By Roslyn Ryan
Editor

If Powhatan Chamber of Commerce Director Tina Bustos had any fears that the rain may have ruined some folks’ trip to the annual Festival of the Grape last Saturday, she was able to put most of them to rest when she started checking her e-mail Monday morning.

She says most all of the correspondence she’s received so far has been overwhelmingly positive. “One of the e-mails said ‘What rain? We’ve never had so much fun,’” said Bustos yesterday.

Last Saturday marked the sixth year the county has hosted the popular festival, which is put on by the Powhatan Chamber of Commerce. 

Bustos said Tuesday that she estimated around 1,100 people came through the gates, but was still working out the final tally and would know more when she met with other festival organizers today.

This year’s event featured 20 different wineries, nearly 100 arts and crafts vendors, and at least 10 food vendors keeping the crowds fed.

The Mystic Soul Bubbas, Janet Morrison, and Powhatan’s own Soul Ambition provided musical entertainment throughout the day.

With all that to enjoy, it was surely difficult for festival goers to focus on the less-than-perfect conditions.

There was one added bonus as well, something that even the festival organizers could not have predicted: as the crowds thinned out around 5:30 p.m., the clouds suddenly parted and a double rainbow stretched out over the Village.