Even the wet weather couldn't dampen the spirits of folks who attended Springtime on the Mall last Saturday, said Anita Parrett, executive director of Main Street Blytheville, which sponsors the event each year.
"It went really well considering the weather," Parrett said Monday. "We had a good crowd despite the weather."
Any event scheduled for early May has the possibility of being rained upon, Parrett said. "Any outdoor festival you take a chance," she said.
That's why there is not a rain date set for the festival.
"It's just too hard to try to schedule two dates," she said. "Next weekend is Mother's Day and it just goes on from there. So we have Springtime on the Mall, rain or shine."
The event was a success because it allowed for the dedication of the Mural of Blytheville History in the pocket park on Main. The mural, painted by Suzanne Churchill of Jonesboro, features four key areas of development of Blytheville: timber, rail, cotton and the Mississippi River.
The mural was a project of the Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce's 2008 Blytheville Leadership Institute class.
The festival was also a success because it brought more people into downtown Blytheville, Parrett said.
"I think the stores had a good day," she said. "There were more people downtown than usual."
The festival included a "mini-parade" of Cub Scouts leading the trek from the children's block to the main stage to present the colors and the Pledge of Allegiance. "They were having a good time," Parrett said of the Scouts.
Some of the food vendors were not pleased, but some waited out the weather and made some money, Parrett said.
"We did the best we could with the weather we had," she said.
A veteran of organizing similar events, Parrett said this one makes history in her mind. "In 20 years of doing festivals, this weather was the worst," Parrett said.
But the people made the event a success, she added.
"I want to thank everyone for their patience," Parrett said. "Thanks to everyone who came downtown to shop during the festival."
"I think the fact that people were downtown with their umbrellas made (the event) a success."