Visitors from near and far are traveling to Westminster’s TownMall this week, for one of the region’s most uniquely mouthwatering art exhibits.
The Carroll County Arts Council’s 17th annual PEEPshow, featuring 141 original works from local artists, is the county’s biggest tourism event and the arts council’s most significant fundraiser. It is also the only event in Carroll in which every piece of art is either made from or inspired by PEEPs marshmallow candy.
PEEPshow is free to attend, and sculptures and artwork will be on display through Monday. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays through Wednesdays; 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays; and noon to 5:30 p.m., on Sundays (including Easter).
This was the first time Marcie Cooke, 53, of Dundalk, visited the PEEPshow. She said she was most blown away by displays so massive and complex they required the collective efforts of a community organization.
“It’s amazing to see so many different groups that support this,” Cooke said.
Cooke and her friend, Andrea Mann, 68, of Towson, each spent $10 to buy 25 voting chips.
The entry with the most votes will be named grand prize winner, and the top 10 vote-getting entries will receive audience favorite awards. A separate award will be given to the video entry with the most votes. Artistic excellence awards will be chosen by arts council staff and sponsor’s choice awards will be selected by PEEPshow’s sponsor organizations.
Attendees may vote in-person or online at MarshmallowPEEPshow.com. The awards ceremony will be broadcast on Facebook Live on Monday at 5:30 p.m., on the Carroll Arts Center page.
“There’s so many good things to see in Maryland,” Mann said. “You don’t need to go all over the world, just come to the PEEPshow! Where else are you gonna do this?”
Sarah Schroeder, 30, drove five hours from her home in Raleigh to visit Carroll County’s once-a-year event. Schroeder said her love for PEEPs goes far beyond most people’s appreciation for the candy.
This year’s show included several pieces with religious themes, many sculptures of animals, multiple references to Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, and many more life-sized displays. Schroeder said a 3-foot Baltimore Oriole mascot sculpture, positioned near the event’s entrance as if to greet visitors and capture that initial sense of wonder, was among her favorites.
“I thought it was cool that they made it more localized,” Schroeder said, “and local to Westminster. That’s what I always appreciate about local events, they highlight what their town is known for, and highlight on all the local things — like seeing the Maryland flag a lot, or like the pizza with Maryland stuff on it, which was really cool to see. It’s different, it’s not like what I’m used to, it’s not like the norm from my area.”
Carol Kolb, of Westminster, 67, a PEEPshow volunteer and member of the arts council board, said the event is exactly what an arts council should be doing for its community. Not only does the event encourage locals to be creative, it also lets them know that the arts center is a facet of the community tapestry, and allows them to discover upcoming shows, she said.
“It’s always good, always fun, and so creative,” Kolb said. “It’s amazing to see what people create from each year, year-to-year.”
The PEEPshow grows each year, not just in the number of entries, Kolb said, but also in its propensity to take your breath away.
Volunteer Karen Ylimaki, of Westminster, 67, said she moved to Carroll County three years ago, and has since found a sense of belonging and purpose with the arts council.
“This helps me fill my time in a very productive, meaningful way,” Ylimaki said. “I like the community, and seeing the community at a big event like this.”
Holding the county’s sweetest event in the space once occupied by Sears provides ample room to let the art shine, and for additional activities, said Carroll County Arts Council Assistant Director of Programs and Operations Stephen Strosnider.
“It’s the biggest space that PEEPshow has ever been in,” Strosnider said, “which allows a lot more room for the entries, and allows a lot more room for the patrons to come through. We got to build an entire movie theater, which is the first time we’ve ever been able to do that.”
This year’s PEEPshow has four video entries, which air on a loop during the event.
The event is sponsored by several local entities, as well as the company that makes PEEPs, Just Born Inc. The space is donated by TownMall of Westminster and support for screening video entries is donated by the Community Media Center.
In addition to the movie theater space, this year’s PEEPshow also features coloring pages and crayons, as well as photo props near a PEEP-themed backdrop. Merchandise, including shirts with PEEP-themed classic art parodies and PEEP-on-a-stick treats, are available for purchase at the event while supplies last, provided by Just Born Inc.
