The Carroll County Arts Council announced all categories of winners for the 19th Annual PEEPshow which was held at the TownMall of Westminster from March 27 – April 6. The annual fundraiser to benefit arts programming in Carroll County attracted over 20,000 in-person visitors to the TownMall of Westminster, who cast over 178,000 votes, along with over 5,300 online votes, for their favorites of the 191 marshmallow masterpieces and six PEEPs® video entries. In total for the 19th Annual event, there were 197 entries submitted, including six videos, using over 37,000 PEEPs® submitted by individuals, families, community organizations and local businesses. The annual PEEPshow raises funds to benefit scholarships, free programming like the Free Summer Movies beginning June 30, 2026 and many diverse arts programs that take place throughout the year.
Stephen Strosnider, Executive Director of the Carroll County Arts Council, expressed his gratitude to the community, saying, “The Carroll County Arts Council is grateful to our decorators, without whose creativity and hard work our event would not be possible. We are also so grateful to our visitors who came out and voted and shared their photos and thoughts about the event that helped to make it such a success. Also, to our sponsors who supported our efforts throughout the process. Thank you all for supporting the Arts in Carroll County!”
Thank you to our event sponsors: JustBorn®, PEEPs®, Town Mall of Westminster, the Carroll County Office of Tourism, Community Media Center of Carroll County, the Carroll County Times, the City of Westminster, Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, UNI Urgent Care, Carroll County Public Library, Carroll Community College, Info Pathways, Real Estate Matchmakers, Art Factory, Freedom Financial Credit Union, Gerstell Academy, Long Homes, North Carroll Community School, River Valley Ranch, The Shepherd’s Staff and Therannu Restorative Spa and Maryland Print House
The winners were announced live on both the Carroll Arts Center and PEEPshow Facebook pages on Tuesday, April 7. The ten Audience Favorite winners received a “Swag Bag” chock-full of Peeps® merchandise, an Arts Council gift card, a Peeps & Co. gift card, and free registration for next year’s PEEPshow! In addition to this, the top five Audience Favorite winners also received a commemorative peep trophy, handcrafted by local artist Thomas Sterner. The Grand Prize winner also gets a tour of the Just Born factory in Bethlehem, PA, where Peeps® are made. The Top Video Award winner receives a trophy in addition to a $25 Peeps & Co gift card, an annual movie pass for Carroll Arts Center, and a Peeps® gift pack.
Audience Favorite Award Winners:
Determined by in person and online votes combined.
10th Place with 3,210 total votes, “Meaningless Humor” by Chris Kolakowski
9th Place with 3,433 total votes, “Oriole – Maryland’s Official PEEP” by Amy Hott
8th Place with 3,712 total votes, “PEEPERS BEWARE” by Keira Coder
7th Place with 3,874 total votes, “Marsha Mallow the Carousel Horse” by Deborah Embury
6th Place with 3,890 total votes, “The Great Peep” by Charlotte and Stephanie Livesay
5th Place with 3,901 total votes, “Shrek’s Outhouse” by South Carroll Stagelighters
4th Place with 4,636 total votes, “This Peep is Otterly Adorable” by Kelsey & Julia Taylor
3rd Place with 4,894 total votes, “Peeps del Desierto” by Lara King
2nd Place with 5,322 total votes, “Frederick the Falcon” by Gerstell Academy MS Art Club
1st Place and Grand Prize Winner with 5,634 total votes, “Giant Leap for Peeps” by Residents of Homewood
Living Plum Creek
Top Video Award: “Peepatouille”by Mikayla Britz, with 1,412 votes
Sponsors’ Choice Award Winners:
Carroll County Maryland Office of Tourism: “Barn Quilt Trail of Carroll County” by Residents and Staff of CLV’s Memory Care
Just Born, Inc.: “We Wish You a Merry PEEP-Mas ” by Melissa Smith AND “The Very Hungry-For-Peeps Caterpillar” by Jennifer John
Carroll County Public Library: “The World of Beatrix PEEPer” by Grace Russo, Beatrix Russo, Aurelia Russo, Irene Russo AND “Wedding PEEPs” by Becky Kemp
TownMall of Westminster: “Dumpling Squishy” by Boys & Girls Club of Carroll County
Carroll Community College: “Yoshi’s Peep World” by FSK Art Club
U.N.I. Urgent Care: “Rob Zompeep” by Hera’s Nightmare
Freedom Federal Credit Union: “Timmy Turtle” by Jody Smith/Darlene Smith
Gerstell Academy: “Peep-a-Rita Prom Queen” by Rita’s Closet Volunteers
Artistic Excellence Award Winners
“Norman RockPEEP’s “Triple Self-Portrait” by Jen @ Tails on the Rails, LLC
“PEEP-tacular Sweater” by Gabrielle Clark
“Marshmallow Maki” by Marley Crum
“Peeps are Creating Art” by Paige Harless + Vicki Harless
“Sold to the Peep in the Front Row” by The Beard Family: Ashley, Billy, Grayson, Eloise
“Worm Party” by Natura Lawn of America, Westminster
“Marshmaster Crabbington” by Westminster Paint
“We’re All Peeps Here” by Karen Embury
Online Sensation Award Winners:
“The Peep Jam Stadium” by Benjamin, Cameron, & Hudson
“Peepiodic Table of the Elements” by Math Pixie
“PEEPémon: Ultra Rare Edition” by The KBG Foundation, Kimberly Miller and Friends
VIDEO: “The Story of RaPEEPzul” By Suzie Sims-Fletcher
“Let’s take a PEEP at your Polyps” by Molly Renfrow, DNP-FNP
“World Cup Peeps Soccer” by Lucas Tracy
“Peepland” by Alice Daniels
“Not so Bad Bunny” by Sandy Oxx and Colby Blue
“Xavier’s Peep-fil-A Farm” by Xavier Ryan
There were 8,474 pom poms in the “Guess How Many” jar. The winner was Beth Pfeifer who guessed 8,499.
The debate over whether PEEPs® are better “Fresh” or “Stale”: This year, Fresh PEEPs won by a margin of $10.85. Fresh raised $35.36 and Stale raised $24.51.
View the entire exhibit online at MarshmallowPEEPshow.com.