(9/26) With summer finally at an end, the shorter, cooler days that autumn brings can now commence. Just as summertime brings the carnival season, autumn brings the season of fall festivals.
Fairfield’s ‘Pippinfest’ kicked off the Fall festival season, and for months its staff meticulously planned for the throngs of thousands who would be flocking to a plethora of yard sales, crafts, and food vendors from all over the region, but what they couldn’t plan for was the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia that brought over two inches of rain on the first day of the event.
As a result of the rain and gusty winds, less than half the expected vendors made an appearance on Saturday and visitors were few and far between. The few festival enthusiasts that did attend Pippinfest were left with long walks between vendors through two-inch-deep pools of storm water. The rain was torrential at times and the wind blew strong.
Still, the vendors, visitors and volunteers remained cheerful despite the stormy conditions and were hopeful that Sunday, the second day of the event, would bring a reprieve. Unfortunately, it did not. Of the few vendors that were there on Saturday even fewer came back to set up on Sunday and even fewer visitors attended.
Those who did brave the weather wondered at the choice to have the festival, even though it is listed as a rain or shine event. But with no rain date it came down to vender choice as to whether to set up or stay home. One vender said, "It is unfortunate there isn't a rain date because this is a great event when the weather is nice. Today is just awful." She wondered if they would get their vendor fees back or if they would just be out of luck.
Committee member Nancy Wenschhof said: "we can’t give refunds and we can’t cancel the event."
"We couldn’t stop the weather, Ophelia had her own mind, and it is what it is," said Nancy. "We had a lot of vendors calling, and visitors posting on social media asking if we were going to cancel, but we’re too far into the process. Everything had already been paid for and set up. From the signs to the Port-Johns. All the costs were paid by vendor fees. So even if we cancelled, we would still have to pay those bills. So we hoped for the best. Unfortunately, what we got was the worse. "
She said the Pippinfest committee would discuss giving some sort credit to vendors who did come this year in spite of the weather for next year's event since a full refund is impossible.
Vendor Kevin Varish of Gettysburg, who braved the weather on both days to serve funnel cakes to those who dared to come out, was sanguine about the turn of events. "Normally my line is 20 people longs, but today (Sunday) I can count customers on two hands. But I’ve been coming here for years and will be back next year. A little rain can’t dampen my enthusiasm for this great festival."
Planning for the 2024 Pippinfest will begin soon, and hopefully the weather next year will cooperate and we’ll see a bigger and better event!
