Festival Archives - Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales Blog

Quick Guide: Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival

Everyone’s favorite late summer event, the Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival, is September 9, 2017! In its 13th year, this weekend-long celebration brings hundreds of visitors to the area. Benefitting HART for Animals and the Garrett Lakes Arts Festival, it is a great time that supports great causes.

Here’s a quick guide to what you need to know to make the most of your getaway during Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival weekend:

–Buy your tickets in advance, and you’ll save $5! Adult tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the gate. That gets you entrance to the festival, a commemorative wine glass, and wine tastings.

Continue reading Quick Guide: Deep Creek Lake Art & Wine Festival

Deep Creek Lake Fireworks & More July 4th Fun

From fireworks over the water to small town parades loaded with charm, the Deep Creek Lake area is a favorite place to celebrate Independence Day! I put together a guide to some “can’t miss” events that you have to check out if you are here for the holiday. They include some tips to finding the best spot to watch Deep Creek Lake fireworks. Continue reading Deep Creek Lake Fireworks & More July 4th Fun

5 Favorite Oakland Winter Fest Activities

Oakland Winter Fest is normally held the Saturday and Sunday of President’s Day weekend each year. Due to warm temperatures, the 2017 Winter Fest celebration was rescheduled for February 25 & 26. It is a great way to celebrate the season with friends and family. You can stroll through the historic downtown as you enjoy delicious food and fun activities.

I picked out 5 of my favorite Oakland Winter Fest activities that you absolutely don’t want to miss!

Watch Master Ice Carver Bill Sandusky create beautiful sculptures. Each year, Bill travels from Erie, PA to create more than 30 unique ice carvings that decorate the sidewalks. You can watch his demonstrations or check out one of the interactive sculptures like the ice bowling alley that is a big hit with the kids! Continue reading 5 Favorite Oakland Winter Fest Activities

Deep Creek Dunk: A Complete Guide to Weekend Events

The Deep Creek Dunk is a favorite winter event that draws big crowds to that area each year. The 2017 Deep Creek dunk is February 25 at Uno Chicago Grill/the Honi-Honi bar. Taylor-Made is a proud sponsor of the festivities that benefit Special Olympics Maryland (SOMD).

If you’re not familiar, the Deep Creek Dunk was started in 1998 with the support of the Maryland State Police and Natural Resources Police. Individuals and teams commit to “dunking” in the icy lake water and raise funds for SOMD during the months prior. The day of the event takes on a festive atmosphere with music and a costume contest keeping everyone entertained.

Here’s the complete schedule for Deep Creek Dunk weekend:

Friday, February 24
Goosebumps & Grapes – Head to the Honi-Honi from 6-10PM for an evening of fire and wine. The $20 admission goes to Special Olympics. You can get toasty around the bonfire as you taste a variety of wine from Republic National Distributing Company. Continue reading Deep Creek Dunk: A Complete Guide to Weekend Events

Holiday in the Mountains: Thanksgiving Deep Creek Lake Get-Togethers

Thanksgiving Deep Creek Lake gatherings are a favorite among our guests. Getting together with your favorite people surrounded by gorgeous scenery makes the holiday even more special.

Whether you are having a large get-together or something more intimate, we have a few tips to help you plan your Thanksgiving Deep Creek Lake escape:

–Plan early. This is especially true if you are bringing a group with ten or more people. We have a wide variety of Deep Creek Lake vacation rentals, but the early bird gets the exact location, bed sizes and amenities that they prefer. Continue reading Holiday in the Mountains: Thanksgiving Deep Creek Lake Get-Togethers

SavageMan Triathlon Quick Guide

In its 10th year, the 2016 SavageMan Triathlon Festival is September 17-18. It’s a race that’s known for its beautiful scenery and intense challenges. Competitors swim, bike, and run to prove they have what it takes to tackle the most “savage” triathlon in the world!

The SavageMan Triathlon consists of three separate races and is exciting for spectators and competitors alike. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of your weekend: Continue reading SavageMan Triathlon Quick Guide

Autumn Glory Festival

The five-day Autumn Glory Festival celebrates the beautiful colors of our local fall foliage for it’s 50^th time this year. Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 11 and running through Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, this popular festival brings more than 60,000 people to the local area.

