A Zine: February 2026
A zine (pronounced “zeen”) is a small, self-published booklet or magazine, short for “fanzine,” featuring original or appropriated text and images, typically copied cheaply for a small, non-commercial audience. Zines cover diverse topics from personal stories...
Nominate A Local Entrepreneur
The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Emerging Entrepreneur Award and the 2026 Heise Entrepreneurial Spirit Award. The Emerging Entrepreneur Award was created in 2024 with the purpose of encouraging new growth in the local...
Brush & Lens Fusion: A Conversation That Became a Collaboration
Every collaboration has a beginning, and for Jessica Fike and Collen DuBose, it started not in a studio—but in a furniture store. While visiting Railey Design to explore whether her Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County photography might live as wall art, Fike was...
27th Deep Creek Dunk and 2026 Special Olympics MD Winter Games
Special Olympics Maryland (SOMD) will be in Garrett County once again for a fun and competitive jam-packed SOMD weekend! To kick off the weekend is the Deep Creek Dunk hosted by Maryland State Police and Natural Resources Police. Starting with the 6th Cool Schools...
A Project Overview: The Best Things About Deep Creek Lake
This following magazine project was created for ART 207 by Bella Mason. This course, Graphic Design, was taken at Frostburg State University and is a foundational course focused on core design principles, layout, visual storytelling, and communication. The goal of...
Welcoming Visitors to Garrett County’s Four Seasons
It’s easy to forget now, especially when most Deep Creek weekends are booked months in advance, and we have named November, March, and April the “shoulder seasons”, that there was a time when Garrett County didn’t really know how to benefit from winter weather. For a...
February 2026 Issue
Dear Friends, This issue is a special one for me because you’re holding a freshly redesigned Lakefront cover. I’m honestly so proud of how it’s coming together! The Lakefront has been “helping visitors feel like locals since 1991” and the time is right to give this...
A Local Painter Shares His Talent
Local artist Lynn Uphold paints what he knows. Familiar views. Meaningful photos. Quiet moments that people recognize right away. He enjoys taking a favorite picture or scene and turning it into a painting that feels personal and easy to connect with. His work is not...
Garrett County Community Works Supports Local Nonprofits
In the spirit of the season, volunteers from Community Works came together in three different projects to support other non-profit organizations and the services they each provide to Garrett County residents. Supporting the Dove Center To kick-off the Christmas...
First-Ever Super Dunk at the 2026 Deep Creek Dunk
The Maryland State Police/Natural Resources Police will host the 27th Deep Creek Dunk on Saturday, February 21st, 2026, at Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland, benefiting Special Olympics Maryland – Garrett County. This year will be a monumental year with the debut of...
Fall in Love with Winter Fest 2026!
The beloved Oakland Winter Fest will land on Valentine’s Day in 2026! Bundle up and join the Oakland Arts & Entertainment District on Saturday, February 14th, from 11 am to 4 pm for the annual celebration, filled with fun for the whole family! This year’s theme...
A Zine: January 2026
A zine (pronounced “zeen”) is a small, self-published booklet or magazine, short for “fanzine,” featuring original or appropriated text and images, typically copied cheaply for a small, non-commercial audience. Zines cover diverse topics from personal stories...
Wisp Resort Turns 70: A Platinum Winter Celebration at Maryland’s Only Ski Resort
For 70 winters, Wisp Resort has been part of the Deep Creek Lake story. In the early 1950s, original owner Helmuth Heise and his wife Evelyn operated a small roadside motel and cabins along Route 219, now known as Will O’ the Wisp. One cold February, when the...
January 2026: A “Skip” Around Town
2026? How did that happen? Sounds like a date from a science fiction movie. Yet, here we are. After a whirlwind December, I am personally looking forward to some downtime. While many are excited about the opportunities for outdoor adventure this month, I am ready for...
Highlands Fat Bike Series
The Highlands Fat Bike Series is what happens when you mix snow, singletrack, and a cycling-obsessed community that refuses to let winter be an “off-season.” It’s part race, part reunion, and part excuse to play outside when the thermometer says otherwise. Riders show...
January 2026 Issue
Dear Friends, January always feels like the real start of winter in the mountains. Lately, I’ve been thinking about an old memory, and I’m not even sure if it’s completely accurate. I swear there was a time when you could grab a McDonald’s value meal and somehow get a...
Western Maryland Classic High School Basketball Tournament
When the Western Maryland Classic returns to Garrett College January 29–31, 2026, it will feel like the center of the high school basketball universe has settled in Western Maryland. The Classic continues to strengthen its reputation as one of the most respected prep...
DCL100 Highlights
2025 has been a landmark year for Deep Creek Lake, as the community has come together to celebrate the lake’s 100th birthday in grand style. The centennial festivities kicked off in January with a launch party at the historic restaurant Dutch’s at Silver Tree attended...
The Quiet Stewards of an Oakland Christmas Tradition
Each winter, families enjoy Oakland’s glowing Christmas light display with heaters running and kids singing their favorite songs from the backseat. What most don’t see is the effort behind the sparkle or the people who make it happen year after year. Quietly and...
Christmas Flourish: Songs of the Season!
The Garrett Choral Society will present our annual holiday concert, Christmas Flourish: Songs for the Season, on Sunday, December 21, at 3:00 PM in the Daniel Offutt III Theatre at the Performing Arts Center at Garrett College. Under the direction of Debi and Sean...
Archie’s Barbeque: Under New Ownership After 18 Years
For 18 years, Archie’s Barbeque has been woven into the rhythm of life at Deep Creek Lake. More than a restaurant, it’s a comfort stop, a gathering place, and a go-to for good food and drink. Guests come for the slow-cooked classics like brisket, pulled pork, chicken,...
DCL100 Keepsakes Still Available!
There is DCL 100 merchandise still available from a few of the planning committee members as well as other local businesses. These items can be picked up locally: Bear Creek Traders: DCL 100 and Deep Creek Lake t-shirts and sweatshirts while supplies last! Visit Bear...
Where Holiday Magic Finds Its Home
There is a moment each year when Oakland seems to glow from the inside out, when storefronts sparkle, familiar faces return, and the cold mountain air feels just a little warmer. The holidays have always suited our small town, and this year’s celebrations promise all...
A Winter’s Journey: Sounds of the Season
The Garrett Community Concert Band will present its holiday concert, A Winter’s Journey: Sounds of the Season, on Sunday, December 7, at 3:00 PM in the Daniel Offutt III Theatre at the Performing Arts Center at Garrett College. The band, under the direction of Dr....