Carroll County Arts Council Special Events and Volunteer Coordinator Gwen Asbury said the coloring station is a nice addition.
“It’s great to provide that direct creative outlet for kids,” Asbury said, “and kids of all ages, because in many ways [PEEPshow] brings out our inner child, to see all this creativity and colorfulness.”
Asbury said she hopes people visiting this year’s PEEPshow will be inspired to design something great for next year’s event.
“Every year, everyone’s always astonished at what people can do,” Asbury said.
Seven-year-old Eloise Leatherwood of York, Pa., has her camera at the ready as she takes photos of her favorite creations on Tuesday, at the Carroll County Arts Council's 17th Annual PEEPshow held at the TownMall of Westminster. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
A creation called Fool Moon by Christian Twamley, seen on Tuesday at the Carroll County Arts Council's 17th Annual PEEPshow held at the TownMall of Westminster. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
A detailed look at a PEEP in a research labratory setting on Tuesday, at the Carroll County Arts Council's 17th Annual PEEPshow held at the TownMall of Westminster. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
Hampstead resident Amber Brock, accompanied by her children Kendall, 3, and Ashton, 9, admire a creation by Kelly Dutterer of Kelly's Cakes on Tuesday, at the Carroll County Arts Council's 17th Annual PEEPshow held at the TownMall of Westminster. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
A PEEP playing a clarinet, made by Carroll County Arts Council to support their Musical Instrument Bank program is seen displayed on Tuesday, at the Carroll County Arts Council's 17th Annual PEEPshow held at the TownMall of Westminster. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
A Wonka-themed creation by Bello Machre is seen on Tuesday, at the Carroll County Arts Council's 17th Annual PEEPshow held at the TownMall of Westminster. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
A selection of Picasso PEEPs by members of Girl Scout Troop 4082 are seen on Tuesday, at the Carroll County Arts Council's 17th Annual PEEPshow held at the TownMall of Westminster. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
A creation called MVPEEP by Camden Purper made to resemble football player Lamar Jackson, seen on Tuesday, at the Carroll County Arts Council's 17th Annual PEEPshow held at the TownMall of Westminster. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
A creation resembling a wedding cake, by residents of Homewood at Plum Creek, is displayed as visitors explore the artwork on Tuesday, at the Carroll County Arts Council's 17th Annual PEEPshow held at the TownMall of Westminster. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
Courtney Bohn of Taneytown watches as her 3-year-old daughter Morgan puts a chip in a box, casting a vote for PEEP-tunia Basket by Natasha Doan of Cedar Hedge Farm on Tuesday, at the Carroll County Arts Council's 17th Annual PEEPshow held at the TownMall of Westminster. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
PEEPs at the Beach, a creation by Nancy Mooney and Dean Brydges, is seen on Tuesday, at the Carroll County Arts Council's 17th Annual PEEPshow held at the TownMall of Westminster. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
The Peepsons by Zoee, Jesse and Sarah is seen displayed on Tuesday, at the Carroll County Arts Council's 17th Annual PEEPshow held at the TownMall of Westminster. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
Lauren Borowski of Mount Airy and her 3-year-old son Hayden, are attracted to the next PEEP creation in line after admiring a creation called Magic CarPEEP Ride by Nancy Schoenfeld on Tuesday, at the Carroll County Arts Council's 17th Annual PEEPshow held at the TownMall of Westminster. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
A young visitor in bunny ears examines a creation by 12-year-old Keira Coder called Marshmall-AWS on Tuesday, at the Carroll County Arts Council's 17th Annual PEEPshow held at the TownMall of Westminster. (Brian Krista/staff photo)
Sarah Schroeder from Raliegh, North Carolina, takes a photo of "Turtles on the Coral Peep" created by Kelsey Taylor. Sarah has been a "PEEP Collector" since 2014 and made an effort to arrive in Westminster for opening day of the show. Each year, the Carroll County Arts Council invites local artists to create original works either using or inspired by PEEPs marshmallow candy. The event is free to attend at the TownMall of Westminster, but visitors may pay to vote for their favorites. PEEPshow is the biggest annual fundraiser for the arts council, and the biggest tourism event in Carroll County. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Stephanie Schaffer, Baltimore, takes a photo of the McCall family, Julia, Ian, 7, and Kathleen, 10, standing by the entry "O" mazing Peep, created by Patrick, Stephanie, Charlotte, Savannah, and Easton Livesay. Each year, the Carroll County Arts Council invites local artists to create original works either using or inspired by PEEPs marshmallow candy. The event is free to attend at the TownMall of Westminster, but visitors may pay to vote for their favorites. PEEPshow is the biggest annual fundraiser for the arts council, and the biggest tourism event in Carroll County. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
