The 132nd Annual Dutch Picnic Festival
Saturday, August 2, 2008
8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Contact office@trinitywired.org to register for a Craft and Antique space.
Spaces are $15 for a 20 x 20 space.
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
ENTERTAINMENT
All 2007 entertainment will be returning for 2008!
Carroll County Cloggers
www.carrollcountycloggers.com
Times to be announced
The Gospel Travelers
http://www.americangospel.com/gospeltravelers/index.asp
Times to be announced
The $inging $tockbroker - Gary Richman
http://nightatthecopa.com
Times to be announced.
The Shiloh Ridge Band (Bluegrass)
www.shilohridgeband.com
Times to be announced
SILENT AUCTION
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
DUTCH MARKET
Crafts & Flea Market Vendors
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
CHILDREN'S ACTIVITY CENTER
11:00 a.m. - ??
LITE BREAKFAST FARE -
EGG SANDWICHES, DONUTS, JUICE, COFFEE
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Other Food and Drink for sale all day long
ALL YOU CAN EAT
Fried Chicken & Ham Dinner
1:00 p.m. - ??
Ticket Prices: TBD
HISTORY OF THE PICNIC:
The first Dutch Picnic was held on the first Saturday in August of 1877 on the very same grounds that the picnic is held today. George Bitzel, a founding member of the congregation, cleared the ground especially for the picnic so the congregation of Trinity could gather together for a day of fellowship. The first picnics were simple daytime affairs with children reciting recitations and poems with the main attraction of the day being the pastor's address. As with any Lutheran event, food was an important part of the day also.
The years passed and with the advent of electric lights and paved roads, attendance at the picnics grew and extended into the evening hours. Family and friends of Trinity members joined in the fun and festivities and by the 1950's the Dutch Picnic was the biggest attended church picnic in the state of Maryland drawing such dignitaries as the governor and other prominent Marylanders.
Somewhere along the line the picnic took on the name "Dutch" Picnic probably drawing from the founding members German (Deutsch) heritage.
The Famous Fried Chicken & Ham Dinner has been a big part of the picnic since the early 1950's when close to 1000 suppers were sold during the day. Approximately 500 dinners are still sold today!
Entertainment has always been a part of the picnic. Local groups such as the William F. Myers' & Sons Band and the Westminster Municipal Band played in the 1950's and 1960's. As the musical tastes of the community changed, other groups were contracted to provide entertainment such as "The Versetones", a regional southern gospel style band.
For many years, the Dutch Picnic hosted a Jousting Tournament (Maryland's state sport) enticing riders from all over the state of Maryland ro attend.
As the times have changed over the years, so has the picnic. It now sports the name "Dutch Picnic Festival" to make the community aware that this event is for them. The Antique Auto Show and the Crafts and Collectibles Alley has been added within the last 5 years. Since musical tastes are always changing, new groups are constantly being considered to provide entertainment. The Silent Auction is a big hit with the crowd as there are close to 100 items and services donated by church members, community organizations and businesses.
The Dutch Picnic Festival has always been held on the first Saturday in August. Recorded rainouts are few. The picnic is a tradition for many people in the area and there are those within the congregation and community who can truly say that they have attended more than half of the 125 previous picnics. Many generations are seen walking through the picnic grove and there are some families that will even hold informal reunions on "Picnic Day".
Trinity's founding members recognized the need to gather together in fellowship with each other to share the love and community of Christ. And three centuries later, the members of Trinity are still sharing the love of God with the community by hosting the "Dutch Picnic Festival".
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