6/11/2011
By ABBY BELDEN Salina Journal

Robert Holston and his wife, Angie, enjoyed the music and food at the Smoky Hill River Festival on Friday, but when asked what their favorite part was, they pointed to their 10-month-old granddaughter who was smiling and lying on a blanket nearby.

The couple's son, Christian, 35, and daughter-in-law, Jen, 34, and their 10-month-old daughter, Amberle Rose, are visiting from Fort Worth, Texas. The couple made the journey just for the festival.

The group spent a majority of the day listening to music and browsing the art exhibits.

Robert Holston said he and his son enjoyed the Nagata Shachu show at the Children's Tent, which was at noon.

"I liked to listen to the drummers," he said. "They were really good."

Holston was not the only one who enjoyed music Friday.

"I liked the guitar ensemble; they were good. But my favorite part is over there," said Angie, 63, motioning to her granddaughter.

"We actually have more family coming into town for the festival," Holston said.

As good as Christmas

For one festivalgoer, it seems that Christmas may have just come early.

"Oh, I love the festival," said Mary Freelove, of Salina. "It's up there with Christmas for me!"

Mary, 13, attends Lakewood Middle School. She was at the festival with her two friends, Laurel Thompson, 12, and Emily Stelter, 13. Laurel attends Lakewood Middle School with Mary, while Emily attends Ell-Saline.

"I like going to the craft market," Mary said.

Mary said she likes looking at the skirts and other clothing that was on display.

Laurel was not too keen on the clothes or crafts.

"My favorite part is the food and stuff," she said. "Every year I get a turkey leg on a stick and a root beer."

Laurel listed her top three festival goodies.

"Turkey legs, root beer and gator tators," she said.

What are gator tators?

"They are like potato chips, but made of alligator, I think," Laurel said. "I think that is what they are." (In fact, they are potatoes.)

Laurel performed with the South Middle School Guitar Ensemble on the Eric Stein Stage around noon Friday. She has been playing guitar since she was in second grade and performed a guitar solo.

"I was pretty nervous, but it was pretty cool to play on the Eric Stein Stage," Laurel said. "I thought it was just going to be on the Bravo stage."

The trio planned to walk around and possibly browse some more of the booths Friday afternoon.

"I don't know what it is called, but I like the shop that has leather belts and hair pieces," Emily said.

Mary said she was eyeing a hat that was similar to a sombrero.

Emily voted against Mary purchasing the hat.

"If she buys that hat, I will pretend that I don't know her," Emily said.

Laurel said she was in favor of the hat: "If she buys it, I am going to high five her."

While Mary wanted the hat, her funds were low.

"My money is limited," Mary said. "I need to find someone who needs a baby-sitter."

Enjoying the weather

Festival temperatures have been cool this year, and to some, they are perfect.

"This is the best festival weather we have had in 10 or 15 years," said Mark Ritter, of Salina.

Ritter, 49, said he enjoyed an Indian taco for lunch.

"You know, I think everything here is tasty," he said. "I have just been sitting around and talking to friends. I am waiting on my girlfriend to get here, then we'll just walk around and enjoy the ambiance."

Ritter said he often runs into people he knows at the festival.

"When you are from Salina and you come to this, you run into everyone you know," he said.

Together time

It was a day full of excitement and fun activities for Marla Opat, of Salina, and Sara, one of her two daughters.

Opat, 48, said the duo had spent a lot of the day going through the booths and talking to people.

"We've gone through all the exhibits, golfed, ate lunch and walked around," Opat said. "We went to the park, too."

Opat said she found several things she liked.

"I really liked the guy who made the bowls," Opat said. "That was cool."

Sara, 8, said she had fun doing arts and crafts.

"My favorite was probably the one where you scratch the turtle or fish with a wooden pencil to change the colors," Sara said.

The clothing booths were also something that attracted Sara. She said she liked the skirts, and also liked spending a day with her mom.

Getting crafty

Leslie Bishop is not new to the festival. She has been attending the festival for 25 years.

Bishop, 47, of Salina, was at the festival Friday with her husband, Jim, 46, and their son, Evan, 9.

The family looked around the craft area and liked an artist from Salt Lake City, Bishop said.

"He makes all of his stuff out of old car parts," she said.

The family also looked at the handmade guitars and the clothing booths.

"I liked the girl that makes all the skirts and tops and all the panels on the skirts are different colors," Bishop said. "She was here last year, too."

Aside from the crafts, she said, she and her husband like to catch up with high school friends and often meet them at the festival.

Bishop said that Evan is excited about the First Treasures booth and that the family planned to listen to Annie Up, a country rock band.

nReporter Abby Belden can be reached at 823-6464, ext. 149, or by email at abelden@salina.com.

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