Autumn Glory draws locals, out-of-towners

Megan Miller
The Cumberland Times-News Sun Oct 10, 2010, 07:59 AM EDT

— OAKLAND — Out-of-towners and locals alike thronged to Oakland Saturday for the 43rd annual Autumn Glory Festival.

In the early hours of the morning, empty chairs lined Second and Third streets, waiting for their owners to return for the Grand Feature Parade at 1 p.m.

Don Monroe set up chairs for himself and wife Dianne at 6:30 a.m. in the same spot where they’ve watched 14 of the last 15 Autumn Glory parades.

“I think it’s the most fun day in the town all year,” Dianne said.

The Monroes, originally from Florida, have made Oakland their permanent home.

“The first year we came here everyone raved about the festival and how fun it was. Then it snowed,” she laughed. “I thought, these people are out of their minds!”

But no snowflakes were on the sunny horizon Saturday. It was warm enough for Michael and Marla Miller to have customers at their homemade ice cream booth as soon as they opened up at 9:30 a.m.

“People said, ‘Ice cream for breakfast?’ And I said sure, you can do that!” Marla Miller said.

That wasn’t the only popular spot for food. By noon the line at the Oakland Rotary Club’s French fry stand stretched for nearly a block. It was rivaled only by the line, 20 deep, waiting to use the ATM at nearby M&T Bank.

Lois Stiles and Joyce Foster, both from the Oakland area, said the food is one of the things that draws them to the festival. The two had already taken their seats along the parade route by 10 a.m.

“We like to come out and watch the crowd,” Stiles said.

Minutes later, Gov. Martin O’Malley walked down the street, glad-handing his way through the spectators before climbing into a black SUV.

While some people waited along the parade route, others shopped through the Glorious Harvest Farmers Market and Craft Show held in a nearby pavilion.

Dee Simpson of Lonaconing held up three sparkling beaded bracelets she’d purchased for her granddaughters.

“I love it,” she said of the festival. “Everything up here is just nice.”

A few tables down the row, vendor Nancy Schrock straightened a display of baked goods. Schrock said she can only sell baked items at the festival for two days, because of how quickly she runs out.

“We spend too much time making things to get ready for Friday and Saturday,” she said. “We can’t make enough to get through all the days.”

At another table, Lois Haines Brown and daughter Michelle looked over artisanal cheeses from Firefly Farms in Accident.

The Browns, along with friends Todd and Cindy Sanders, are now from Windsor, Va. But Todd Sanders grew up in Oakland and still has family there.

For him, that’s part of the festival’s appeal.

“We enjoy the family camaraderie at the parade,” he said. “Everyone gets together.”

The Autumn Glory Festival began Wednesday and ends today. For more information go to www.autumngloryfestival.com

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