The Festival begins with a Kick-Off Dinner and Reception on Wednesday, at Wisp Resort. The evening features a cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres and a full course dinner including assorted desserts. A presentation follows with an introduction of the Autumn Glory King & Queen, Sponsor Recognition Presentation, Golden Ambassador Presentation and a Commemorative Photo Auction. The evening ends with live music and dancing.

The Oktoberfest Dinner and Celebration will take place from 4-7 p.m. at the Oakland Fire Hall on Thursday. Come enjoy plenty of German-style food, drink and while listening to a live “Oom-pah” band. Sponsored by the Oakland Volunteer Fire Dept.

The Grand Feature Parade will be held Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. on Omar Street in downtown Oakland and travels the length of 2nd Street, rounding Alder Street and ending on 3rd Street near Fox’s Pizza Den. Thousands of people will gather to enjoy regional bands, local professional and amateur floats, dance teams and dignitaries. Parade concessions will be available on Green Street located across from Naylor’s Hardware. A children’s tent and baby comfort station will be located at the B&O Station complete with children’s crafts, popcorn and face painting.

The old-fashioned Glorious Harvest Farmers Market & Craft Show will be held at Mt. Fresh Pavilion at 2^nd St. and Town Park Lake in downtown Oakland. There will be handmade arts & crafts, homemade baked goods, lots of pumpkins, fall decorations, home grown fresh vegetables and fruits, jams and jellies, cheese, meats and more.

The Autumn Glory Craft & Gift Show will be held on Saturday and Sunday at the Garrett County Fairgrounds. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Sixty craft vendors will be showcasing their handicraft items and gifts. Festival apparel will be available for purchase and includes t-shirts, sweatshirts and more. Admission and parking are free.

Additional events that are taking place over the five days include the following:

Antique Show
Autumn Glory Sale at Simon Pearce
Banjo & Mandolin Championship
Bear Creek Traders Autumn Glory Tent Sale
Bingo
Car Show
Fiddle Championship
Garrett College Alumni Homecoming
Historic Tours
Horseback Trail Rides
Ice Cream Eating Contest
Pumpkin Chucking
Pumpkin Festival
Quilt Show
Ski & Snowboard Swap
Southern Girls Basketball Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser
Woodlake Tree Farm Autumn Glory Spectacular

Don’t miss the Fall Foliage Heritage Short and Extended Driving Tours that take you throughout beautiful Garrett County. The fall foliage color begins in late September and peaks in mid-October so you can enjoy the best color during the time of the festival.

For more in-depth information about all of the events taking place during the Annual Autumn Glory Festival download the Autumn Glory Festival Brochure or visit the Deep Creek Experience website.

A Taylor-Made Shout Out!!

Gary chilling with his dog Theo!

As we here at Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales prepare for another exciting summer season, we sometimes need to step back and acknowledge all of the hard work and dedication that our employees give in order to make that happen. Today we give a big heads up and shout out to Gary Paugh who was recently promoted to Maintenance Supervisor. Gary is a retired Army Veteran who proudly served our country for 23 years! He came to the Taylor-Made family on April 12, 2010 and has continued to “WOW!” since then. Under this new title and responsibility, Gary will oversee the other maintenance technicians. One of his top priority duties will be seeing to the completion of what we call “Service Orders”. What does this mean? A good example would be that our inspectors are out preparing their homes for a guest’s arrival and they notice that the outdoor porch light is out but a ladder is required. They call this in and it is entered in as a “Service Order” to be completed before the arrival. Gary helps to follow up with the assigned technician to make sure this is completed. Is there something in the house that requires a special order or part? Gary is our “Go To” on finding the long term solution or repair. His helpful demeanor and pleasant attitude makes him easily approachable for help or just to work with in general. Gary has won many “Customer Service” games and awards that Taylor-Made has had over the past several years including being named the winner of our summer “Hunger Games” challenge 2012 in which he won the grand prize of a 32 inch flat screen TV! Gary’s goals with Taylor-Made are long term as he believes he will eventually retire from here. When asked what his favorite thing is about working at Taylor-Made, Gary will tell you that he enjoys working for a family oriented company and that he gets along very well with all of his co-workers. His job changes day to day and he is able to keep busy which makes coming to work every day a new adventure. So, a big Thank You to Gary for all that you do for us! We are so lucky to have you and Congrats on your new position as Maintenance Supervisor!

