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Merrick Festival caroling began in 1925, organizer says
Summary
Sally Baumgartner, executive director of the Merrick Festival caroling competition, said the event began in December 1925 when developer George Merrick staged school caroling around a 25-foot tree; Baumgartner said the festival has been held at the 550 Building since 1987 and has taken place each December since.
Sally Baumgartner, executive director of the Merrick Festival caroling competition, said the event began in December 1925 when developer George Merrick completed a property purchase and staged school caroling around a 25-foot Christmas tree. Baumgartner said the modern iteration has been held at the 550 Building since 1987 and occurs each December.
"My name is Sally Baumgartner. I'm the executive director of the Merrick Festival caroling competition, which has been held at the 550 Building since 1987," Baumgartner said. She recounted the festival's original start: "the event originally started in December of 19 25 when George Merrick concluded his purchase of the property from Coral Way to Alhambra Circle, from Douglas Road to Lejeune Road. And to celebrate it, he put up a 25 foot Christmas tree and invited all the schools to come and sing."
Baumgartner described the 1987 revival: "We put up a 32 foot red poinsettia Christmas tree and invited all the schools in Dade County to come and sing. And now 38 years later, it come happens every year in December." The remarks were offered as a historical account of the event and its continuity as a December community tradition.
