Carousels in the News Carousels in the News

Members of the National Carousel Association gathered at the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department on Thursday evening for a crab feast hosted by the Southern Maryland Carousel Group and the Charles County Arts Alliance. Association members traveled by bus from Washington D.C., where they were meeting for their annual convention.  Participants also enjoyed the hand-carved carousel animals and memorabilia on display at the firehouse.

"Santa Bob" was on hand Thursday evening to serve crabs to members of the National Carousel Association who had traveled by bus from Washington, DC., to see the hand-caved carousel animals created by the Southern Maryland Carousel Group on display at the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department. Among the celebrities attending Thursday's Southern Maryland Carousel Group dinner was Barbara Fahs Charles, a co-founder of the National Carousel Association who published the first national photographic survey of carousels in 1971.  Charles became interested in carousels in the late 1960's when she lived in an apartment above the Santa Monica pier carousel that was featured in the movie "The Sting."  "I found that carousels were a great (photography) subject because they moved, they had action, they had kids, they had detail," Charles said.  "But if you blew it totally, you could go back the next week."

Board of Charles County Commissioners' President Reuben B. Collins II (D), stopped by the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department Thursday evening to chat with Southern Maryland Carousel Group members including President, Burkey W. Boggs.  "I think (Boggs') vision is good," Collins said.  "I think it's the type of thing that would be a benefit to our community.  I've always been supportive of what he's trying to do."

Hand-carved miniature carousel animals were auctioned off Thursday evening to help raise funds for the Southern Maryland Carousel Group's efforts to erect a carousel in the region.  Each miniature is a replica of one of the full-size animals carved by the group's members.

Excerpts from article by Paul Lagasse, Maryland Independent Newspaper

SANTA CLAUS VISITS THE CAROUSEL CHILDREN'S BOUTIQUE

Who doesn't love Santa Claus!  Our very own Santa Bob stopped by The Carousel Children's Boutique in Waldorf, Maryland, this holiday season for photos . 

Each year The Carousel Children's Boutique hosts several photo shoots during the holiday season featuring Santa Bob and a carousel horse to benefit the Southern Maryland Carousel Group, Inc. and we couldn't be more thankful.  Just check out some of these adorable kiddos! 

Veteran's Day Parade

This year the Southern Maryland Carousel Group participated in the annual Veteran's Day parade to honor the men and women of the US Armed Forces. The Salute to Veterans Parade started  at 1PM at the Courthouse on Charles Street in La Plata.

The Southern Maryland Carousel Group saluted CW04 Santa Bob who is a 23-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

RIVER ARTSFEST 2010

The Charles County Arts Alliance (CCAA) presented River ArtsFest, CCAA's largest cultural event of the year on Saturday, June 12, 2010, on the Village Green in Indian Head, MD.

A celebration of county rivers and the Bay in Charles County through visual, performing and literary arts.  Entertainment, exhibits and original art are for sale.  The Southern Maryland Carousel Group is always proud to be a part of this great event.

Pictured are some of the members of the Southern Maryland Carousel Group who attended the festival, exhibiting some of the carousel animals and explaining the process and dream to those who stopped by.

FASHION SHOW

Carousel store helps carousel group ~ Fashion show fundraiser brings theme to fore

by Gretchen Phillips, Staff Writer For The Maryland Independent

A carousel-themed clothing store is helping a real carousel come to life.

The Carousel, a clothing company in Waldorf, showcased many of its children’s clothing selections during a fashion show Sunday. Proceeds of the event went to the Southern Maryland Carousel Group, comprised of local woodcarvers who have been working for several years to create a handcrafted carousel in Charles County and a wood-carving museum. According to literature from the group, the purpose of the project, which began in 2004, is to generate an interest in American folk art and preserve Southern Maryland history.

Burkey Boggs, president of the carousel group, said Sunday’s fashion show was the first major fundraiser the Waldorf store has been a part of. He said he was glad that the first event involved so many children because children are the ones who will get the most joy out of the carousel once it is finished. When completed, Boggs told the crowd Sunday, the carousel will have 48 animals. To date, 40 have been completed and three are in the works. Each animal for the carousel is handcrafted out of wood and then painted by local artists in the tri-county area, Boggs said. 

