Rain fails to dampen spirits at Stoneville Rotary Club Fall Festival

By Steve Lawson

Published: September 27, 2008

Saturday morning started off gray and misty in Stoneville, but that soon evolved into a steady light rain.

It would take more than that, however, to dampen the spirits of folks turning out for the seventh annual Stoneville Rotary Club Fall Festival.

“It’s hard to believe, but we’ve been holding this event for seven years and this is the first time we’ve had rain,“ said Rotary member Harold Knight. “But it’s all still good. We had a couple vendors cancel on us at the last minute, but everyone else turned out and things are going great.“

The McMichael band did not make it for the opening ceremony due to the threat of rain, but the crowd built up quick around the Rotary stage near town hall as the 9:30 a.m. start for the annual beautiful baby contest grew closer.

“That’s one thing we can always depend on to draw an early crowd,“ said Knight. “That and the good food.“

Sixteen entries, ages birth to 48 months, paraded - or were carried - by the judges in Saturday’s edition of the competition. With all of them dressed in their finest attire and looking their best, it was a hard decision for the men and women marking the ballots.

In the end, the title of most beautiful girl was shared by Macy Hurd and Riley Gann. The most beautiful boy title went to Liam Smith, and Ethan Moore won the best personality trophy.

After more than 20 years in the Stoneville Rotary Club, Knight said he was delighted to see the way the club came together every year to help make the fall festival a success. The event has grown each year, adding more vendors, attractions and musical guests.

The rain prevented one of this year’s additions from getting off to a good start. The club had planned a second stage for performances at the corner of Main and Henry streets, but that stage did not have a roof like the main stage at town hall and the sound equipment could not be set up.

But plenty of visitors popped up umbrellas and continued to stroll the streets checking out vendors selling crafts, baked goods, jewelry and other items. And the food vendors did a brisk business despite the off-and-on showers during the morning hours.

“It takes a lot of people to put on something like this and it’s definitely a cooperative effort,“ Knight said. “We’ve been really fortunate to have the kind of support we get from the downtown merchants, the town and our vendors. We also have a lot of volunteers that just want to help.“

One of those vendors spent nearly an hour in the rain around noontime Saturday. Auctioneer Benny Wray helped Stoneville Rotary raise some funds for their charitable causes by calling the bids and sales for items donated for an auction. Without losing any of his usual cheerfulness or humor, Wray managed to solicit a reasonable bid for every item, even if it took a little friendly jabbing at friends in the crowd.

“All of the money we raise through this event goes out to different charities during the year,“ Knight said.

The Stoneville Rotary Club helps sponsor the local Boy Scout troop, donates funds to the local elementary school, the McMichael High School band, Rockingham Community College, Relay for Life and other local and national charities. The club also provides personalized dictionaries to every third-grader at Stoneville Elementary School each year.

Through the international Rotary, the club also donates funds to help eradicate polio around the world and help stamp out illiteracy.

“We give away every cent we make at this event and other fundraisers during the year,“ Knight said. “Then we’ll start over again next year and do the same. It’s a lot of work sometimes, but it’s worth it and we all enjoy it.“

• News editor Steve Lawson can be reached at or 548-6047.