Mild weather draws crowd to arts and crafts festival

It may still be too early and too cold to frequent the beach, but it's a perfect time to take in small-town charm in the great outdoors.

Sophia Rodriguez/The Post and Courier

From left, Aly and Abby Phillips play violins, while Jessica Rentz enjoys the music. The Phillips sisters with their other siblings were entertaining the crowd at the arts and crafts festival in Meggett.

The festival gods blessed Meggett with blue skies, warm weather and a steady breeze when the town held its annual April in Meggett Arts and Crafts Festival on April 12. About 300 people from around the Lowcountry turned out to take in the silent auction, student art contest and food from local restaurants and charities.

Not to mention the array of artistic expression that showed up in the tents. Nearly 30 vendors were selling a variety of items, including birdhouses, paintings, homemade jewelry, pottery and lawn ornaments.

"It's been an excellent day for this," said Gail Seabrook, Meggett's town clerk. "It's been very successful for the vendors. I've seen a lot of people buying books and candles and jewelry."

Hollywood resident Tom Matthews decided to set up shop at the festival for the first time this year. His business, Candles by the Sea, sells mineral oil and resin-based gel candles with reproductions of lighthouses, seashells and other beach material at the City Market in downtown Charleston. But he said factors such as limited parking and the economy can make sales a little sluggish, and he decided he needed a change of locale.

Sophia Rodriguez/The Post and Courier

The colorful April in Meggett garden cart was placed in the middle of S.C. Highway 165 as a way to announce the festival and direct people to the auction, the student art contest and more.

"I thought this would be something different," he said. Business was good, he said. He also said he probably will return next year.

April in Meggett also was fertile ground for budding talent. Writer James Lynah Palmer Jr. was selling signed copies of his first book, the self-published "Going Coastal: Twelve Months and Then Some of Stumblin' Jimmy Watermelon."

He hadn't been to the festival for several years, when he used to push another kind of merchandise: his sculptures. The book is filled with his anecdotes and illustrations.

"I think I was supposed to write this book, but for what reason, I don't know," he said.

The student art contest was a first. The works were judged both by a panel and public vote. Most of the art was created by students attending St. Paul's Academy. The winners received various prizes, but everyone received a ribbon.

"They have done such a beautiful job on the grounds and they're such sweet people," said Palmer, a Wadmalaw Island native. "This is the kind of coast I grew up on in the '50s. I knew I would enjoy it out here, and I'm so glad to be back here."

Reach Sophia Rodriguez at 937-5538 or srodriguez@postandcourier.com.