The weather was dreadful, but spirits remained high at this
year’s Appalachian Festival held in Frostburg State University’s upper quad on
Sept. 21.
The annual gathering of musicians, performers, bakers,
artists, and other craftsmen and women provided locals, travellers, and FSU
students with a splash of Appalachian culture despite the scattered showers and
gloomy clouds floating in the sky above.
The sweet smell of kettle corn floated through the misty
mountain air before the rain picked up. Walking through the upper quad,
festival attendees were peppered by sprinkling showers, dotting glasses with
small droplets and providing children with the excitement of stepping into shallow
puddles.
The festival had a diverse assortment of tents and food
shacks for guests to make purchases or enjoy shows. Letting off the traditional
smell of Maryland was a Jearbryo’s Hookers Seafood and Grill cart, which let
off the tempting scent of crab cakes that lingered in the air. Those looking
for more traditional fair food could go to the Bryan’s Classic Hot Dogs cart
that provided inexpensive options for the families with kids in tow and the
broke college students.
Attendees of the festival still managed to have a good time,
despite the undesirable weather. “We got here just in time for the cloud
burst,” stated Education Department professor Beth Scarloss while keeping a
smile visible on her face.
“I like the additional stages they have this year,” stated
attendee Heather Klein with multiple children in tow. Klein continued, “I also
like all of the new things for the kids.”
“I like the goats,” added Heather Kein’s daughter, Anastasia
Klein. Anastasia Klein was referencing the goat petting zoo that the CaperingKids 4-H Goat Club hosted, as well as their “goat painting” area that allowed
the children to paint their own pictures
of goats to splash more color into the gray day.
Bluegrass and country music fell over the festival area as
multiple bands performed throughout the day. Named with mountain town flair, acts
like “Mountain Therapy,” “The Lickety Split Banjo Boys,” “The Time Travellers,”
and “Striped Mountain Hollow” performed with their assorted country
instruments. As the audience watched in a hushed, focused manner, the bands
played on through rain and shine.
The rain did not stop the musicians, and it certainly did
not stop the vendors in the large tents that housed numerous different artists
and craftsmen and women selling their assorted products that all had a bit of
mountain character that is lacking in more populated areas. As the dark storm
clouds rolled across the sky, the rain grew from a sprinkle to a steady flow.
From that steady flow, it built to a fast, windy downpour. This sudden
escalation of the weather forced everyone in the open to rush into the tents to
find shelter. Those who found shelter in the large vendor tents wandered about,
browsing crowded outdoor hallways of interesting items.
“I like it when the weather changes. It can be refreshing,”
stated Appalachian Festival vendor Kathy Holetje. “I’ve even exceeded my
expectations for the day,” she added.
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