Mableton resident Tom Jordan, owner of Jordan's Craftables, sets out some of his new handmade copper musical sculptures at the Smyrna Jonquil Festival on Sunday.
Photo by Todd Hull
Photo by Todd Hull
Powder Springs residents Beverly and Jon Osnowitz look at some of the handmade jewelry.
Photo by Todd Hull
Photo by Todd Hull
“We had a good run of weather the last few years,” said Tod Miller with event operator JRM Management. “It’s down from what it’s been. It was a good day yesterday, but in the event business, it’s weather driven, not economy driven.”
On a typical weekend, the two-day festival will draw between 15,000 and 20,000 people, Miller said. While he didn’t have final totals, he expected the numbers to be down this time. The festival featured 125 arts and crafts vendors, selling items like hand-crafted toys, quilts and paintings of sports stars, as well as 15 food vendors and inflatable and bungee rides. In addition, the festival has a puppet show, along with music, dance and karate performers.
“The Village Green and Community Center complex is among is one of the nicest areas around Cobb to do events,” said Miller, who manages around 10 events in the county, most notably the North Georgia State Fair.
The weather didn’t stop some from making it to the festival.
“I’m not a fan of it, but I’m toughing it out,” Amelia Crine of Smyrna said of the conditions.
Crine said she likes to buy hair bows for her 15-month-old daughter, Evangeline, at the event.
“I just wanted to see what everybody has to offer,” she said. “It’s kind of a community thing.”
Weldon Voyles and Mildred Davenport of Austell said they’ve been coming to the event for about eight years.
“I like all the crafts and things that change from year to year,” Davenport said. “And I always have to eat.”
While arts and crafts vendors have to pay to rent space, the festival allows several nonprofit groups, like Kiwanis and Optimist clubs, to have booths at no charge.
Cobb Planning Commission member Mike Terry was on hand to promote the Taylor-Brawner House Foundation. He sold discounted copies of his book, “A Simpler Time,” which tells the story of the house, the neighboring Brawner Hospital and the 501(c) 3 foundation.
Terry said the home is where the Taylor family introduced the yellow Jonquil flower to Smyrna, which is nicknamed the “Jonquil City.” Terry said he’s sold about 400 books since it was released in August, but sales were tough with Sunday’s weather.
“We had a real good day yesterday,” he said.
This weekend’s event was the 24th Fall Jonquil Festival. A spring festival is held the last weekend in April.
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The weather was undoubtedly better in Roswell and Decatur that day, by far!
That dang Bacon!
Decatur, Roswell & Sandy Springs continue to attract big business, movers and shakers and a much higher quality of life for it's taxbase!
(poor smyrna!!)
Or you could hang out in Smyrna and look at the mayors new lights ,..all lined up in front of his kingdom,.. all $750,000 dollars worth or them! Disgraceful!!
While Concord Road, South Cobb and Windy Hill lie in ruin! Way to run a city for 30 years!