Beautiful Day @ The Lake!

Gorgeous weather here at Deep Creek Lake over the past few weekends makes now the perfect time to get in that last minute trip before summer officially kicks off. Go online or call us here at Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales (www.deepcreekvacations.com or 1-866-351-1119!) and let us help you find that perfect Deep Creek home! We can’t wait to see you at the lake!

A Birthday Wish with a side of Yum!

So I would like to start this little ditty off with a huge heartfelt “Happy Birthday” shout out to our favorite boss lady, Jodi, who celebrated her special day on the 15^th! Happy Birthday Jodi ~ we hope your day was amazing! Seeing this as the perfect opportunity to brown-nose a wee bit, I decided to treat her to her favorite chai tea from Trader’s Coffee House (and maybe help myself to something sweet and frothy in the process)! There is something so invigorating about the smell of fresh ground coffee and one is not disappointed when they step through the door at Trader’s! Immediately engulfed in the wonderful delicious aroma of espresso and fresh baked goods, it is apparent why this is a favorite meeting place for locals and visitors to our area. Hungry? No problem as they offer both breakfast and lunch items as well as a wide variety of pastries, cookies, and quiches. All made fresh daily! Frappe, Cappuccino, Smoothie, Chai tea? So many choices and once you narrow that down, you still need to pick a flavor from the abundance to choose from! Need to do some work, update your facebook status, or just need Wireless Internet in general? Trader’s has this as well! The ambience oozes a casual and laid back vibe, perfect for hanging out while you enjoy a nice hot beverage. If you’re in the area stop in and say “Hello” to Brenda and her wonderful crew or will are always more than willing to assist their customers. www.traderscoffeehouse.com

Labor Day is quickly approaching and now is the time to call Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations (1-866-351-1119 or online www.deepcreekvacations.com) so we can help you find the ideal vacation home for you and your guests. Don’t let summer slip by without one last holiday summer blowout! We can’t wait to see you at the lake!

Taking a look back in time…

I decided to take advantage of the spectacular Fall weather the other day by shopping and wandering through downtown Oakland. While there, I decided to pop into the Garrett County Museum since I had never been there before. What a treat! The outside of the back of the building is reconstructed to look like the old Deer Park Hotel, which was a widely popular hotel constructed in the late 1890’s. One can truly get a sense of how beautiful this hotel was back in its day.

     Walking through, you obviously get a real understanding of the history of our area but what I found most fascinating was that the majority of pictures and artifacts were actually donated by the citizens of Garrett County. In one room, you can look at a model of the old B & O Railroad along with some of the original uniforms, pictures, and plaques that were in placed in the station. Interesting fact; Garrett County was actually named in honor of Mr. John W. Garrett, President of the B & O Railroad.
     Other items of interest is the room that is reconstructed to look like an old Deep Creek Lake cottage and a room devoted to some of the military background of our area. As an resident of Mountain Lake Park, I was awed by the pictures of the old lake, which at the time was a popular place for those to vacation. Unfortunately it could not be salvaged and was torn down but many years ago, Mtn. Lake housed a 5000 seating Bashford Amphitheater, which William Howard Taft actually spoke at in August 1911. To see the pictures, one cannot help but be amazed at the enormity of the building and to imagine what huge crowds it must have drawn to it.
     I highly recommend that you take a day and visit the museum. Make a full day of it and also visit the Transportation Museum located just down the road. Don’t forget that Farmer’s Market is still going strong throughout the month of October so visit on Wednesday and Saturday and choose from a large variety of fresh fruit, veggies, and baked goods. Stop into Dottie’s Fountain and Grill for a delicious homemade milkshake. An eclectic atmosphere combined with awesome diner food! You can’t go wrong!
      The Autumn Glory Festival is quickly approaching so make sure you call Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations today (1-866-351-1119) or look us up online (www.deepcreekvacations.com) for some unbeatable last minute deals. For the large multi-family getaway call and get details on one of our latest homes, Unforgettable, a true Deep Creek premiere home. This phenomenal 8 bedroom home is located in the prestigious community of Waterfront Greens and boasts a private indoor heated pool, 2 hot tubs, and lots of new updated décor including newer flat screen TVs. Trust me, your family will thank you. In the meantime, as we continue to bask in the beauty of Autumn here in the mountains, we can’t wait to see you at the lake!