Rain, cold can't stop Webb Art and Craft Fair

Sunday, October 18, 2009
By Mary Reeves

Coming all the way from St. Louis, Shelia Ferrario, left, and Selena Lange explore the craft fair on Maple Street before moving on the one at Webb School. The show continues today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Order this photo]

It takes more than a little rain and cold weather to keep people away from the Webb Art and Craft Fair in Bell Buckle. In fact, it takes more than a lot of rain and cold weather.

"There were people here at 6 a.m.," said Linda Simmons, who manages the Downtown Craft Fair set around Captain Rodney's stage. "They said they usually get here earlier but they were running late."

She also helps find vendors and artists for the Webb and other shows -- more than 700 this year -- only a few blocks away.

At 9:30 Saturday morning, the aisles between the booths were packed with people. Young and old, black and white, in strollers, or wheelchairs, with shopping carts or pets, they all had one thing in common besides the need to shop.

(Photo)

Ashlyn Stacy of Manchester snuggles under pink fleece while her mom shops at the Webb Art and Craft Fair.
(T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Order this photo]

They were cold. Fleece sweat shirts and down jackets were accompanied by toboggans and scarves.

"I'm selling a lot of scarves," said one vendor, laughing.

For some of the visitors, the cold wasn't a problem. Being from St. Louis, Mo., one group was used to cold weather and it wasn't going to get in the way of fun.

"We do it every year," said Sheila Ferrario. "Because we're crazy women, Why else would we be out here in the rain?"

Her friend Selena Lange, scarf wrapped around her head, her nose bright pink with cold, agreed, and their self-professed "chaperone," Gayle Alkins, a friend from Nashville, said she considered calling the trip off, but ...

"We said we're going to do it, so we're going to do it," she said. "We came a long way just for this."

Once they got here, they said, it wasn't that bad,

The vendors haven't minded either.

"Business has been real good," said Roger Pepper of Collinwood, who sells large, plywood yard displays in holiday themes. Many customers could be seen leaving his area with a giant Santa or scarecrow wrapped in protective plastic and cradled in their arms.

"I come every year," said Pepper. "I was worried about the weather, but I figured it would be all right."

Except for a few sprinkles, most of the wet left by noon, but the cold lingered.

The Webb Art and Craft Fair continues today in Bell Buckle, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with more cool weather predicted -- but without the rain.

Comments

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what about the Greedy people this year , charging people $10 to park.........i think $5 is a bit much but reasonable especially to help support the Vol fire dept.but to take advantage of the visitors who come, in this financial enviornment,They should be ashamed. What kind of message does that send about Bell Buckle.?

-- Posted by angelseverywhere on Mon, Oct 19, 2009, at 12:26 PM

Really? Seriously? Feel free to charge whatever price you think is reasonable in your yard for parking. Or you could rent that same space to a vendor, again charge what they are willing to pay. I think it's called "market price". You can only charge as much as people are willing to pay. In this situation you can't really "take advantage" of a willing consumer. Is $ 10 too expensive, maybe? But you have to ask yourself; Do I want to shop at the craft fare bad enough to spend $ 10 on parking. From the size of the crowd, at least on Sunday, there were some people who thought $ 10 was a fair price.

-- Posted by Junto on Mon, Oct 19, 2009, at 2:14 PM

I think this was a low turnout compared to the past years. It might have been the weather, the "economy" or the other events that were going on close by.

-- Posted by Evil Monkey on Mon, Oct 19, 2009, at 2:54 PM

We parked at the city park for free and -- gasp -- walked to the fair. What a concept.

-- Posted by MotherMayhem on Mon, Oct 19, 2009, at 3:10 PM

i am with you Mothermayhem..once again , this fair brings people from EVERYWHERE... hundreds of miles, who are going to pay it. they are not going to turn around. if you call it " willing " to justify a persons GREED or "Market Price "as one likes to disguise it. Lets just push the limit until the fair just drizzles away. But some people will just move there GREED to other places.Thats why Shelbyville is such a booming place.

-- Posted by angelseverywhere on Tue, Oct 20, 2009, at 2:27 PM