING…and time to celebrate!
Recently, when stopping by my favorite Berlin Maryland “feel good” shop, Victorian Charm, I picked up a lovely ‘rack card’ from the counter. On it was advertised the activities for next Saturday (April 11th) taking place downtown on Main Street – SPRING CELEBRATION! Frankly, although a bit past the age of believing in the Easter Bunny – this is one of my favorite events. For 14 years our Town, through the auspices of the Berlin Chamber of Commerce, has celebrated our own Berlin-style rites of springtime with this joy-filled, colorful and just plain FUN event. Beginning at 8:00 am one can have breakfast with that cute furry character – the Easter Bunny, this year held at the Worcester County Arts Council on Jefferson St. and sponsored by the PINK BOX bakery (that means the food will be terrific!) Next, the lovely lawn at the Taylor House Museum at the corner of Main and Baker Streets becomes the site of the ubiquitous egg hunt followed by games for all ages – providing too a time to work off that breakfast! At noon, the newly re-opened Atlantic Hotel becomes a place of fashion – with a ‘homemade’ Easter Bonnet Contest sponsored by Bruder Hill. From noon until 2:00 pm our ever-cheerful, Mayor “Gee” Williams will be walking the streets passing out shiny quarters – change your outfit and get two! Concurrently, the Worcester County Arts Council building becomes the place to decorate a ‘Bunny Cake’ – more treats! Reservations are necessary for this and for the ‘Tea with the Easter Bunny’ held at Tea by the Sea at 1:30 pm. That Bunny is surely a busy fellow!
OK, here’s where the ‘feet meet the street’ – at 3:00 pm (only in Berlin) it’s time for the Hog Calling Contest. This is really fun – don’t be shy – more giggles than ‘calls’ but no matter, the kids try real hard! Finally, it’s 4:00 pm and it’s time for the main event…the infamous Berlin Maryland Official Pig Races where the contestants are first rounded up and then “encouraged” (this is the fun part) to run a course of 25’, in heats, to determine the day’s official winner! The prize – bragging rights for a full year added to whatever else our beloved emcee, Steve Frene can round up!
Throughout the day – all along the Main Street will be additional attractions: craft activities sponsored by Children’s Book Garden, rides (mechanical) by Jolly Rogers, rides (live, horse) from Autumn Grove Stables, a Mobile Learning Adventure (what’s this?) sponsored by PNC Bank and of course, the street vendors.
All of this amounts to a really full day – full of smiles – delight and wonder from the kids and broad smiles of pride from the adults. Never let it be said that the coming of Spring, celebrated Berlin-style, is not the very BEST anywhere! See you there!
A special thanks to Lindsay Parker of Wiggles and Giggles Daycare for chairing this super event!
For further information – visit www.berlinmdcc.org
