Contributing writer Bonnie Cranmer
The sky was blue and the sun shone down on the town of New Castle for this year’s Craig County Fall Festival. The weather was perfect for the outdoor festivities provided by the volunteers and vendors on Saturday. From the top of Main Street to the grassy field behind the Old Hotel, the entire stretch of three blocks was filled with happy crowds.
The Clifton Store opened to the public at noon and the excitement was palpable. Many long months of research was done before the planning of the renovation was begun. To see the end result completed, a step into a different time, can now be experienced when venturing into the building next to the Old Hotel. A special thanks to all the family members and volunteers who made the renovation possible.
Music kept the energy going from the main stage, sponsored by Gopher Mart. People set up chairs and enjoyed several bands throughout the day. Occasionally, a couple folks would feel the spirit and flatfoot, which was appreciated by the crowds. The old-time stepping style is a skill learned over years of practice, witnessed during the flatfoot competition in front of the main stage in the heat of the afternoon. The bands included The Early Family, sharing gospel and country, and Blue Connection with their hard-driving bluegrass. Later in the afternoon, The Ella Folk Duo provided the outlaw country popular in the region.
A hub of activity could be found on the porch of the Old Hotel, with the sale of fried apple pies. The delicious pies were sold by the Craig County Historical Society. This was just one of the treats available at the Fall Festival. The ever-popular funnel cakes vendor had a long line for most of the day. There was even a “walking desserts” booth which prompted questions and plenty of smiling faces.
Vendors filled the street, sharing everything from tasty treats to educational programs. The VFW was on hand with a TV raffle fundraiser. Several local churches had raffles of quilts and handmade items, bake sales and kitschy items for sale. As you walked up the street, friends chatted and caught up since the last time they met. Walking through the antique cars and trucks brought back memories of times past, and the work necessary for keeping things running down the road. Several antique cars were found in town, just out for a ride on a beautiful day. The entire three blocks of Main Street were filled with excited visitors, eager to experience the festivities.
The Farmers Market had every stall filled. From baked goods to produce to carefully crafted items made by skilled hands. The best of Craig County and beyond was on display. Several of the regular market vendors had their own booths on the street, with even more extra goodness available. The Farmers Market will continue their season with two more holiday markets in November and December. Check for updates on Facebook and in the New Castle Record.
Businesses serving the region were on hand, including Guthrie Insurance which recently celebrated their 10-year anniversary. New Castle Mayor Lenny Macdonald was wearing his other hat at his booth for Edward Jones Investments. Several service related businesses were present and ready to provide information to the community in attendance. The “cow” milking display brought many interested participants ready to learn the skill in front of The Emporium.
Heading to the top of the street, the Craig County Public Library had shoppers at their yard sale and book sale. There was parking on part of the lot, managed by some “anonymous” volunteers. The brisket chili was a big hit, thanks to the volunteer cooks! Watch for a monthly calendar of events from the library to keep up on the activities for all ages.
Craig County High School was present, sharing the good works of several programs. The FFA (Future Farmers of America) brought animals from the Land Lab for a petting zoo, and had young chickens for sale. Other programs included a raffle of items from the welding class and fundraising items. 4H had an information booth and encourages both students and interested adults to participate.
None of this would be possible without the support of volunteers throughout the year. The Craig County Historical Society is grateful to the sponsors, vendors, musicians and the entire community who came out to support the 41st annual Fall Festival. It doesn’t happen without a lot of planning and hard work, but on a beautiful day like this, it was all worth it.
