Annual boats festival sails into Carroll Creek

By RYAN MARSHALL

rmarshall@newspost.com

One of downtown Frederick’s signature events returned to Carroll Creek Saturday, with the installation of the annual Sailing Through the Winter Solstice boat display.

More than two dozen boats, providing brightly- colored displays, will occupy part of Carroll Creek Linear Park until mid-March.

The event brings light and energy to the creek during the winter months, said Jason Daigger, one of the event’s organizers.

There are 29 boats in the water, including four new ones this year, and one on land, which will appear in the city’s Kris Kringle Parade in December, he said.

Each boat is sponsored by a local business and raises money for a local charity.

Boats have a QR code that people can scan to vote for their favorite, Daigger said. Each $5 vote goes to the boat’s charity, and to support the tropical water plants in the creek.

The mix of non-profit groups and businesses is a perfect opportunity to recognize Frederick’s sense of community, said Aaron Vetter, of the City Youth Matrix.

The group’s boat, the Ribbon Cutter, was sponsored by the construction company Morgan Keller.

It’s the fourth year that the company and organization have worked together, Vetter said.

They started making renovations to the boat about four months ago.

It employs Legos to symbolize the importance of STEM education, Vetter said.

City Youth Matrix is starting a construction club with the Frederick County Building Industry Association. Part of its emphasis is helping students get into the trades, he said.

Putting the boats into the water is always fun but “a little chilly,” Daigger said, water dripping from his wading pants, having just emerged from the creek after helping get one of the boats secured.

Volunteers started prepping for the event Friday, and they began installing the boats around 7a.m. Saturday, he said.

In its tenth year, the event has become a tradition in downtown Frederick, he said.

Families like to come watch the installations, and see the colorful displays once they’re in the water.

“All you have to do is look down the creek and see all the families and kids, and you’ll see why we do it,” Daigger said.

Pete Kremers, who helped start the event 10 years ago, hauled himself out of the water Saturday morning, after helping with the wiring in one of the boats.

“Hopefully it works,” he said.

The annual event is family- friendly and helps bring light and joy to the creek, he said.

Nearby, Joe Ashwal had just finished installing his boat, Starry Night, which since 2018 has raised money for Heartly House through sponsor Frederick Primary Care Associates.

Ashwal said he starts getting the boat ready around September, and likes that the boats raise money for local charities, not national ones.

Larry Hill lives in the Maxwell Place community along the creek, and helps keep an eye out for any problems with the boats during the months they’re on display.

In windy winter weather, they sometimes tip over or break free from their moorings, he said. The boats evolve and get more intricate with each year that they participate, he said.

He said the event provides a change of scenery with a whimsical theme to the creek.

“It gets you through the winter,” Hill said.

Follow Ryan Marshall on Twitter: @RMarshallFNP

Volunteers install one of the Sailing Through the Winter Solstice boats in Carroll Creek Saturday morning.

Staff photos by Graham Cullen

Bill Violette prepares the Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County boat — which is called Seva and is sponsored by Yogamour — prior to it being lowered into Carroll Creek.

Josh Diffenbaugh, front, Curtis Grady and Byron Stockman prepare to guide a boat into Carroll Creek.