Vendors, visitors fill streets of Palestine

By CHERIL VERNON
The Palestine Herald

PALESTINE March 22, 2009 01:26 am

— Once the Dogwood Trails Parade was over Saturday morning, an army of people of all ages poured into Old Town and downtown Palestine for the Dogwood Trails Celebration’s Arts & Crafts Fair where games, arts and crafts vendors, music and fun activities awaited.
Beverly Broughton of Palestine enjoyed the good weather by taking her three Chihuahuas — Pinto Bean, Josephine Marguerita Cuervo and Ben Wheeler — for a ride in a pink dog stroller. Each dog was decked out in outfits she made especially for them.
“It’s been fantastic,” she said. “I don’t know who ordered the good weather, but they did a great job.”
Broughton said she enjoys bringing the dogs out to social events to give them a chance to “hear different noises and meet all kinds of people.”
She wasn’t the only one. Dozens of people brought their four-legged friends with them to the festival.
Children of all ages also were in abundance Saturday sitting in strollers, taking in train rides and jumping in inflatable bounce houses.
Palestine resident Martha Conner enjoyed the festivities with her 18-month-old grandson, Jayden, and her daughter, Leah.
“He enjoyed the band and the big Wal-Mart truck at the parade,” Conner said.
With them was relative Peggy Herrington.
“I think (the festival) is bigger than last year and in the past,” Herrington said. “It’s more crowded and there are more booths -– that’s the first thing I noticed.”
Up and down West Oak Street a shopper’s paradise awaited visitors with booths filled with t-shirts, hair accessories, jewelry, toys, candles, metal art — and pretty much anything you could think of.
One of those vendors was DR Rock Candles of Waco, who sold unique, custom-made rock candles sporting a variety of designs including the Dallas Cowboys and college teams.
The rock candles — made from all kinds of sandstone including slate, granite and some special stones from Colorado made the product unique.
“There’s a glass reservoir under the rock with fiberglass wicking,” said vendor Diane Roach. “The candle will burn four to seven hours.”
The wick doesn’t have to be replaced because fiberglass doesn’t burn. The candles can be used for inside or outside use, and a fragrance mix can be added to the candle. They also can be used with a globe on top with citronella for mosquito control outside.
“There are lots of uses for the candles,” Roach said.
While many were stopping by the booths, sales weren’t as brisk as in past years.
“With the economy, people are not buying as much as they did toward the end of last year,” Roach said. “But it’s still been good.”
Over at another booth, Crockett vendors E&A Designs (Elaine Wise and Ashley Davis) shared space with Waxy Lady Candles — selling a variety of handmade items as well as the candles.
One of the most popular craft items at this year’s event was the baked potato cooker/warmer, such as the ones sold alongside potholders and fleece lap blankets and more at the booth operated by L&L Enterprises of Kilgore.
“You put the potato in the sleeve and pop it into the microwave,” owner Lynda Callahan said, noting it also can be used to warm tortillas.
For kids, there was a little of everything at the festival — pony rides, sand art booth, face painting and even an educational and interactive area sponsored by Oncor.
But what made the first weekend of Dogwood Trails unique this year wasn’t its festival-type fare ranging from funnel cakes, sausage-on-a-stick and smoked turkey legs, or its annual parade or arts and crafts. It was the better-than-normal blooming dogwoods throughout Palestine and Anderson County.
The Dogwood Trails Celebration will continue today with a matinee performance at 2 p.m. of the Palestine Community Theatre’s production of “Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming” at the Texas Theater, 213 W. Crawford St.
Also this evening, the Anderson County Concert Association will present Pianafiddle. Call 903-391-0086 or 903-729-1789 for tickets and information.
The three-weekend Dogwood Trails Celebration also includes train rides at the Texas State Railroad; the Palestine Old Time Music & Dulcimer Festival and the Gatherin’ Steam Dogwood Bicycle Ride (both set for the second weekend); and a variety of other events. The complete schedule is available online at www.palestineherald.com

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