Sure, NOW it rains ... It's just what events don't need on weekendBy Dave Munday (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Friday, April 4, 2008
Brad Nettles Flowertown Festival vendor Dean Garrard of Birmingham, Ala., sloshes through 3 inches of water that pooled at her booth Thursday as she and her husband tried to set up for the opening day of the festival today. Video
Running in the race for the nineteenth time this year, David Quick picks up his race packet and checks out the Expo down at the at the Gaillard Auditorium Watch » Three big eventsFlowertown Festival: Free. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. www.summervilleymca.org. Cooper River Bridge Run: 8 a.m. Saturday. Must register by 10 tonight and be in line by 6:30 a.m. Saturday. www.bridgerun.com. Cajun Festival: Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, James Island County Park. $10 for adults, free for pre-teens with adults. 795-4386 or www.ccprc.com. Read moreAdditional stories on the 2008 Cooper River Bridge Run Rain, rain, go away, come back when there aren't three big outdoor events in one weekend. The outlook was soggy as vendors for the Flowertown Festival set up their tents Thursday in Azalea Park. Dean Garrard of Birmingham, Ala., sloshed through 3 inches of water on the ground of the booth where she will sell handmade baby items. She's been coming for 15 years to what has become the biggest festival in the Lowcountry and one of the premier craft shows in the country. More than 200,000 people usually visit the town over the three days. But the forecast had vendors uncertain this year. "We've never seen this much water," Garrard said. "I'm a little worried. We're just hoping the rain will move on out." Park workers dug a trench to drain some of the water into a nearby creek, but it didn't seem to help much. Park Director Mike Hinson said he planned to send in a portable pump later, then put down sand. "It's a challenge," he said. "Unfortunately, the park is the lowest place in town. I hope that people understand we're doing everything we can." The Summerville Family YMCA organizes the annual festival and chooses the venue. It's always been held at Azalea Park, and there has never been a serious suggestion to hold it anyplace else, Marketing Director Liz Graham said. "It's just so identifiable with the azaleas," she said. "We really didn't think about doing it anywhere else." "We're hoping everybody will come, because they will be supporting our cause," YMCA Special Events Director Linda Walton said. "The YMCA is still around, rain or not." Mary Lou Weeden of Orlando, Fla., who sells handmade jewelry, was setting up her booth in a drier spot, and she was more upbeat. "We tell everybody Summerville is the best town in the country," Weeden said. "I have my customers who come out every year. I love the place and the people." The Cooper River Bridge Run is Saturday morning. The spotty forecast won't keep the 25,000 runners who have signed up off the Ravenel Bridge, but it could thin the throng of walkers, which numbered 10,000 Thursday afternoon. The only way rain would delay the bridge run would be if it were accompanied by lightning, Assistant Race Director Tami Bourne said. "We have to go on, because it's like an act of Congress to get that bridge closed," she said. While rain is not likely to stop the runners, it could put a damper on some of the many outdoor parties planned after the bridge run. People can continue to sign up for the race until 10 tonight. The rain also could mean soggy ground at James Island County Park on Sunday afternoon, and that could affect the turnout for the annual Cajun Festival. On the other hand, sunny weather Sunday might provide a welcome relief and swell the crowds. As of Thursday evening, the National Weather Service was forecasting a 40 percent chance of rain today, especially in the afternoon. The chance of rain Saturday was 70 percent, also mainly in the afternoon. Sunday's forecast was mostly cloudy after some possible early-morning rain. Reach Dave Munday at 745-5862 or dmunday@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 23 comment(s)
Posted by 5thGenerationLocal on April 4, 2008 at 7:08 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by Hey_U_Guys on April 4, 2008 at 7:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The festivals are gay any way.
On another note, have you noticed that you can cuss in the forums, now? I noticed that yesterday.
Posted by 5thGenerationLocal on April 4, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Freedom of speech!
Posted by theronce on April 4, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Summerville does not listen. Why take the most beautiful part of town at its peak and turn it into eye sore for the 3 weeks out of the year when it should be at its best. The town spends enormous amounts of money to support the Y already. Let the Y hold the festival on its own large property off Old Trolley, and let the town enjoy its park again.
Posted by dustym59 on April 4, 2008 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sure, NOW it rains ...
Do you have to work at being stupid...or does it come natural?
