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

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.

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.