Rain dampens people, not spirit, at Mum Fest

Even with cloudy skies and several heavy rain showers, thousands of people flocked to downtown Saturday to breathe in the sights, sounds and smells of the first day of the 28th annual Mum Fest.

Because Friday night wind and rain kept them from setting up early, many of the vendors were still arriving when the festival began at 9:30 a.m. American flag pinwheels rotated quickly in the wind outside the Liberty Tax booth. Vendors sold hot sauce, candles and inflatable plastic guitars from tents along East Front Street.

That's where Hubba Bubba, a clown in a red hat and nose, juggled for Taylor and Hunter Whitford of New Bern. Taylor, who is 9, and Hunter, who is 7, giggled when the clown asked for a handshake and stuck his hand high in the air. Hunter couldn't reach.

"We're out early trying to beat the crowds and the rain," said Renee Whitford, their mother.

Pickin' and Grinnin' filled the air with bluegrass and gospel music from a stage at the Galley Store near Pollock Street. J.O. Kravich of New Bern sat on a bale of hay beside his grandson, Kyler White. They tapped their hands on their knees as the band played.

"We may not have sun, but we have good music, and our morning is actually nice with the breeze and this cheeseburger," Kravich said. "It's Kyler's first Mum Fest, so we're fit to be tied. The spirit's still here."

Timmy Kote and Justin Williams of Jones County screamed as they spun around on the Scrambler ride near the Neuse River. The smell of fried potatoes and meats drifted down Broad Street. That's where people circled around a group of girls from the New Bern Ballet. Strands of multicolored balloons stretched over Broad Street.

Gary Shelton wore a checkered tuxedo and performed disappearing ball tricks for a group of children from Wilmington. Nearby, John Drisden of Boca Raton, Fla., took in his fifth Mum Fest, eating potato chips and sipping a Pepsi at the intersection of Broad and Middle streets.

Officers from the New Bern Police Department stood on most corners. Others rode golf carts through the festival to make sure everyone behaved. Officers said they knew of no major problems Saturday.

A heavy shower at 12:30 p.m. chased some people from downtown, but others poured in when the rain stopped. The rain did keep scheduled 1 p.m. aerobatic flights grounded, said Susan Moffat-Thomas, the executive director of Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corporation. Swiss Bear organizes Mum Fest.

"The crowds are there," Moffat-Thomas said. "It isn't red hot, but I think the vendors are doing well with the economy the way it is. I'm hoping the rain isn't steady, and we hope for sun (today)."

Mum Fest opens today at 10:30 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m.