Thousands also shop at Marion vendors
Staff writer
Vendors at Marion’s Art in the Park did brisk business Saturday and Sunday.
One from McPherson told organizer Margo Yates that Saturday was the biggest day in history for her business.
Another from Missouri sold fudge, taffy, and cups their kids had decorated.
“They had a child with medical needs, and that’s why they had that booth, and people were really supporting them,” Yates said.
Fair-goers meandered among booths that lined sidewalks and park grounds, checking out goods, asking vendors questions, and selecting most-wanted things.
Vendors offered home and lawn décor, information booths, a gun raffle, kettle corn, air fresheners, jewelry, freeze-dried candy, homemade bait, baked goods, quilts, crocheted apparel and toys, hooded jackets, shadow boxes, key chains, pens, hair accessories, bookmarks, phone and purse chains, pet products, kitchen items, local honey, and an array of other items.
Business was down a bit Sunday. Yates speculated that was because of rain surrounding the area. But the day wasn’t all doom and gloom.
“I just found out one of my vendors did $900 yesterday,” Yates said Monday. “They told people the festival would be open Sunday. People came back.”
A vendor who has come to Marion for five years, Clemo Haddox of South Coffeyville, Oklahoma, who has sold an eclectic assortment of lawn ornaments made from upcycled metal pieces. His business is named “DC’s Juntiques.”
This year, Haddox added cut rocks to his offerings. Slices of polished rocks had cutouts of various designs.
“We’ve done five years in Marion,” Haddox said. “We did Hillsboro for 25 years. My brother and his wife are over at Hillsboro.”