Second annual Cottagecore Festival success despite rain
The second annual Shoals Cottagecore Festival on May 10 was a success despite the inclement weather. Throughout the event, the rain couldn’t decide whether to be a sprinkle, a shower or a downpour. Forecasts changed daily, but the founder, Dr. Mary Margaret Holmes, was determined to keep the festival going, rain or shine. Though Holmes stressed about the weather all week, after she returned home, wet and exhausted, she said she felt a comforting peace that she had done the right thing.
“We had a good morning,” Holmes said. “We were so busy and had tons of people. Despite the yucky weather, we had a successful day overall.” Holmes said attendees came from at least seven different states. One family came all the way from Washington state. A family from Colorado returned for another visit.
Out of more than 100 vendors, nearly all stuck it out through the rain, though some didn’t show up because of the weather and a few decided to leave early. Around 4:30p.m., the bottom fell. Festival-goers browsed in ponchos and carried umbrellas and were still shopping by the time Holmes ended the festival at 5:00p.m. “Everybody was happy despite the rain. The only complaint I heard was that it was cold.”
Though the festival was cut short, Holmes said the vendors did much better this year than the previous. Many people on social media gave the event overwhelmingly positive reviews and enthusiastic encouragement. Vendors said they were already preparing for the next festival. “Next year we will be bigger and better. Bigger and better raffles. We will have more top-tier vendors. No matter what, you will be able to find something to meet your needs. We have so much local music talent that we don’t need big names to attend. We have it all right here.”
