|
 Saturday, May 14 will be one of the most exciting days this year, and maybe for years to come. On that special  day, the North Carolina Folk Arts Festival will return to Armfield Street for its 10th big year, from 9 AM until 4 PM. Immediately following, it is the Chamber of Commerce’s turn to showcase downtown St. Pauls with its monthly Cruisin’ St. Pauls Night Out event from 5 PM until 8 PM. Many vendors who will be selling at the Festival will strike their tents or move their wagons and head on over to Broad Street where they will set up and offer everything from homemade ice cream to a wonderful array of arts and crafts. Music, a great car cruise-in and much more will help the ‘celebrate St. Pauls’ party last well into the evening.
The Festival gets the day kicked off with a stage full of local talent, vendors lined up along a blocked off Armfield Street, a great North Carolina pottery show by the Muddy Waters Pottery Club and friends in the Hooks Community Center, activities for kids, and just plain old fashioned family fun.
A new attraction this year is the Chili Cook-Off, headed by Grady Pardue, who recently with his son won best Theme Booth and second place overall in the Chili Competition at the Southport Spring Festival. Mr. Pardue is still seeking teams from local businesses, churches, civic groups, fire departments, schools and individuals to enter the Cook-Off and compete for cash and other awards. He is also in need of gifts for those who do enter it and win. Gift cards, store products, business items, savings bonds, cash and other prizes for contestants if it is to grow and become an annual attraction. Please contact him at 865-6221 if you would like to make the competition viable. Proceeds from the Cook-Off, both entry fees and the take from selling samples of the chili prepared on site, will go toward the Festival’s scholarship fund.
If you are not exhausted by the day-long Folk Arts Festival, or even if you are, come on over to Broad Street to party some more, during downtown St. Pauls’ busiest and best day.
If you would like to enter the Cruisin’ St. Pauls Night Out, please contact Paul Terry at 865-4179 by Monday, May 9. There is no charge for vendors, and everyone is welcome to set up and sell food, arts and crafts, play music, perform magic tricks, mime, sell cotton candy, fundraise and offer raffle tickets. If you would like to enter a classic car, muscle car, car still in the works, antique vehicle, motorcycle or farm tractor, please contact Dempsey Smith at 977-6560 or Cecil Inman or Bud Jackson. There is no charge.
Get ready to party all day and well into the night on Saturday, May 14.
|
