Christmas is over and most places have already begun taking down the festive lights that have illuminated the cold winter nights all season. Yet, you can take comfort in knowing that there’s one place in Frederick, Maryland where the lights will be shining brightly for a couple more months to come. I am, of course, referring to the ongoing Sailing Through the Winter Solstice event taking place at Carroll Creek Linear Park nightly throughout the remaining winter.
A beloved community tradition that was started in 2016, Sailing Through the Winter Solstice occurs each year beginning in November and ending in March. Made possible by the nonprofit organization Color On The Creek, this colder-weather feature serves as the sister event to the popular eye-catching Color On The Creek Water Garden displays that grace the waterway during the warmer weather months.
It’s a truly mesmerizing experience, coming out to Carroll Creek to take in the dazzling spectacle of 28 decked-out and illuminated boats on the water and two stationary ones. And in addition to making for an aesthetically enjoyable evening outing, Sailing Through the Winter Solstice doubles as a fundraiser. Each of the featured boat floats is sponsored by a local Frederick-Area business and is also paired with a designated charity of the sponsor’s choosing.
Spectators who come out for Sailing Through the Winter Solstice have the option of voting for their favorite featured boat display(s). The cost is $1 per vote with all proceeds benefitting both the featured charity and the continued works and efforts by the Color On The Creek nonprofit in making such events as these possible.
This year’s event is the biggest one yet, with a grand total of 30 featured boat displays. Compare that to last year’s event of 24 boats! Each annual fleet comprises both fan-favored classics from the year(s) before and new premieres alike. The Snallygaster boat, for instance, is an undeniable crowd-pleasing hit that’s been sponsored by Landscape Services, Inc. for six years now. But this year it’s being trailed by two new smaller boats—Sallygaster and Sullygaster.
While new boats offer eager onlookers more eye candy to rejoice in, even the returning classics keep things fresh and new. Designs, décor, and themes are always being changed up and creatively reimplemented. So, don’t be surprised if your favorite from last year looks a little different this time around. It’s all part of the fun for viewers and participants alike.
This year you can expect plenty of diverse offerings in the way of gaff-rigged ketches, three-masted schooners, yawls, pirate ships, and more. The boats are all anchored in Carroll Creek, located between Market and Carroll Streets. Lights go on at dusk and remain in illumination until the break of dawn the following morning.
To learn more about Sailing Through the Winter Solstice by Color On The Creek visit the website at www.coloronthecreek.com.