Five Things About the Arbutus Arts Festival

The Festival Diet: Before the Star-Spangled Banner played to officially open the 38h Annual Arbutus Arts Festival at 10 a.m., there were already a number of patrons walking the street with a funnel cake in hand.

The fried dough coated in powdered sugar, a greasy carnival delight, won’t be found on any breakfast menus, but for the Arts Festival, such indulgences are permissible. In fact, the Sunday after Mother’s Day in Arbutus has a menu of its own, where hot dogs shouldn’t be consumed without chili and cheese, frozen lemonade is always served in colorful glasses the size of your leg and any meat cooked over an open flame falls into its own food group.

Arbutus is Farmville: Patti Sue Nolan may not have awoken before the sun to pick fruits and vegetables in a field, but she has broken her back to bring a Farmer’s Market to Arbutus. The president of the Arbutus Business and Professional Association was out in overalls and a farmer’s hat Sunday to raise awareness to the latest addition to the community. The market debuts June 9 and will be open on Thursday afternoons from 2 to 6 p.m. in the parking lot of the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department

Animal Instinct: Despite the rising temperatures and bright sunshine, one of the most popular novelty items of the day was knit winter hats. The handmade hats that tie under the chin took the shape of a number of animals, ranging from monkeys to penguins to zebras to chicken. Caroline Corbett, who drove over with friends from Woodlawn for the day, opted for a grey donkey hat after trying on several of the options on the table.

Right to Bear Arms: For festival-going children, there was no shortage of weaponry from which to choose Sunday. Colorful, over-sized bows and arrows were draped over the shoulder of every third kid walking down East Drive. The oldest kid of them all, Ted Roberts of Bristol, Va. had a rack of such toys, along with plethora of classic children’s toys. Roberts has been building and selling pop guns, rubber band guns, marshmallow shooters and other toys for three decades. Sunday was his 23rd year at the Arbutus Arts Festival.

Fan-Friendly: Sundays are traditionally a day of animosity for Ravens, Steelers and Redskins fans. At the Arts Festival, though, they can all agree that Brett Cook’s handmade wooden signs are the best way to show support for their team of choice. Cook’s wife and mother-in-law drafted him into the business, after painting wood and selling crafts at festivals for decades. He says they attend 40 or more events a year selling their wares. Crafts emblazoned with sport logos are popular items throughout the festival, including free-standing ashtrays, gardening buckets and mailboxes.