Umbrellas and jackets were the order of the morning but that didn’t stop people from coming out to the annual Vinton Fall Festival. It started raining near the end of the 5K which was the first event and drizzled off and on for much of the day’s activities. There were tents selling everything from arts and crafts to food for humans and canines. Two stages with live music and dancing served as book ends for the rows of tents.
Mary Kay Brown, president of the Women’s Club of Vinton, was stationed under one of the tents. “We’ve got homemade dog biscuits and scarves – you can guess the number of biscuits in the bowl or buy tickets and take a chance on them.”
She said most of the raffle items came from community groups and businesses. A small yellow Lab was sporting one of the scarves. “Marley’s our model.”
“All the proceeds go to scholarships at William Byrd High School”, Brown says.
“We do a scholarship and we do a Best All Around Girl Student.” She says the Lions Club choses the Best All Around Male Student.
Sylvia Cundiff was surrounded by a sea of tents but her craft items had no protection from the elements. “I’ve been here before but not to sell items.” Next time I’ll know to get a tent.” She’s used to having an indoor venue in which to sell her crafts.
She normally uses about 20 jewelry boards but she had to put them back in her car because of the rain. “It takes a lot of time to do these.”
Sitting up in several neat rows on the table were her “Pumpkin People.” The heads are plastic trick or treat containers in the shape of a pumpkin with soft hand-sewn bodies. “I sew them and make them and stuff them and put the wood in them and then put the heads on them.”
She had several Virginia Tech Pumpkin People, in various poses. One had its hands up to its face Cundiff says as if it was saying, “Oh, me, are we gonna win?” Another had its “hands” together in prayer.
Cundiff says it takes her about an hour to make an outfit. One creation had a Tigger head, another had a Dalmation outfit. “Hello Kitty is very popular this year,” and she sold out of the Redskins last week – but she said her favorite outfit is the Dallas Cowboys.
– Beverly Amsler
