By Hugh Fisher
hfisher@salisburypost.com
Food, music and homestyle fun are the order of the weekend at the 30th annual Autumn Jubilee.
Dan Nicholas Park was filled almost to capacity Saturday with families enjoying the free entertainment and shopping.
Rowan Parks and Recreation Director Don Bringle estimated Saturday’s Autumn Jubilee attendance at 35,000.
“The crowd has been phenomenal,” Bringle said.
Traffic on Bringle Ferry Road slowed to a crawl about a mile from the park entrance as Rowan County citizens descended on the festivities.
But the weather stayed near perfect, Bringle said.
And despite the large crowds, he said the biggest problems he’d heard reported were a few bee stings.
After 30 years, Bringle said the event continues to be a favorite.
“You have children and grandchildren, three generations, whose families have been coming here,” he said.
Arts and crafts vendors are one of Autumn Jubilee’s biggest draws. This year’s Heritage Crafts area sports live displays of iron forging and basket weaving.
Ruth Wright and Haroliene Williams, sisters from Charleston, sat in the shade Saturday and wove baskets as their grandmother taught them decades ago.
“We’re using pine needles, sweetgrass, bulrush and palmetto,” Wright said as she patiently wove the lower frame of a basket, a process which takes about a day and a half to finish.
“It’s really nice. The kids love to see it, and we let them learn how to do it.”
In another part of the park, rows of pink and gray birds crafted from PVC pipe stood watch over a walkway as shoppers passed.
They’re cranes, herons and flamingos made by Richard Howle and his small business, RJ Designs.
“We didn’t know what to expect,” said Howle, who traveled to Autumn Jubilee with wife Judy from their home in Hartsville, S.C.
But the response from shoppers, he said, has been good.
“We sold about 50 percent of our inventory, which for us is a good day,” he said.
One of Howle’s statues ó a green frog standing up on its back legs ó went home with Sheila Lowry of Concord, along with a handmade cedar kid’s chair.
“We’ve had a great time,” Lowry said.
Other vendors told a different story.
“The economy is not being good to us,” Lisa Whittaker said.
She and her mother, Ann, offered seashell wind chimes, handmade quilts, blankets and fabric crafts at their tent.
But their merchandise just wasn’t selling, though Ann said many people had stopped to look and expressed interest.
“Let’s hope we get enough to pay the rent,” Ann said.
Event organizer Phyllis Cornelison said 151 craft vendors were signed up for this year’s Autumn Jubilee.
In general, knick-knacks and toys were selling strongly, while items such as handmade wooden furniture were not.
The day’s big seller was food. Bringle said the selection of food vendors was chosen so there wouldn’t be competition, and the variety speaks for itself.
“We’ve done really well,” said Teresa Harrison, standing over the Eastside Baptist Church bake sale table, loaded with almost every flavor of cake imaginable.
Harrison is president of Eastside Baptist’s women’s group. Proceeds from the bake sale benefit the church’s missions efforts.
“It feels great to be a part of this,” Harrison said.
The Filipino-American Community of Salisbury drew long lines at lunchtime with its food selection.
“We have egg rolls, banana rolls, pancit (fried rice noodles) and barbecued pork on a stick,” Charles Metcalf said.
Metcalf, president of the Filipino-American organization, said the group’s food sale at Autumn Jubilee is one of two major annual fundraisers.
“We send money home to the Philippines to buy educational supplies and clothes,” Metcalf said.
The event continues today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission and parking are free.
This afternoon’s entertainment schedule includes performances by Mike and Gaynell Lambert from noon to 1 p.m. and the Alabama Blues Brothers from 4 to 5:30 p.m., among others.
Radio Disney will be on site from 2 to 4 p.m., and a variety of children’s games and shows are scheduled throughout the day.