W. TERRY SMITH
They came to the 38th annual Happening on the Common early and stayed until the threatening rain finally began to fall about 3:30 p.m.
The bleachers in front of the entertainment stage were nearly full all day.
Recession? Most of the 60 exhibitors reported sales were strong. Everyone said they would be back next year. Lemonade and snow cone sales were brisk on a warm spring day.
“It was very good,” said Carol Banks, who organized the festival.
“This is our fourth year,” said Jim Howard of Rock Ridge, who was helping his wife Allison at the Herd of Turtles Pottery booth.
“We do several shows a year, and we make sure we do this one. We love Tarboro. Carol Banks does a good job.”
“Everything was organized very well,” said Buddy Hooks, executive director of the host Edgecombe County Cultural Arts Council.
“I’ve been coming since I was in junior high,” said Becky Bayless of Tarboro “I’m doing pretty good (selling handmade jewelry) today.”
In addition to handmade jewelry, rustic furniture, painted silk scarves and brooms, many exhibitors had items for children. Charles and Ethel Metters from Whitakers sold out of marshmallows guns.
It seemed every child had a face painting by either Stephanie Brown or Claudia Dersch.
“I think the booths are laid out better this year,” said Jon Mlyniec while watching Genevieve Govoni paint daisies on a concrete brick.
The Edgecombe County Rescue Squad offered free blood pressure checks and put together address markers for cost, $10.”It can make the difference in life or death,” said Joey Lewis.
Henrietta Barbour of Temperance Hall and Pat Harper of Rocky mount did not try to sell anything. They tried to recruit members for the Tar River Chapter of the Embroiders Guild of America.
“I’ve been to Tarboro a lot with my friends,” said Ann Starrs of Kittrell, “but this is the first time at the Happening.”
Starrs was selling paintings on recycled Plexiglass.
Deloris Samuelson came all the way from of Poplar Beach to sell her jewelry.
“We were here last year, too,” she said.
Joanne Vickers and her daughter Chloe, 8, of Rocky Mount entered a raffle at Gilly’s Girl Designs from Warrenton.
“We’ve been here quiet a few times, Vickers said. “It’s always great. You meet different people from all over.”
Over at the amusements section across St. Patrick Street, parents and grandparents bought tickets for their youngsters. The bungee jump had a long line.
In the Arts Council tent people of all ages picked up the wand and made soap bubbles, petted the white swan, Pom Pom duck and Canadian goose from Sylvan Waterfowl Park in Scotland Neck, shaped clay with Carol Strouble and Sue Winstead of Wilson and made designs on fans provided by World Of Life International Church in Tarboro under the watchful eye of Jean Grimes.
(The clay figures will be ready for pickup in about two weeks at the Blount-Bridgers House.)
The entertainment was more popular than ever. Fans were there early to see the NC Music Network, the performances by students from Carver and Bullocks schools, vocalists Sara Dew of Tarboro and Jo Ann Josey of Scotland Neck, and the linedancers from the Roberson Center.
“It was a lot of fun,” said Judith Moss, of the Roberson group that won a gold medal at the state Senior Games last year
Dew, 16, has a CD featuring her new band Dew Point Rising coming out June 12, the date of her benefit concert for Relay for Life at Keihin Auditorium.
The showers cut short the audience participation with the African Rhythm Drum & Dance Ensemble from Durham and canceled Dr. Tom Gennosa and his Usual Suspects band’s performance.
“I thank all of the volunteers,” Banks said. “We couldn’t have done it without the volunteers.”
