Festival weather storm
Published 5:17 pm Saturday, June 8, 2013
Although it had a stormy start Friday, Washington’s Summer Festival enjoyed festival-like weather Saturday.
With intermittent periods of sunshine, gray skies and brisk breezes, festival-goers, vendors and festival organizers made the most of what Mother Nature and the festival offered. The festival celebrated its 30th year this weekend.
When the sun was blazing, the vendors selling snow cream, snow cones, flavored shaved ice and ice-cold beverages made brisk sales. Ice-cream sales — whether the ice cream was homemade or soft-serve from a dispenser — occurred at a rapid pace.
Among those cooling off with snow cones were Tripp Belote and one of his daughters, Josie.
Tripp Belote is no stranger to the Summer Festival. He once worked in Beaufort County as its economic-development director. His family is moving back to Washington.
Catherine Glover, executive director of the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce, and Robin McKeithan, another chamber official, were busy Saturday morning making sure the festival was running smoothly. The festival is the chamber’s largest fundraiser each year.
Once the sun began peeking through the clouds for longer periods of time Saturday, crowds became larger and larger throughout the afternoon. Festival-goers arrived by car, boats and on foot throughout the day. Smoked turkey legs, funnel cakes and sausages — Polish or Italian, take your pick — were among the food favorites. Summer Festival T-shirts sold well, some literally flying off the tables when the wind picked up.
The festival weekend concludes tonight with a free performance by the North Carolina Symphony at Festival Park. The show begins at 7:30.