Close Menu
Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette Logo Berlin, Ocean Pines News Worcester County Bayside Gazette

410-723-6397

High Heel Race, Jazz and Blues, bring big crowds

(June 11, 2015) Despite the intrusion of a little rain Berlin drew big crowds with two big events last weekend, raising money for a local charity and keeping the momentum from last year’s ‘Coolest Small Town’ nod alive.
On Friday evening the streets were bathed in pink, as stiletto-tipped racers faced off in the third annual High Heel Race, benefiting the Worcester County Chapter of Women Supporting Women.
Berlin Mayor Gee Williams, wearing his trademark top hat, was unfazed by Pocomoke Mayor Bruce Morrison’s bright yellow tutu and won their head-to-head showdown in the mayor’s race.
Gene Spout won the men’s race, while Tabita Enciu took the women’s cup for the third consecutive year.
“It was great to see so many gals and guys standing tall in high heels to participate in this year’s race to fight breast cancer,” Williams said. “The turnout of spectators brought both enthusiasm and fun to the entire event.”
On the following day vendors, two beer gardens and a stage closed off the streets in Downtown Berlin for the annual Jazz and Blues bash.
Turnout was high early before a cloudburst quickly sent the event indoors to the Globe, where the Shrapnels played to a large crowd, and at Burley Oak Brewing Co., where the Larks closed off the evening.
Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells said the impact from both events was clearly felt in local shops.
Berlin Chamber of Commerce President Natalee DeHart praised the turnout and thanked Joe Wilson of Merrill Lynch, the headline sponsor of the Jazz and Blues festival, adding that Wilson and his family moved indoors with the crowd to watch the Shrapnels.
Williams said it was “only about the third time in the past decade” that rain interrupted an event in Berlin.
“As a community we are blessed to have good weather so regularly for our local festivals and fundraisers,” he said.