For as long as I can remember, I’ve attended the annual Flowertown Festival, an arts and craft show that spans Main Street for at least a mile and takes over Azalea Park. There are rides for the little ones, restaurant booths and trucks for the foodies, artisans, local businesses and more. It’s a time when I know I can run into old friends I haven’t seen in years, but more excitedly, I have friends who have booths at the festival now!

Southern Sweeties Bows

Dee Dee was my cheerleading coach close to 15 years ago, and let me just say, had she been creating these bows during cheer season, I would’ve hoarded quite the collection. But that doesn’t mean I won’t hoard a collection now, just not for myself. I’ll let you in on a little secret, only because I know my husband doesn’t read my blog. In the back of one of my dresser drawers is a stash of dresses and bows, just in case I am lucky enough to have a little girl one day. Dee Dee puts the cutest appliques on her fun bows and it was hard for me to just pick three to add to my secret drawer. I know I’ll continue to collect more bows over time though.

Christine Angeline Photography

My JSL sister and friend Christine set up a booth for the first time at the festival to show off her amazing photography skills. Christine specializes in dancers but is also a portrait photographer.

Southern Charm Candle Company

About a week before the festival I got a Facebook page request from Ally, whom I went to high school with, to like SCCC. She and her husband had recently started making the most adorable candles and were able to show them off at the festival. Since then, they were able to put their candles in Wood’s Ace Hardware on Trolley and Antiques and Artisans In Town. I chose the Peach candle because the smell is Ahhhh-mazing. I think I’ll get banana pudding next. Look how cute it and the sweet tea candle are styled!

American South Designs

Sharing a booth with the Culliphers was their friend Drew who is a master at woodworking. I know a little about woodworking through my husband and yet I was still so amazed at the talent of the waves in the wood to make the flag look like it was flying in the wind. I have no idea how that was created. Drew had a Don’t Tread on Me themed flag that I kept looking at, but decided to wait until Travis saw it (he’s so picky about decor for the house) then changed my mind and rushed back to the booth to be a sweet wife and surprise him with it. But it was sold! I was still determined to go home with a flag that day and went with the one pictured above. Travis loved it and we’re definitely going to order a few custom pieces (starting with Don’t Tread On Me, and maybe Molon labe).

Loft and Vibe

While at the Flowertown Festival, I discovered a new company called Loft and Vibe. Their clean, simple, minimalistic set up was featured on the festival’s Instagram account the day before and it was so eye catching that I wanted to make sure to stop and learn about at their product. They have a lotion candle in a few different (what I like to call) flavors, made from essential oils. When you light the wick, the candle becomes liquified and you can dip your hands into it (blow it out first) and massage the liquid onto your hands. What a cool concept! I had never heard of it before.

Other fun booths…

I learned of a few other companies for the first time at the festival, and I must say, I used to hate that the homeowner at the corner of the festival would rent out her yard because I felt like it took away from the vibe of the festival, and the money that is raised. But after I talked with my friend Christine, I had a change of heart. It is such a great opportunity for new and small businesses to get the word out about their companies.

Nailed It DIY Studio – Everyone knows all about the painting and drinking studios. Those have been around for quite some time. But within the past 2-3 years, new studios began popping up where you can paint on wood. My cousin owns one up north, and we finally got one here, but it’s all the way in Mount Pleasant so I’ve never been. Then I noticed a sign in the old LifeTouch studio in our town square. Nailed It, a similar concept, was coming to Summerville. Compared to the regular canvas paint and sip businesses I’ve frequented over the years, I like their approach and set up much better. No classes. No going in and sitting at tables with about 20 other people, half of whom come in late and slow the class down. You can come in, decide on a project, sit down, and work on it at your own pace with guidance. Plus they do have separate, private party rooms for birthdays, bachelorettes, girls nights, etc. I can’t wait for Nailed It DIY to open!

Old World Glass Studio – I’m not sure how long Old World has been around, I believe they are often set up at the market in Downtown Charleston, but I saw them for the first time at the festival. They had rows and rows of drinking glasses etched with all kinds of images and phrases. My favorite was Drunk Wives Matter. I’m still mad at myself for not buying it! They also make drinking glasses and candle holders out of liquor bottles such as Grey Goose and Jack Daniels.

Wild Bill’s Soda – This is the best deal you’ll find at the festival. Wild Bill’s is a trailer of fountain sodas. You can buy a fun mug between $20 and $30 and refill it for free all day long. They have a trailer at each end of the festival so you can fill up your mug at the beginning, make a loop through the park, refill at the end, and make your way back down Main Street, or vice versa. You can even bring your mug from last year and pay a small refill fee if you don’t want to buy a new mug.

The dates for the 48th Annual Flowertown Festival have not been released yet but its known to be the last weekend in March or the first weekend in April. I hope you plan to be there.