CULLMAN, Ala. – After a year of COVID shutdowns, St. Bernard Prep’s annual Bloomin’ Festival Arts and Crafts Fair returned April 17-18, more than making up for last year’s disappointment. Coordinators’ estimates after the event closed Sunday afternoon indicated that this year’s show may have been the biggest ever.
Shoppers were already checking out crafters’ wares by the time the show officially opened at 9 a.m. Saturday, and a steady stream of visitors poured into the St. Bernard Prep campus and Ave Maria Grotto through Sunday afternoon. Vendors reported positive experiences and brisk selling throughout both days.
Planners predicted ahead of time that the show would be bigger than before, but no one was fully prepared for the number of people who came to shop. Monk Bread was among the hottest draws for shoppers, but a combination of high demand and huge numbers meant that even the extra-large amount of bread made for the two-day show was gone around lunchtime Saturday. Some crafters also reported selling out of certain popular items.
Event coordinator Joyce Nix told The Tribune, “We have had a phenomenal two-day event here. We’ve had more people, both days, than I’ve ever seen at St. Bernard, so our vendors are happy. We are thrilled, and we just want to say ‘thank you’ to all of our community for coming out and showing us support for the 37th annual Bloomin’ Festival!”
St. Bernard Prep Headmaster Fr. Joel Martin, O.S.B., wanted “to let everybody know how appreciative we are. I think it’s the best Bloomin’ Festival ever. Thanks be to God and all the people that have come here and participated in our sweepstakes, and especially those vendors who were here to offer their wares, and the people who showed up and stood in line and waited in line to be a part of the Bloomin’ Festival. God bless all of them!”
Sweepstakes winners
Among the big deals at the Bloomin’ Festival is the sweepstakes drawing that culminates in the gifting of a new vehicle, and 2021 was no exception. Winners are as follows:
- 1st Place: 2021 Jeep Renegade – Coletta Schmidt, Huntsville, Ala.
- 2nd Place: Apple Airpods – Barb Pastuszka, Leighton, Ala.
- 3rd Place: Fitbit – Ronald Barnes, Ootlewah, Tenn.
- 4th Place: Google Nest – Steven Parris, Owens Cross Roads, Ala.
- 5th Place: Oral B. Toothbrush – James Oenbrink, Clarksville, Fla.
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