Sunday’s fashion show, aside from raising money, was to bring awareness to the carousel group and what it has been doing for several years. Lisa Case, owner of The Carousel clothing store, said when the store opened some 34 years ago, it had been her and her mother’s hobby to collect all things with a carousel theme. She said she bumped into Boggs at a recent county fair and learned all about the carousel group. From that encounter, she said she wanted to get involved and help others become aware of what the group is doing. Currently, Case sells carousel group shirts at her store and has one of the carousel animals displayed there. Putting on a fashion show, Case said, brought the two carousel names together for a good cause, combining two things, “love for carousels and the community,” she said.

Some 50 local students modeled clothes from the store from specialized gowns to everyday clothes and school uniforms. Two hundred community members came out for the show.

“I hadn’t heard of the [Southern Maryland Carousel Group] until they asked for models,” Kimberly Tutz of Hughesville said Sunday. Tutz had three children participate in the fashion show, and she said she enjoyed getting an opportunity to see some of the handcrafted carousel animals. The final project, when it comes together, will be wonderful, she said, adding that carousels are “so nostalgic.” Having them be handcrafted by local woodcarvers, she said, “gives them that hometown feel.

Aside from the fashion show, the two carousel theme groups had a carousel coloring contest for children and raffled off a carousel-related gift.

Celtic Festival of Southern Maryland

April 30, 2011. marks the 33nd year for the oldest Celtic celebration in Maryland. Chosen in 2000 by Congressman Steny Hoyer to represent Southern Maryland in the national "Local Legacy" project of the Library of Congress’ Bicentennial celebration, The Southern Maryland Celtic Festival and Highland Gathering highlights the heritage of the Breton, Cornish, Irish, Manx, Scots, and Welsh.

The festival is scheduled on the last Saturday of April every year from 10 AM to 6 PM Rain or Shine on the 560-acre Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum. Look for our flyers each year so you can start inviting friends and neighbors to go with you and share our common heritage (or learn about someone elses!). While the park will allow pets, it would be less stressful for them if you left your furry friends at home.

More than 50 clans and societies have information to share. Three performing stages offer continuous music and dance featuring internationally known recording artists and groups. Watch craft and country-dance demonstrations and listen to harp, and Scottish fiddling while storytellers weave tales near grazing sheep alongside historical displays, crafts and food. There is a Celtic market place for foods and gifts provides an old world atmosphere. All-day Competitions include pipers, fiddlers, highland dancers, athletes, drummers, pipebands and celtic harpers. After closing ceremonies, join us in the dance pavilion for the evening ceili.

The Southern Maryland Carousel Group participated in this year's festival by giving a carving demonstration and providing the public information on the group. Below are some photos highlighting the group.

Celebrate La Plata

Article appeared in the Friday, May 1, 2009, edition of the Maryland  Independent.

The Charles County Chamber of Commerce and the Town of La Plata resurrected the popular bed races last weekend during the La Plata Celebration event.

Crowds gathered along La Grange Avenue to cheer on the teams who raced their decorated beds down the street hoping to pick up a prize or two

The top winners were the Southern Maryland Carousel Group, who earned the Golden Bedpan award for being the slowest team to participate in the bed race; Southern Maryland Business Center/Reliant Assembly, who won the Cool Runnings award for being the fastest bed overall and the Most Creative award; and Shady Oaks of Serenity Bed & Breakfast team for Best Looking bed.

Team members of the Southern Maryland Carousel Group are all smiles despite winning the Golden Bedpan award in the bed race last weekend in La Plata.

The Southern Maryland Carousel Group entered a decorated bed entitled "Carousela" which was their rendition of Cinderella. The bed was pushed by members of the woodcarving group dressed as mice.

2018 Charles County Fair

Every September, the Charles County Fair Board is proud to put on an old-fashioned county fair with farm animals, a carnival, displays of all kinds, demonstrations, and plenty of food.  The fair celebrates Charles County's 360 years of agricultural heritage and history.   The Southern Maryland Carousel Group is always proud to be a part of this great event.

This year, Mrs. Jill Short, Mrs. Southern Maryland, was on site to ride one of the carousel horses.  Mrs. Short is an advocate of Citizens against domestic violence.    She is a part-time court-certified translator/interpreter, co-owner of a real estate investment company, and the founder of Always a Voice, a local and online support group for survivors of child abuse and domestic violence.  She is a focused ambassador and spokesperson for Stop the Silence and is currently pursuing her MA in Counseling/Biblical Theology.  Its her daily strive to use her experiences to offer hope and encouragement to other survivors.