The Hillsborough Street Renaissance Green Arts and Music Festival kicked off at noon Saturday despite steady rain all day. The event marked the first time since the street’s construction in 1792 that Hillsborough Street was closed off completely for this sort of festival.
The Hillsborough Street Renaissance Festival was planned to highlight the aesthetic changes planned for the area over the next two years and featured a variety of eco-friendly vendors, informative booths, a pie and barbecue competition, and live music throughout the day.
Students and community members turned out for the event despite the drizzle, but attendance was well below planners’ estimates.
Alan Lovette, owner of Melvin’s and 5 O’Clock Sports bar, said planners had said upwards of 20,000 people would fill the streets, while he estimated closer to 3,000 had been by.
“We had a good day,” Lovette said. “The weather impacted it [a lot.]”
Merchants were impressed with the turnout in spite of the elements.
“I’m impressed with all the people who made it out despite the weather, it’s awesome!” Bethany Chatfield, an N.C. State alum and owner of ohcallmeb.etsy.com, a handmade jewelry company, said. “I think people are still coming out because they want to support this and they want this to be able to happen again.”
Harper Pridgen, a senior in textile engineering, said she agreed with Chatfield.
“I think the whole concept of this is great, I just wish it hadn’t rained,” Pridgen said. “But either way I’ve still had a great time and lots of great barbecue and pie.”
One of the main attractions at the festival was the Barbecue and Pie tasting competitions that were put on by the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, where people crowded throughout the afternoon. Here festival-goers could purchase a ticket for seven dollars that allowed them to taste entries and submit their vote for best tasting.
David Orr, a representative from the fraternity, said the group wanted to take initiative to put on such an event.
“As a newer fraternity on campus, we wanted to create a signature event,” Orr said. “We wanted something that would get our whole chapter, and even the community involved. It’s something that allows us to have fun, get some exposure, and raise some money for a good cause.”
Funds raised from ticket sales went to benefit “Soles 4 Souls,” a charity that takes donated shoes and distributes them to needy families.
Orr also remained optimistic despite the dreary conditions, saying forward thinking and determination allowed the planners to get this festival together over the past year.
“You can’t plan for the weather,” Orr said. “As someone told me, first they said we couldn’t get the money for this event, then they said we couldn’t get the street closed off. We got through all that, and this rain is just another obstacle.”
Jacqui McLaughlin was one of the official judges for the barbecues and pies.
“This is a great event for the community and N.C. State,” McLaughlin said.
Aside from the food, patrons could browse through a collection of eco-friendly, unique vendors such as Iron Mountain Glass with their assorted hand-blown items or dolldesign and ohcallmeb, each with handcrafted jewelry. Photographers and natural clothiers were also seen peddling their wares.
Those interested in new eco-friendly advances in technology could learn from the Biodiesel Education Trailer and other similar booths.
“There was a great variety of cool, local artists and designers,” said Sherri Raye, a native of Raleigh. “It was great because you wouldn’t normally find stuff like this at a mall or typical shop.”
All in all, the day was still a success despite the rain, according to Josh Saville.
“I’m surprised at how many people did show up despite the rain,” Saville, an event worker, said. “Had it been sunny, this would’ve been fantastic.”
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Check out the interactive map with photos and video from the event.