With all the St. Patty's Day buzz in the air, it can be easy to forget there's another spring holiday hot on it's heels. As with most holidays that have a religious background, there's plenty of secular fun to be had in regards to Easter.
Perhaps no secular treat is more fun than the Peep -- not to eat, necessarily. If you have retained enough of your inner child to still enjoy marshmallow coated with crunchy dyed sugar, good for you -- or maybe, good for your dentist.
For grown-ups, the real joy of the Peep is what you can do with it.
There's always exploding them in the microwave of course, but how about a fun diorama? The third-annual Peeps Show returns to the Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery in downtown Lake Worth on Friday. Finally, an Easter activity everyone can enjoy - even non-Christians and diabetics.
In fact, the event has become so popular, with so many members of the community asking to contribute that the gallery has opened it up to all comers as a fundraiser. Anyone can enter up to two pieces for $25.
"Basically, we lost our space here. The rent is about three times what we take in. We're a nonprofit artists coop. So, we've found a new space and the the fundraiser will help us move to our new location," says Joyce Brown, of the CGMS Co-op.
They will be moving into the new space at 15 South J Street on April 1st. Though the rent is more affordable, the new gallery will be about the same size as the old one and will be just as much a part of the downtown community since it is only a 3 minute walk from the old gallery.
The Peeps show will be one of the last events held at the old location, at 605 Lake Ave. on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. It's not too late to come up with your own Peep-tastic creation. Last year's dioramas ranged from the Black Eyed Peeps and Corn Bread to Peep Seeger, Little Bo Peep and her Lambs, and a baby who Peeped in his pants.
"We'll take them up until Thursday so if anyone comes up anything wonderful, they can bring them in. Peeps are candy but they last forever, so afterward, people can take their entries home or leave them here to be sold in the gallery."
So far they have around a dozen entries from outside the co-op. Brown expects that they will have around 50 on display for the opening event Friday. Most of those will be from the gallery's artists.
"They're so much fun to do. Once you get started you end up making two or three of them."
This year, Bob Born -- Palm Beach County resident, philanthropist, and owner of Just Born Candy Company -- will be on hand to award the Peeps Supreme $100 grand prize for the best diorama.
Until April 1, the gallery is located at 605 Lake Ave. in Lake Worth. Hours are Sunday through Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Call 561-588-8344, or visit clayglassmetalstone.com.
To submit a Peep diorama or if you are an artist interested in joining the CGMS artist co-op, contact Joyce Brown at 215-205-9441 or [email protected].
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