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Annual flea market attracts visitors of all ages
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| By THERESE APEL, DAILY LEADER Staff Writer |
October 19, 2009 |
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WESSON - The turtle was one of the spoils of the annual Wesson Flea Market, and 2-and-a-half year old Hayden Alexander decided on a fitting name: "Turtle."
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For Hayden, and countless other children in Wesson on a clear and chilly October morning, the flea market represented a lot of things: food, fun, toys and big crowds.
"There might be a million people here, but I don't know," said Tristan James, 5, of Byram. "It's a lotta lotta people."
The 38th annual flea market, which took place Saturday in downtown Wesson, had more vendor booths reserved and more visitors than any other year so far, Wesson Volunteer Fire Department officials said. The proceeds of the flea market go to the fire department, which is a non-profit organization.
Tristan and his father, Zachary James, had just finished looking at the puppies and were going in search of his first funnel cake.
"My daddy said a fummel cake is like eating a crunchy pancake with sugar on top," Tristan said.
Four-year-old Lilly Gray of Brookhaven already had her dad, Bruce Gray, carrying some of her haul. She and her sister Rivers, 8, picked up a full princess kit, complete with a shiny tiara and shoes. Lilly didn't hesitate to identify her favorite part of the day, though her big sister had other ideas.
"The carnival," Lilly said, to which Rivers replied, "What about the hamsters, Lilly?"
"No," Lilly firmly informed her sister, which was fine with Rivers, since the family was on their way to find a new puppy.
And there were drawings as well, for those who wanted to try their luck at a dollar a ticket, or three for $5. A shotgun had been donated for the drawing, and three gregarious volunteer firefighters braved the cold to sell the tickets to passers-by.
"Mama wants a blanket, but I'm going to be a fireman," Wesley Shelton, 7, of Hammond, La., as his mother bought a ticket for a quilt that was donated.
And if Jalen Porter, 6, were to win the gun, it might do the future hunter just right. He wasn't giving up much, but he did agree with his father Patrick Porter of Brookhaven that he was looking for "deer paraphernalia." He said there was something else that he had enjoyed throughout the day, however.
"The food!" he said.
And there was certainly food on hand, and all locally made and grown - everything from fresh produce to jams and jellies, chicken on a stick, sausage dogs, burgers off the grill, and the funnel cakes that Tristan James was tasting for the first time. There were homemade brownies and slices of pound cake and other desserts available at the food tents, too.
But of course, there weren't just children out to enjoy the day. When flea market organizer Kenneth Furr said people come from all around, he wasn't joking.
"We're from Michigan," said Susan Dentel, who stood looking at rubber band guns with her husband Quentin. "He used to be stationed in Biloxi, and we make the trip down twice a year. We have a dear friend here."
Some people weren't there so much to shop for crafts or animals. Some people were just there to enjoy the weather though, according to 5-year-old Jared Davis of Crystal Springs.
"I already have a dog," he said. "But Mom made me wear my new coat. I guess it's OK."
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©The Daily Leader 2009
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