PARKERSBURG - The 50th annual Harvest Moon Arts and Crafts Festival was a success with high attendance and more vendors, an organizer said.
"We had 3,948 people come on Saturday and hoping for 2,000 for (Sunday)," said event director Vickie Marshall. "I don't know if the attendance was a record or not, but it is very nice."
This year, the festival grew with more vendors than in the past, topping out near 200.
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Photos by Jolene Craig
Katy Ferguson begins a new piece on her potter’s wheel Sunday afternoon during the final day of the 50th annual Harvest Moon Arts and Crafts Festival.
"There is something for everyone with all of the vendors we have," Marshall said. "It doesn't hurt that the weather has been wonderful."
Pottery artist Katy Ferguson said that as both a vendor and attendee, this year's festival was popular.
"There are four potters this year, which is great," said Ferguson. "To know that this festival is still growing after 50 years is wonderful."
Ferguson pointed out that with the larger number of vendors and crowd sizes, the festival looks to continue to be popular next year.
"Although, I don't think the shirts will be as fun," she said with a laugh. This year's T-shirts had "I've Been Mooned 50x" on the back.
Many of the vendors have been a part of the festival for years, including Marjorie Pullin, owner of Pullin Patterns in Point Pleasant.
"I've been part of the Harvest Moon Festival for more than 20 years," Pullin said. "Not just that, but I've always been in the same spot, which helps."
Pullin said she participates in the festival each year because of the camaraderie.
"The people who organize it and come here are always friendly and it's a good marketplace," she added.
LaChresia Bogardus, owner of Chresia's Cupcakes booth, said she has participated in the festival for the past six or seven years, but this was only her second with baked goods and drinks.
"I used to have sports memorabilia that wasn't selling and decided I needed to offer something different," she said. "I bake all of the time, so I just decided to expand that."
On Saturday, Bogardus sold out of cupcakes and had to make more that night to be ready for Sunday's customers.
"This is just something I can do that will put a smile on people's faces," she said.
