The Hernando Water Tower Festival set a new mark this weekend, with a record 150 vendors lining the festival grounds as families packed into Hernando on Saturday for one of DeSoto County’s longest-running fall traditions. The event, hosted by the Hernando Main Street Chamber of Commerce for more than 20 years, also brought back live music for the first time in six years.
Shoppers moved booth to booth through handmade crafts, baked goods, jewelry, pottery and novelty items, while kids had their own area with activities and free books.
A Record Year for the Hernando Water Tower Festival
Organizers had said ahead of the weekend that this year’s vendor lineup would be the biggest yet, and the final count of about 150 vendors backed that up, according to the DeSoto Times-Tribune. Vendors came from around the Mid-South and beyond, with some saying the drive was worth it for the crowd the festival draws.
Kristin Lucas, director of partnerships and growth for the Hernando Main Street Chamber, said the water tower is a symbol of what the city stands for. “The water tower always reminds me of community and family, because that’s what Hernando represents,” Lucas told the newspaper.
Live Music Returns After Six Years
For the first time in six years, the festival featured live music, with the band Truck Patch Revival performing for the crowd. The return of a live stage was one of the changes organizers highlighted in the run-up to this year’s event.
The Kidz Zone was another popular stop for families. It included:
Face painting
A petting zoo
Free books through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library
Vendors Big and Small
The vendor list ranged from longtime festival regulars to first-timers. The youngest first-time vendor, Hank Hawkins, sold novelty “fake spill” pieces he makes himself. He said he uses epoxy and paint and that it took him a couple of years to perfect the technique.
Other vendors included Lock’d with a Spark! permanent jewelry, owned by Debbie Mann; Pottery by Wes, run by Wes Evans, who said he hears many compliments on his work at the festival; and Philip McIntosh, who traveled to sell his Jurbie McSwash Bloody Mary mix. “The drive is long but worth it because this place is great,” McIntosh said.
For small businesses and makers, the Water Tower Festival is one of the biggest single-day selling opportunities in DeSoto County, and the record turnout of vendors points to the event’s growing reach.
More Fall Events Ahead in DeSoto County
The festival season in DeSoto County is far from over. The Mid-South Fair opens Oct. 1 at Landers Center in Southaven, and more community events are scheduled throughout October. Residents can follow the Hernando Main Street Chamber of Commerce for upcoming downtown events on the Courthouse Square.
