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Happy Wednesday, Westminster!
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Downtown fills up with oysters, spirits and live music Saturday, and one Main Street studio is using the crowd to raise money for something very different. Tonight, there's a vigil for survivors of sexual violence, as well as two candidate forums ahead of November’s elections.
It's a good weekend for live music. On Friday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m., the Atlantic Guitar Quartet plays a free concert at Carroll Community College.
On Saturday, the Westminster Marching Band Home Show brings 13 bands to Westminster High School, the Oyster Stroll has bands and DJs downtown, and that evening, five-time Grammy nominees and Blues Hall of Famers Professor Louie & the Crowmatix play the Carroll Arts Center.
Let's get into it.
Oyster Stroll returns to downtown Westminster Saturday
The city's annual Oyster Stroll takes over downtown Westminster on Saturday, Oct. 10, from noon to 4 p.m., with eight oyster vendors, 16 distilleries, 18 food vendors, more than 75 artisan and craft vendors and live music on five stages. General admission is $15 at the gate, and kids 12 and under get in free. VIP tickets, with an early sampling session starting at 10:30 a.m., and reserved Gehr Lot seating are sold online. The festival supports a campaign to rebuild Chesapeake Bay oyster reefs. The full story has the music schedule, gate locations, parking and what each ticket includes.
Village West Pilates to hold closet sale during Oyster Stroll to fund free trauma-informed classes
Village West Pilates, 18 W. Main St., will hold a community closet sale during the Oyster Stroll on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., and you don't need a Stroll ticket to shop. The money will pay specially trained instructors to teach free Pilates classes for people who have experienced trauma, which the studio plans to launch in Carroll County in early 2027. The studio is collecting gently used activewear, clothing, accessories and wellness items through Thursday, Oct. 8, and donors get to shop first.
Carroll County crisis center holds vigil for sexual violence survivors
CARE Healing Center, Carroll County's nonprofit crisis and counseling center for survivors of sexual violence, holds its annual Lighting the Way for Survivors vigil tonight, Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Wakefield Valley Park Event Center, 1000 Fenby Farm Road. The vigil is open to the public. Until recently the center was known as the Rape Crisis Intervention Service of Carroll County. Its executive director says the Cornell University case that’s drawing national attention makes this year's gathering especially urgent. The story explains the free services CARE offers and how to reach them. CARE's 24-hour helpline is 410-857-7322.
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👀 Around Town
🗳️ Two live candidate forums tonight, Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Community Media Center (1301 Washington Road). At 6 p.m. is the District 42C House of Delegates forum with Corynne Courpas (D) and Steve Patten (R). At 7:30 p.m. is the Board of Education forum with Cleveland Friday, Marsha B. Herbert, Shannon Hinkhaus, Lisa Maisano, Julie V. Walsh and Sharon Wilhide. The public is welcome, but seating is limited. You can also watch live online, on cable channel 19 and HD-1072, or on YouTube. The CMC is partnering with the League of Women Voters of Carroll County. See the Facebook post.
🎶 Common Ground Downtown Jams, tonight, Oct. 7, 7–9 p.m. at the Carroll Arts Center, 91 W. Main St. The first-Wednesday series offers three separate jams: bluegrass/old-time, blues/folk and Celtic. See the Facebook post.
🍸 History Shaken & Stirred, Thursday, Oct. 8, 6–8 p.m. at Covalent Spirits, 118 E. Main St. The Historical Society of Carroll County's quarterly event focuses on agriculture, with a cocktail inspired by local farms, desserts from Collision Course and the Blowfish Poké food truck on site. See the Facebook post.
🎸 Free concert Friday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m.: the Atlantic Guitar Quartet plays the Kelly W. Hill Theater in Carroll Community College's Scott Center. Admission is free. See the Facebook post.
🎺 Westminster Marching Band Home Show, Saturday, Oct. 10. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. at Ruby Field at Westminster High School. Thirteen local bands will perform, along with concessions, baked goods, air and candy grams, color guard silks and a 50/50 raffle. See the schedule.
🎷 Five-time Grammy nominees and Blues Hall of Famers Professor Louie & the Crowmatix play the Carroll Arts Center (91 W. Main St.) on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20–$28. It's part of Common Ground Downtown. Tickets and details.
🃏 Saturday, Oct. 10, is a big day for card collectors. The TCG Jamboree Trading Card Game Festival is at the Carroll County Ag Center starting at 10 a.m. See the event.
🚒 First Responder Night is Saturday, Oct. 10, at Maryland Mallet. Bring your department ID for 10% off your entire check (crabs not included). Firehouse DJ'Z spins 7–10 p.m. See the Facebook post.
🏀 Westminster Rec Girls Basketball holds in-house evaluations Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11, for girls in grades 2–8 who want to play winter basketball. You can still register online or in person on evaluation day. See the Facebook post.
🥯 Engles Bagels has fall flavors, including Pumpkin Maple. Porch pickup is Saturday, Oct. 10, off Exeter Road in Westminster. Order here.
🍣 San Sushi, coming soon to Main Street, is doing a pop-up at Covalent Spirits on Oct. 16 and 17, 5–9 p.m. See the menu for the pop up and read the Westminster Wire story about San Sushi.
👻 We asked where to find Halloween fun, and readers answered. Hackney Haunts has four family-friendly Halloween trails open day and night every October weekend. Covalent Spirits has a Halloween Dance Party on Oct. 31. Papa Joe's Mexican Restaurant has an event that night from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. with a DJ. Know another one? Add it in the comments.
🎄 Save the date: the Carroll County Veterans Independence Project holds its 6th Annual Tree Lighting on Saturday, Dec. 5, 6–7:30 p.m., at 95 Carroll St. There will be cocoa, cookies and music. See the event post.
📚 Carroll County Public Schools and the Carroll County Public Library are hosting free Family Literacy Nights in November. Register through your school's link. See the Facebook post.
🥫 Carroll Hospital has a new community food pantry on its campus, built by Braden Jacobus of Troop 716 as his Eagle Scout project. See the Facebook post.
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— Westminster Wire