The Oxford Community Center was thrilled to see many attendees enjoying the model boats and activities at the 5th annual model boat show this year!
The model boat show at the OCC began in 2012 when Ed Thieler brought his models in for display and visitors began to flock. Each year Ed continued to bring in more modelers and work with excellent committee leadership to grow the event from 13 modelers in 2013 to 42 modelers in 2017. The previous attendance high was in 2015, when 602 visitors came. In 2016, the attendance dropped off a bit to 550. So, this year was up almost 24% from last year and 13% from the previous high in 2015.
“Our 5th annual MBS had its best year yet!” exclaimed Jon Lillard, co-chair. “Attendance was higher than last year.” Jon continued, “The modelers said that not only was it the best show where they exhibited, but better than any other show they have been to.”
Photo Credit: Norman Bell
The exhibitors came from all over Maryland, plus Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey and the District of Columbia. The show is popular with modelers because it is the only one in the area where the ship models are the main attraction. Not only do the modelers enjoy displaying their craft, it is an opportunity for them to share the camaraderie of talking amongst themselves, discussing models and differing approaches to solving problems.
Co-chair Ray Munsch said, “OCC’s free Model Boat Show has also proven popular with the public. This year, attendance set a new record over the previous high. The attendees not only enjoyed seeing the models and talking to the modelers, but they also viewed full size boats built by the YMCA’a “Take the Helm” and CBMM’s “Rising Tide” after school programs.”
The event utilized two additional locations where visitors could see boat building in action. The historic Cutts & Case Shipyard opened their boat yard highlighting the history and current trends. Across the street at Bruce Beglin’s Wooden Boat Workshop people saw his current project, a 26 foot American FolkBoat sailboat in mid-build.
Ed Thieler shared that he was happy to see a member of the Nautical Research Guild attending.
Jon Lillard added, “We are indebted to our sponsors and volunteers for making this the largest one-day event for the OCC. They are a major part of its success.”
The event is sponsored in part by the Talbot County Arts Council with funds from the Maryland State Arts Council as well as Community Sponsors Cutts & Case Shipyard, Miles River Marine, Brewer Oxford Boatyard & Marina, Campbell’s Boatyards, Mathews Brothers, LLC, The Oxford Market, Beth Trujillo, Ken & Wendy Gibson, Ron & Sandy Kaufman.
For more information, please contact the Oxford Community Center at 410-226-5904, email [email protected], visit their website at www.oxfordcc.org or their Facebook page at Oxford Community Center, Inc.
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