A large crowd serpentines through the exhibits Friday morning, the opening day of the 17th Annual PEEPshow. Each year, the Carroll County Arts Council invites local artists to create original works either using or inspired by PEEPs marshmallow candy. The event is free to attend at the TownMall of Westminster, but visitors may pay to vote for their favorites. PEEPshow is the biggest annual fundraiser for the arts council, and the biggest tourism event in Carroll County. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Mark Leach of Damascus, takles a selfie with his grandson in front of the entry "Pluto and his Peep House" created by the Castle Family. Each year, the Carroll County Arts Council invites local artists to create original works either using or inspired by PEEPs marshmallow candy. The event is free to attend at the TownMall of Westminster, but visitors may pay to vote for their favorites. PEEPshow is the biggest annual fundraiser for the arts council, and the biggest tourism event in Carroll County. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Gwen Asbury and her mother Debbie Asbury check out "Peep in Boots" created by Amy Hott and Nicholas Somerville. Gwen is the Special Events and Volunteer Coordinator for the Carroll County Arts Center. She is responsible for the PEEPshow and the Festival of Wreaths. Each year, the Carroll County Arts Council invites local artists to create original works either using or inspired by PEEPs marshmallow candy. The event is free to attend at the TownMall of Westminster, but visitors may pay to vote for their favorites. PEEPshow is the biggest annual fundraiser for the arts council, and the biggest tourism event in Carroll County. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
"Bob the Minion and Tim the Teddy Bear" created by Karen and her Peeps. Each year, the Carroll County Arts Council invites local artists to create original works either using or inspired by PEEPs marshmallow candy. The event is free to attend at the TownMall of Westminster, but visitors may pay to vote for their favorites. PEEPshow is the biggest annual fundraiser for the arts council, and the biggest tourism event in Carroll County. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Laurie Thomas, of Ellicott City and Angie Liberto of Frederick, check out the "Peep-tunia Basket" created by Natasha Doan at Cedar Hedge Farm. Each year, the Carroll County Arts Council invites local artists to create original works either using or inspired by PEEPs marshmallow candy. The event is free to attend at the TownMall of Westminster, but visitors may pay to vote for their favorites. PEEPshow is the biggest annual fundraiser for the arts council, and the biggest tourism event in Carroll County. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Stephanie Schaffer, Baltimore, takes a photo of the McCall family, Julia, Ian, 7, and Kathleen, 10, standing by the entry "O" mazing Peep, created by Patrick, Stephanie, Charlotte, Savannah, and Easton Livesay. Each year, the Carroll County Arts Council invites local artists to create original works either using or inspired by PEEPs marshmallow candy. The event is free to attend at the TownMall of Westminster, but visitors may pay to vote for their favorites. PEEPshow is the biggest annual fundraiser for the arts council, and the biggest tourism event in Carroll County. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
"Pluto and his Peep House" created by the Castle Family. Each year, the Carroll County Arts Council invites local artists to create original works either using or inspired by PEEPs marshmallow candy. The event is free to attend at the TownMall of Westminster, but visitors may pay to vote for their favorites. PEEPshow is the biggest annual fundraiser for the arts council, and the biggest tourism event in Carroll County. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
"Wanda" created by Westminster Paint is one of over 100 entries this year at the Annual PEEPshow. Each year, the Carroll County Arts Council invites local artists to create original works either using or inspired by PEEPs marshmallow candy. The event is free to attend at the TownMall of Westminster, but visitors may pay to vote for their favorites. PEEPshow is the biggest annual fundraiser for the arts council, and the biggest tourism event in Carroll County. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
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