Published: October 02, 2009 10:58 am      

Community pulls AutumnFest through cloud burst

I doubt there was a dry hair on my head or thread on my clothes when Herb McClaugherty looked at me and declared, “You look like a drowned rat.”

By comparison, Herb, a fellow Rotarian and AutumnFest volunteer, looked rather dry and dapper in his hat and windbreaker that only appeared to be marginally damp.

Though Princeton-Mercer County Chamber of Commerce organizers originally prayed for sunny skies to shine on the fourth annual AutumnFest, even a foggy drizzle would have been cause for celebration Saturday, as we discovered the event was destined under a downpour.

The showers arrived early and fell steadily, but many of the 60 scheduled vendors turned out anyway with wares ranging from unique jewelry to scented tarts and harvest decor.

Rotarians began roasting the corn that has become an AutumnFest favorite, while scents of chili, cheesesteak and Italian sausage rose into Town Square and lingered near the booths of Mercer County Historical Society, Adam Chambers Foundation and Grillbilly’s. A few blocks away, Carr Memorial United Methodist Church volunteers prepared jars of applebutter ready to sell, while another vat cooked nearby.

Eugene Lambert climbed into the engineer’s seat of his Kiddie Train and called for tiny passengers to climb aboard, while Glenwood School’s Wildcat Band, Christ Incorporated, Carla Bragg, Miss Behavin’ and many more performers braved the windy day to get the festival off on a noteworthy start.

And, AutumnFest volunteers weathered the storm through it all. Under caps, hats, hoods and umbrellas, we did everything we could to keep the festival going. But, by 2 p.m., even the heartiest workers, most adventurous vendors and supportive visitors grew weary of the soggy situation.

When word arrived that it wasn’t safe to run sound equipment on either the main or Town Square stage, PMCCC leaders made the call to call it a day. That was hardly the end of the work, though. There were still a legion of scarecrows to stow away, vendors to notify, tents to tote and garbage to get rid of.

By that point, my trusty comic book umbrella and a jacket I previously believed waterproof were so saturated that I squished and sloshed with each step.

With water dripping from my hair and nose, I probably did look like a drowned rat. I sure felt like one, with fingers shriveled into pruny folds and water weighing down the legs of my jeans.

But, I wasn’t alone. JoAnna Fredeking and I marched along Mercer Street, tearing down what we could of the PMCCC tents, while Keith Circle followed behind us and completed the chores we couldn’t.

Robert Farley loaded tables and chairs onto a trailer, while Valerie Hendricks helped pack up the applebutter that had sold out every year before.

Linda Cox, David Kirk, Melanie Farmer, Alicia Hypes, Herb and many other volunteers I probably couldn’t see through the showers stayed until the end to lend helping hands and backs and willing hearts to an endeavor created of community spirit.

True, this year’s AutumnFest didn’t turn out exactly as we had hoped.

And, we were a bedraggled looking bunch by the time we could head home and dry out.

But, the day was far from a complete loss.

We worked together to get the job done, and that took dedication.

It’s easy to take the credit when an event falls into place and fits together seamlessly under sunny skies, but it takes real determination and teamwork to finish one when the pieces collapse under a cloudburst.

We crowned a glowing Centennial princess and king, offered young artists a chance to play Picasso on pumpkins, let three dogs and their owners have their day and did our best to showcase the spirit and drive that make Princeton so special.

Soon, the committee that brought you this AutumnFest and three before it will get together again to begin planning No. 5.

I have one suggestion. Now, that volunteers have our event T-shirts, maybe we ought to consider raincoats.

Tammie Toler is Princeton Times editor and general manager. Contact her at ttoler@ptonline.net.