Stephanie Long
(10/18) Thousands of people flooded
into Thurmont on Oct. 13 and 14 to attend the
44th Annual Colorfest, an event that has grown
from humble beginnings to gigantic
proportions.
Originally Colorfest began when a small
group of people gathered together in Thurmont
to enjoy a nature walk and the changing of the
seasons. Over the years it has evolved into an
event that draws over 100,000 visitors and
hundreds of vendors.
Vendors set up shop throughout Thurmont,
selling everything imaginable in the crafts to
food spectrum. Kathie Kaye was one of those
vendors. Kathie sells her husband, Robert’s,
handicrafts, glass etchings of different
scenes, which she describes as “nautical and
Eastern Shore-based art.” This was the first
year Kathie attended Colorfest, which left her
with mixed feelings.
“There’s a lot of people here, but it has
not been real good today,” Kathie said,
explaining that while some have stopped to
look at her booth, not many have pulled out
their wallet to purchase her husband’s art.
Kathie remained optimistic though, hoping that
Sunday would bring more business.
Perhaps she needed Pam Ahalt, of Thurmont,
to stop by her booth. Ahalt, a.k.a. Shopping
Nanny, attends Colorfest every year with one
mission in mind – to shop ‘till she drops.
“I
got here at 7:30 this morning and I’ll stay
all day. I go through the whole thing. I buy
my cider to drink in the morning and I have my
cart,” Ahalt explains, looking at her Shopping
Nanny license plate clad shopping cart full of
newly purchased items.
For the past 7 or 8 years Ahalt has been
attending Colorfest and purchasing items
to fill her self-proclaimed country themed
home and this year was no different. By 4 p.m.
her basket was quite full and she had plans
for even more shopping before the weekend was
over.
“I’ll be back tomorrow,” Ahalt said with a
smile.
