BY TED SHOCKLEY, Eastern Shore Post —
A large wall inside a new building at the Wachapreague Volunteer Fireman’s Carnival needed a splash of color.
So members of the Wachapreague Volunteer Fire Company, which owns and operates the popular summer attraction, reached out to the town’s group of artisans.
On Wednesday, May 27, a large crowd gathered to see what the Artisans of Wachapreague group created — a sea life mural that is the perfect backdrop to the historic rides housed inside the building.
The 72nd carnival begins its three-week run on Wednesday through Saturday evenings from June 17 through July 4. Food and drink stands open at 6:30 and carnival games and rides open at 7 p.m.
“They call us the flounder capital of the world, but I think we’re the artisans capital of the world, per capita,” Beth Mendez told the group of attendees at the mural’s unveiling.
The group was thanked by the fire company and carnival volunteers.
“They came up with 100% of the ideas,” said Sean Fate, fire company chief. “They really did an amazing job.”
The artists included Mendez, Lee Anne Shontere, Ann Crain, Lynne Rogers, Dave Groshong, Kathy Bilicki, Sue Fountain, and Claudia Reed.
Carnival attendees this year also will be treated to restored pony carts on the children’s ride.
The fire company thanked Durbin Roache, of Durbin’s Auto Body, for sandblasting and painting the carts and local carpenter Chris Ashby for crafting the wood pieces. Kerry Paul, of the fire company, varnished the wood pieces and rebuilt the pony carts.
Fate said a roof is being constructed over the carnival stage. For years, a temporary tent roof has provided cover for the stage.
The stage roof, like the new building constructed last year, is being built by East Coast Construction and supplied by Truss Tech in Melfa.
Fate said volunteers have gathered every Monday evening for months to prepare for the carnival, including 20 who helped Monday, May 25.
“People don’t realize how much work goes into this,” he said.
