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For 53 years the Fort Deposit Arts Council has drawn crowds to their sleepy, southern Lowndes County town. Since 1972, the renowned arts and crafts fair has offered something for everyone, and the offerings keep getting better and better.

According to Frieda Cross, one of the original organizers, the festival featuring hand-crafted delights began as an effort to bring people to Fort Deposit. That mission has been completed with resounding success for five decades and continues attracting both shoppers and exhibitors from the surrounding areas.

Greenville’s own Bates House of Turkey, Flying Basset Farms, LifeChange Church and many others from Butler County were on hand with delicious lunches, snacks and drinks. Mary Croley, who lives near Greenville, said she did well with sales of her paintings and hand-painted bookmarks, journals and the like. The Camellia Society offered camellias for sale, selling out of many varieties on Saturday.

Fort Deposit Arts Council member and Lowndes County Sheriff’s Administrative Commander Jeremy Marvin said the crowd was good, better than the council has seen in recent years. And yet, with so many offerings, lines moved quickly for individuals and families waiting to take their turn on the bungee jump activity, sample ice cream and snow cones or purchase any number of uniquely crafted items for sale.

The Fort Deposit Fire Department sold plates filled with some of the most mouthwatering barbecue around. Area teens got involved too, and organized face painting and crafts for the youngest guests.

Bethel Baptist Church sold plants for just $20, everything from ferns to flowers. Volunteers were among the many who came out to make the annual event another resounding success.

Some of our staff walked their “tootsies” off trying to see and do everything available. The beautiful weather, as radiant as the volunteers’ smiles, made for an event the council should be proud of.