Rain Doesn't Dampen Festival Spirits

On an overcast and rainy day, the stars of the show still stood out.

The vibrant colored moonlight, white queen, berry patch, miss muffet, white queen, and dozens of other varieties of caladiums, were everywhere Friday and kept spirits high for the 18th annual Caladium Festival.

Friday's stormy weather during the opening day of three-day event, which continues through Sunday, drastically differed from last year's steamy and sunny festival weather. The difference was like night and day. Umbrellas and raincoats replaced sunscreen.

Organizer Dot Bates, of grower Bates Sons & Daughters, hasn't missed a single festival. A forecasted hurricane cancelled one year's event, but Bates said it has never rained on a Friday morning for the regular August event.

While the number of visitors was down, almost every vendor showed and set up shop. It was business as usual.

Visitors and locals had unprecedented access to the artists and crafters.

Fewer visitors allowed for more time to talk with artists than usual and was a special treat for those who showed.

Eileen May, CEO/president of the Greater Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce, said Friday afternoon that the festival will proceed as usual, with bigger crowds expected today and Sunday.

Hundreds watched almost non-stop day-long live entertainment undercover as Pat Crowley, of Sebring, was drying off at the very busy Caladium Co-op.

"I checked the forecast, we got an early start and spent time outside before it rained," said Crowley.

Crowley visited with Karen Wenger of Lake Placid, who always sends an official caladium T-shirt that is proudly worn by a Michigan relative.

Jason Cloud, of Smoak Groves, Inc., and Ray Royce, town councilman and orange industry spokesman, were handing out free cups of orange and grapefruit juice.

Royce put in a plug for the other major agricultural interest in town when he said that 13 to 14 percent of the nation's citrus juice comes from Highlands County groves.

"The most commonly asked question when we give away juice is 'where is the vodka?'" quipped Royce.

Kim Wojcieszak, of Stuart, enjoyed the handmade crafts and visiting Lake Placid.

"I love the small town atmosphere," said Wojcieszak. "I grew up in a small town and this reminds me of it."

Wojcieszak is a building contractor and especially enjoyed looking at handcrafted wood puzzles made by Dave Janelle of Spring Hill.

"It's a dying art and I hate to see it die," said Wojcieszak.

Monica Turner was busy autographing official T-shirts and posters. Her contest entry was chosen to represent the 18th annual event and three other festivals.

She said the honor of being selected made her feel "kind of important, but not really."

Skylar Jones, 18, works at Happiness Farms and was selling tubers. The freshman at the University of South Florida said she enjoys learning about the history of caladiums.

"I've learned a lot," said Jones. "I thought that caladiums were everywhere, but caladiums are as popular everyplace else as they are in Lake Placid."