Art in the Park: Shoppers not slowed by soggy weather
Staff reporter
The rain just kept falling and the temperature stayed in the 50s much of Saturday during Marion's Art in the Park and Craft Show.
Despite cool temperatures and a smaller-than-usual crowd of vendors and shoppers, the trees of Central Park served as a large umbrella. By afternoon, the rain-soaked grass became muddy but many continued their annual odyssey of selling their wares to potential buyers.
By mid-afternoon the rain finally stopped.
Just how often has the show suffered at the hands of Mother Nature?
This was the 29th year for the event and this is the first time that veteran organizer Judy Christensen can recall it raining nearly all day.
"It has never rained like this before," she said.
The rain began early Saturday morning with thunder and lightning. At times, the downpour was tremendous.
There were 150 exhibitors signed up for the event with 20 not showing.
"It was a steady flow of people from 9:30 a.m. on," Christensen said. "It amazed me."
No officials numbers were available but the steady stream of shoppers were spending money.
"It was a buying crowd," Christensen said.
Some exhibitors sold out while some local food vendors had a surplus of leftovers.
Winners of $20 gift certificates were Deb Jones of Wichita, Krista Harrop of Wakarusa, Elaine Spellman of Salina, Kevin Stoecklin of Ness City, Deb Wagner of Fremont, Neb., and Feebie Holdeman, Melanie Grimmett, Shawn Voth, and Delores Warnica of Marion.
With the weather being wet and cool, the downtown businesses fared well.
St. Luke Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shoppe recorded the best weekend ever with sales of more than $1,300.
What did they sell?
"Everything," Rosemary Garrard responded. "We did sell lots of sweaters and jackets."
Profits from the thrift store are donated to the hospital for equipment and operating expenses.
All in all it was a good day.
"In spite of everything it was as successful as it could have been," Christensen said. She particularly appreciated the dedication of volunteers, Marion Police Department, and community service workers.
She also noted the convenience of having the show at the park where the grass soaked up much of the rainfall, causing little flooding.
