Festival delights crafters, families

Sunny skies, unique crafts and family activities bring large crowds to the 23rd annual Country Jubilee

By JULIANNE WU

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 30, 2000

LARGO -- Some things looked good enough to eat -- like the banana nut and Granny Smith apple candles and the chocolate chip dreams and raspberry delights bath salts.

There were even doggy bags, but not for leftovers. Instead, they were designer cloth bags lined with plastic bags for "responsible pet owners" who want to pick up after their pooches in style.

Those were just some of the items more than 125 crafters were selling at the 23rd annual Country Jubilee Saturday at Heritage Village. Festivalgoers also were treated to folk, country and bluegrass music, refreshments and plenty of family and kid-friendly activities.

In the past, the annual autumn festival -- the largest fundraiser of the year for the historical 21-acre park -- has brought in 14,000 to 15,000 visitors in one day.

This year's event, blessed by sunny skies and cool breezes, looked like it would have at least as many participants. An hour before the festival was to open at 9:30 a.m., every available parking space at Heritage Village and the adjoining Pinellas Cooperative Extension Service was taken. People had to park at a church across the street and catch a free shuttle bus.

Meanwhile, at the Heritage Mercantile Store, Doris Lindberg of Largo loaned out hammers and permanent markers to members of the Pin-Mar Antique Auto Club who were making signs to put near their cars.

Lindberg, a docent at Heritage Village for the past 15 years, also was busy selling coffee and sweets and handing out free lollipops to the children who wandered into the store with their parents.

"We're used to early birds coming for the Jubilee," Lindberg said. "We don't care . . . as long as they come."

Next door, Mamie Adair of Largo was hooking a rug on the front porch of the Daniel McMullen Fiber Arts House. Her rug design included fir trees and a moose.

"I've lived here 22 years, but I still miss Michigan at this time of the year . . . when the leaves turn colors."

On the other side of the park, Mary Jeffreys and Kathy Perky of St. Petersburg carried bags of newly purchased silk floral arrangements to their next stop: the flea market inside the old Safety Harbor Church.

"This is great. I'm anxious to see the rest of this park," Jeffreys said.

"I come to this every year and I just love it," said Perky, who persuaded Jeffreys, a co-worker, to tag along this time.

Jeffreys showed off her purchase and smiled. "I make things like this, too," she said. "But I can't make it for $6."

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