SAXONBURG — Keeping the fries and the buys dry was a challenge on Saturday for the brave folks who attended the soggy Saxonburg Festival of the Arts

Umbrellas, raincoats and plastic ponchos ruled the day as steady precipitation fell, but festival committee member Tom Knights was impressed that the rainswept event drew so many patrons.

“It shows a lot of commitment to the (Roebling) Park fundraiser, which is what this festival really is,” Knights said of the turnout.

Knights said the festival normally brings in between $12,000 and $16,000 each year, which is spent on the upkeep of the park and museum.

He said while all the vendors hung in there on Saturday, the forecast of three or more inches of rain on Sunday caused some to bail out on Saturday evening.

“Hopefully the weather will be a little better next year,” Knights said.

Vendors sold everything from cobweb cleaners to repurposed art along Main and North Rebecca streets and in the park, which the damp attendees perused with gusto.

Fundraising booths were also set up on Main Street, including that of the Knoch High School majorettes.

For $2, those walking along could throw a foam plate covered in whipped cream at the shining face of one of the majorettes, who took turns poking their heads through a hole in a large piece of wood to act as a target.

For $3, a jilted boyfriend, frustrated parent or anyone else could choose which majorette to plaster with the pie.

“It's different from what we've done in the past,” Knoch senior majorette Frankie Ansell said of the booth. “Usually we just do food.”

She said the weather did nothing to dampen the spirits of the girls, who squealed with delight each time one of their cohorts took a pie to the kisser.

“We're making the best of it,” Frankie said. “You make memories when the conditions are worst.”

Senior majorette Libby Casey agreed.

“I think it's fun,” she said. “It's entertaining and different than everyone else.”

She said she will miss twirling with her fellow majorettes come graduation.

“I love performing at football games,” Libby said. “Twirling is my favorite thing to do, so doing it in front of an audience is super fun.”

Lee Anne Pennington of Saxonburg sat wrapped in a rain poncho at the odds-and-ends booth operated by her friend, Laurie Kevana.

“I'm really happy people are still coming out,” Pennington said. “It's just really bad out.”

She said the residents of southeastern Butler County always show their support for their community by attending events like Mingle on Main and the Saxonburg Fireman's Carnival, as well as shopping at local businesses.

Kevana said she was grateful to those who turned out for the festival, and she planned to stay and sell her high-end what-nots on Sunday as well.

“If we don't blow away,” she said, peering at the gray sky.

Sally Fox and her adult daughters perused the items for sale on a large porch at a house on Rebecca Street. Like everyone else, Fox wished Saturday's weather were better.

“It stinks, and it's going to be worse tomorrow,” she said. “It's a shame, because this is such a nice festival.”

She said the festival is a Fox family tradition, with all members looking for holiday decorations and food.

Fox's favorite fare is the haluski and apple dumplings.

As the Kiski Valley Community Band played a Doors medley in the park's gazebo, many shoppers approached the tents set up in the park.

One was Nancy Mueller of East Butler.

“I've been here before and I enjoy the crafts and food,” Mueller said. “The festival (committee) does a great job, because there are always lots of good vendors.”

Saxonburg Mayor Bill Gillespie spent the day zipping around on a golf cart, bringing supplies to vendors and dealing with any issue that arose.

He said he talked to many vendors and all were surprised at the turnout in the drizzly conditions.

“Most of them are saying they did fairly well considering the weather,” Gillespie said. “A lot of vendors who I talked to are happy.”

He said many of the crafters have told him they enjoy the festival because of the way they are treated.

“They come back year after year,” he said.

Gillespie summed up the feelings of everyone who found themselves at the Saxonburg Festival of the Arts on Saturday.

“I wish we would have had a little more sunshine,” he said.