Bedford Fall Foliage Festival

This show requests that you set up on Friday and gives you a specific time that you can drive into the festival to set up. The area that we are in though, is not on the main road, so we were able to come in and set up a few minutes early, thus avoiding the rush and getting unpacked very quickly. One drawback is the fact that the booth is on pavement. It always makes the tie down difficult and usually we can drill into the topcoat, but not this time. Luckily the air couldn't get any stiller and it remained so all weekend. The drive was about an hour longer than we had expected due to construction, but besides that it was simple to find and simple to find our spot and hotel. We had done a show in Bedford last year so we have a working knowledge of the town and how it is set up so it was easy to get around once we were there.

The portion of the show that we are in is down by the river, there is one huge hill to go down/up to get there but it is a nice area and (maybe for the better) has fewer crowds. The hill is so steep it keeps the least interested shoppers from coming into the area, keeps the crowds down, and I think, keeps the sales down. The main street is packed with people, so packed that some crafters claim that the shoppers can't stop at their booths and look, but I think that I would have had better sales with more traffic. My booth is set up so people can actually come in the booth and get out of traffic, there are many booths that don't have that option and are hindered by large crowds.

Sales were mediocre at best. If this was a local show I would come back for sure next year, but it is a long drive and two nights hotel as well. I also have to look for a less expensive hotel for next year. C suggested a bed and breakfast so we could make the show a little more of a vacation as well. Since the days are pretty short and we have to go out on Friday anyway, I think that is a good idea. But this is one that I have to look at for 2006. It may be better next year, it does deserve a second chance, but if there is something closer that I am sure will be better, I may just do that instead.