Grant Park Summer Shade Festival... crowned my new favorite

I love festivals because of the people, people watching, artisans, the families, being outside, the never knowing how things are going to turn out & what seems to be my latest addiction... Kettle Korn.

Since festivals & shows really are like a box of chocolates... I'm always ecstatic when I think I've got a solid milk chocolate piece and bite into it to uncover milk chocolate covered toffee (one of my favorites.) The Grant Park Summer Shade Festival was just that.

Milk Chocolate:
I hadn't heard much about it even though I knew a few folks who did it years prior. What I did hear was that it was HOT (come on what do I expect for August in Atlanta) & the venue was nice.

Milk Chocolate covered Toffee:
The Park was amazing. I have to say that I think this is the most family friendly festival (for both visitors & exhibitors alike) I've been to. Teagan was filthy (ironic that he's the son of the soap girl) both Saturday & Sunday after playing in the dirt/mulch/acorns that were behind my booth or from running through the huge open field that my space was facing. Never once did I feel the need to constantly hold his hand or worry that he would get swooped away in the crowds.

Now this is not to say that it wasn't busy. It just wasn't crowded. Visitors had more than an entire traffic lane to peruse the displays. Everything was spread out enough that there was no shoulder to shoulder mad rush of people, rather just a nice afternoon stroll in the park.

Loved thy Neighbors. My bud Wesley of My Fowl Intentions (great one of a kind funky birdhouses) was 2 booths away from me and right in between was Marie Louise Coil (acrylic on wood - which does NO justice to her art) who made the best Atlanta inspired paintings & collages. She's just starting out in this whole show thing, but I'm sure we'll be seeing much more of her. Oh, and Freshie made an appearance (Freshie & Zero) so I was able to pick up a new necklace (yea!!)

The Shade. They really meant it when they said Summer Shade Festival. My space was under a huge canopy of beautiful trees which made the Summer part totally tolerable. With the exception of an occasional fear that the sky was falling (acorns dropping from the branches above) the space was perfect.

And the cherry on top... people were shopping. I even had to bring more soap for Sunday because I had sold out of a few scents on Saturday.

A huge thumbs up from me to all of those hard working people who put the Grant Park Summer Shade Festival together. I look forward to next year.

So for those of you at home keeping score: 1 down 14 more to go (plus maybe a couple more.)