Posted by ColdBeer on April 4, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Personally, I'm glad we're getting all of this rain. I don't really feel like being told that I can't water my lawn or wash my car. Hell, the last time I wash in Charlotte, they were talking about having everyone take submarine showers (Water on, get wet, water off, soap up, water on, rinse off, water off). I'd much rather have the bridge runners get wet and I'd actually prefer if the Flowertown Festival just went away completely. We already have one flea market in this area, we don't need another in downtown Summerville.
From the article: "Dean Garrard of Birmingham, Ala., sloshed through 3 inches of water on the ground of the booth where she will sell handmade baby items."
From Alabama and selling baby stuff? How does this show off the beauty that can be Summerville?
Posted by Early on April 4, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just remember to take a good cozy with you, one that will grip well when wet. After all, if you spill your beer that's called "alcohol abuse"
Posted by summerville_guy on April 4, 2008 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Theronce, you seem to have a personal agenda against the Flowertown festival, as you posted pretty much the exact same thing on a previous story about the festival. Would you really be hanging out in the park looking at the flowers if there was no festival this weekend?
You say to let Summerville enjoy its park. My wife grew up in Summerville, and she looks forward to "enjoying the park" every year by going to the festival. I don't care too much about it either way, but there are plenty of people who do enjoy being in a beautiful park in the springtime to buy things and to see other Summerville folks.
Posted by ColdBeer on April 4, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good Advice Early :)
Posted by theronce on April 4, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As it is now, I do have a few things that I do not like about the festival. One, the town directly and indirectly subsidizes a private organization, which charges mostly prohitive fees for everything. Two, it's in the wrong location. (Yes, I grow flowers and once enjoyed the park in its splendor, not this tackiness.) Have the festival and continue to enjoy it. I do not want to stop anyone from that; I think that is a wonderful thing. Right now, the Y has everything their own way. Let it support itself (They could charge for parking and admission on its own property.), and let others enjoy the park. Everybody wins.
Posted by archdude on April 4, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let it rain and rain and rain...it is needed. If the vendors or planners of an outdoor festival don't like it then they should just have it indoors. I love the way people get to complain because it is raining, but if it did not they would complain because how dry or hot or gnat infested it was.
Posted by wpc3iop on April 4, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cursing is OK but I had a comment censored bacause I used the word racc$$n...talking about a racc$$n that had damaged the inside of a church! We wouldn't want to not be politically correct...
Posted by Hey_U_Guys on April 4, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They deleted 5th's first comment...
Posted by RTC on April 4, 2008 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
wpc3iop, I had them to tell me to "watch my mouth", just because I tried to post about them making B**ners coffee shop change it's name. Is that not ridiculous?
Posted by Edwin435 on April 4, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well I am planning to enjoy it.... its a boom for the town and the Y. I honestly think that if you don't like it do go near it.... Its like the Southeastern wildlife exhibit...I choose not to go downtown... all in all whats a weekend?
Posted by archdude on April 4, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Edwin,
Exactly...people should go if they want and stay away if they do not like it.
I just hope everyone quits complaining about something or another every time anything happens (it will never happen).
Posted by theronce on April 4, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
By all means, do enjoy it. I do not begrudge anyone their festival. Hopefully, I can shut my fingers down after this, but... It is a boom for the Y but not for the town. The city coffers lose money mostly in the indirect costs. The majority of businesses see decrease in business. The vast majority of the town and local residents do stay far, far away. And...it is more than a weekend. Set up starts at least a week ahead of time, and the park usually looks like hell for a few weeks after.
Posted by Hey_U_Guys on April 4, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
RTC: That's funny. I love B***ers coffee. Well, it's Bigby now.
Posted by theronce on April 4, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess it's ok to complain about the complainers. I really mean it this time, no more replies.
Posted by ColdBeer on April 4, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The censorship programming needs some work. Remember the old TV sitcom with Rob Petry? If you want to type the actor’s name, you have to type Penis Van Lesbian because his real name consists of dirty, dirty words :)
I too just steer clear of the festivals... almost all of them. I don't understand the interest, but it doesn't bother me in the least if they take place. I don't, however, understand how anyone can complain about rain after the drought the southeast has gone through.
Posted by RTC on April 4, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey_U_ Guys, my daughter loves B**ners too.
She has moved to Colorado, and when I told her about the name change she said, " Now what am I supposed to do with my B**ners coffee mug?" LOL
Posted by RTC on April 4, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Coldbeer, I guess you can say "Deek Van Dike" like you have an accent or something. That is too funny.
Posted by auger on April 4, 2008 at 9:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with several of the earlier comments. The fact that we are getting this much rain at all should be cause for celebration on its own accord! Don't be sad or bitter, follow my lead and dance in the rain!