HAMLET – Saturday morning, October 27th, may have started out cool and cloudy (especially for the runners of the 5K Race which began at Calvary Baptist Church) but the weather improved throughout the day, bringing the crowds to the 37th consecutive festival in Hamlet, held on the final Saturday each October.
There was an abundance of seasonal crafts, especially colorful wreaths and decorations, such as those made by Alicia Springer of Wake Forest. She had her creations on display in front of Clewis’ Service Center on Rice Street. Her business is Designs By Ms. A!, and she was excited to be a part of the Seaboard Festival.
Many of those at the festival started their morning at the Hamlet Masonic Lodge with a delicious breakfast of country ham, scrambled eggs, grits, and biscuits. The hot coffee warmed up the people who headed back out to Main Street to check out the dozens of vendors offering everything from jewelry to bird feeders to tie-dyed clothing.
Beth Taylor of Dizzy’s Groovy Designs displayed an assortment of bright and uplifting artwork, clothing, and crafts. Her business is 100% Veteran-owned and operated, and she does events, parties, and workshops. Beth can be reached through facebook.com/dizzysgroovydesigns.
Rob McCullough of Hamlet had a very impressive display of his acrylic art of varying sizes. After spending more than 30 years in Raleigh as a hair stylist in Raleigh, Rob moved back to Hamlet in 2010 to spend more time with his mother and assist in her care. After finding boxes of art supplies in her home, Bob decided to take up a new hobby which has opened up a fresh chapter in his life.
Mitchell Barbare makes bird feeders, wooden play items, and toy boxes, as well as sports-themed bird houses. He talked about a recent festival where the college team bird houses were very much in demand.
Melissa Shaw of The Seaboard Soap Company actually lives in Vass, but decided to name her business after watching the trains pass by her home. She specializes in handmade soaps and ships her products all over the United States.
Gene Ross, who worked for CSX for 34 years and the Hamlet Fire Department for 30 years, brought back his steam engine that is actually equipped to be a double cooker on the front. However, it has never been used for that purpose, and Ross has no plans to ever use it other than for display. It is a unique tribute to the history of Hamlet.
There would be no excuse to go home hungry from the Seaboard Festival. From the top of the hill where you could find barbeque sandwiches and greens prepared by the First Harvest Faith Ministry, to the bottom of Main Street where Day Day’s Premium Barbeque prepared ribs, turkey legs, chicken and cracklings. In between were collard sandwiches, cotton candy, homemade cakes, apple fritters, funnel cakes and ice cream.
There was a multitude of activities for the children, including inflatable playgrounds beside the Hamlet Public Library and the vacant parking lot across from City Hall. Carnival-style games were scattered amongst some vendors, allowing the players the momentary thrill of the win. Smokey the Bear walked up and down Main Street, posing for pictures and giving out hugs. A huge inflatable Smokey the Bear was on display in the parking lot beside the Depot, reminding everyone to help prevent forest fires. A train ride called the Duck Express transported children through the area near the Tornado Building.
So many things happened throughout the Seaboard Festival, it is difficult to put it all into one article. More information will be shared in an upcoming report.
