Spring Arts Festival took place this weekend in Ocean Springs

March 29, 2021

WXXV,

Last year, the Springs Arts Festival in Ocean Springs was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this year, the 26^th annual Spring Arts Festival was held with vendors from all over, ready to showcase their products.

Over 150 artists, crafters, food vendors, boutique businesses, and plant vendors set up shop along the streets of Downtown Ocean Springs, ready to share their products with the public.

Some business owners tell News 25 they love the support they get from the City of Ocean Springs. Sugar Fix Pralines Owner Gabby Collier said, “My customers are already used to me here and it’s just a great area for businesses like myself.”

Scenes of the South Owner Linda Theobald said, “We love doing the festivals because we see a lot of old friends and lots of new friends. So, it’s just a great experience. We enjoy it so much, particularly in Ocean Springs.”

Knotted Handcrafted Bowties Owner Jay Hendrix said, “People are very supportive out here and patronize the individual businesses and vendors that come out and look for the local support.”

Many of these businesses were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and they say that they are just grateful to be back out and selling their products. Collier said, “I kind of stayed away from the crowds more than usual, more than normal, but this was a great opportunity. Now that I have been vaccinated and people are back out it’s a great opportunity to come back out now.”

Theobald said, “Normally we do an average of over 20 shows a year throughout Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida. We enjoy the travel so much and last year we did one that was the Peter Anderson Festival and this year we only did one and that’s here in Ocean Springs.”

Hendrix said, “I have about 10 or 15 shows that I have during that time and I only had two last year. So, that’s a pretty big impact on our business and our business structure.”

Live music, entertainment, and demonstration shows were also included in the art festival.