If you go
The Winterville Marigold Festival will be held Saturday, May 9 in Pittard Park. The Marigold 10K starts at 7:30 a.m. and vendors will open at 9 a.m. Musical acts start at noon and continue until 8 p.m. Go to marigoldfestival.com for more info.
Visitors to this year’s Winterville Marigold Festival will have the opportunity to see something new in a familiar space.
City officials are eager to show off the Firefly Farmstop, after it opened April 11 in what used to be a blacksmith shop.
“We have a new, exciting amenity that is community-based and will serve our community for many, many, many years to come,” Mayor Dodd Ferrelle said. “It's our chance to show citizens what we're doing year in, year out.”
The stop provides locally sourced products like meat and produce. On Saturdays, it’s open from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
In addition to the farmstop, the festival will also highlight live music, including Me’an Mills, which is Ferrelle’s band. The band recently reunited and will perform new songs it’s recorded.
Ferrelle said the band’s performance at the festival is because it's “near and dear” to his heart.
“We’re all so thrilled that we did, and we had so much fun making it, and we can’t wait to play those new songs at the Marigold Festival,” he said.
Music will begin at noon with Sir Crazy Pants opening. Acts will follow, in order, include The Speax, Donovan Ram Band, The Reverend Conner Tribble, Sunny War, Cannon Rogers and Me’an Mills.
The festival will wrap up with Andy & Mandy, a brother and sister duo from Savannah.
In addition, the Kid’s Stage will return this year after a break in 2025. It will be at the Front Porch Bookstore and feature a puppet show and line dancing, along with the kid’s area with bouncy houses and face painting.
Festival publicity coordinator Annu Ross said the festival averages about 12,000-15,000 attendees most years.
“The charm of Winterville is that it’s an old-school small town, and we have this wonderful small-town festival that is also very inclusive,” Ross said.
The event will kick off with the Marigold 10K at 7:30 a.m., and vendors will begin opening at 9 a.m.
Kathy Smith, who owns Wonderfully Made, will be in attendance and said she’s looking forward to the community-focused atmosphere. Smith started her crocheting business two years ago. Some of her items include crocheted stuffed animals called “stuffies.”
“I wanted to share that joy and then also find an outlet for that hobby that was able to share that joy and love with other people,” she said.
Festival-goers will be able to shop from more than 80 vendors and enjoy demonstrations from several artists, including this year’s featured artist, Elise Geruntino.
Geruntino is a Winterville resident and Athens native whose art focuses on digital illustration with occasional screen printing, according to a press release.
The festival, which originally started in 1971, has helped fund building and city improvements, including a fountain in the center of town.
“Winterville is a caring community that is very intentional in its planning and very intentional in its desire to have people visit us as a destination,” Dodd said.