‘I’m the cookie monster!’ jokes Br. Christopher McBride, head of the small monastic kitchen staff who fires up the St. Bernard Abbey ovens three times each week to bake monk-made treats (like these chocolate chip cookies) that will be for sale at the Bloomin’ Festival.

The 39th Annual Bloomin’ Festival Arts and Crafts Fair returns this weekend, April 22-23, to the campus of St. Bernard.

Artisans are already in preparation for the 2-day arts festival which draws more than 25,000 visitors to the city of Cullman and St. Bernard.

Located adjacent to the school is the world-famous Ave Maria Grotto. The picturesque landscape of stone cut buildings on the grounds of Alabama’s only abbey provides a backdrop for the outdoor show.

As of Monday, 180 artisans had registered to participate in the event the Southeast Tourism Society has named one of the “Top Twenty Event in the Southeast.” Vendors will be selling handmade items such as baskets, jewelry, ornamental garden art, birdhouses, pottery, cypress furniture, handmade soaps, brooms, wood turned bowls, fudge, kettle corn, roasted cinnamon nuts and more. St. Bernard’s monks will be there as well to sell their famous homemade bread and newly added cookies.

“The response has been fantastic. We are blessed to have such a wonderful group of artisans who support our show, and who invite their talented friends to check it out as well,” festival director, Joyce Nix said.

Highlighting the show is the give-away of a 2023 Jeep Renegade purchased from Cullman Dodge Chrysler in Cullman. Due to supply-chain issues, the Renegade won’t be present at the festival, but will be awarded as soon as it arrives. Other prizes include an Apple iPad, Fitbit Versa 2 Smartwatch, Apple AirPods, and a Midland weather radio. Tickets can be purchased at the festival or online at bloominfestival.com.

All proceeds benefit the operational support of St. Bernard Preparatory School.

Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with an admission donation of $10; Children 12 and younger free. For more information visit bloominfestival.com or call 256-739-6682. Group tours are welcome.

“We are very grateful to all who make our show a success,” said Nix. “Our friends from the private sector and from the corporate community have been very supportive of our work. It is our job to honor that support to the best of our ability.”

Jessica Allen – Cullman, AL- Picture Frames

Misty Archer – Anniston, AL – Personalized door hangers

Tiffany Ashcraft – Amory, MS – Decorative Crafts

Debra Ashworth -Hayden, AL – Hairbows, doll clothes, children jewelry

Rami Awwad – Tuscumbia, AL – Hand carved Bethlehem olivewood

Elizabeth Aycock – Rose Hill, MS – Freeze dried candy

Sammy Aycock – Rose Hill. MS – Ironwork

Lisa Baldone – Vestavia Hills, AL – Glass/Jewelry

Kathi Barber – North Augusta, SC – Jewelry

Matt and Linda Barry – Sewanee, TN – Perennial Plants

Vyron Bearden – Muscle Shoals, AL – Wood turned pens, bowls, cutting boards, cheese slicers

Renee Beckham – Huntsville, AL – Scrap art angels, crosses, dragonflies, etc

Jimmy Bendall – Northport, AL – Silver spoon jewelry

Terry Benefield – Heflin, AL – Birdhouses, Beetraps, flag holders, shepherd hooks

Rhett Blackwell – Birmingham, AL – Wood charcuterie boards, serving trays and small furniture

Kathy Bowdoin – Montgomery, AL – Handcrafted magnetic jewelry

Christina Bowles – Gulf Breeze, FL – Custom Yard Signs

Joyce Branch – Gatlinburg, TN – Sign and glass art

Dylan Britt – Higdon, AL – Leather

Connie Buchanan – Knoxville, TN – Face Painting Artist

Doug Buchanan – Knoxville, TN – Wood Art

Krel Buckelew – Hanceville, AL – Art

Randy & Beverly Bullard – Smyrna, TN – Gourd Birdhouses

Emily Busby – Guntersville, AL – Stoneware clay

Talmadge Butler – Vinemont, AL – Wood/Flowers

Michael Cade – Salem, South Carolina – Art

Steve Carmichael – Riverside, AL – Oil Paintings

Steve Carter – Haleyville, AL – Driftwood creations

Kay Cornelius – Killen, AL – Hats/Hairbows

Larry Couch – Cullman, AL – Wood

Ray Cousins – Hoover, AL – Natural soap products

Janette Cramer – Danville, AL- Ceramics

Ruth Crist – Hueytown, AL – Wreaths & Crochet

Sheri Deburcheo – Powell, TN – Self Care Items

Marion Dennis – Coosada, AL – Honey and beeswax products

Sandra Dickerson – Somerville, AL – Vintage tin jewelry, wood hair sticks

Georgia Duke – Scottsboro, AL – Paper mache’ Art

Kim Duncan – Athens, AL – Home decor

Richard Duren – Trussville, AL – BBQ Sauce and seasonings

Ray Dutton – Moulton, AL – Birdhouses

Irica Edwards – Hartselle, AL – Candles, woodworking

Deborah Elliott – Birmingham, AL – Art, handmade towels

Laura and Lorenzo Estrada – Douglasville, GA – Concrete Statuary

Bay Etheredge – Locust Fork, AL – Horseshoe Art

Nick Evans – Cullman, AL – Wood carved fish

Connie Farish – Shelby, AL – Jewelry

Debra Farley – Pelham, AL – Jewelry

William Finklea – Columbiana, AL – Kettle corn

Davida Holiday Flax – Madison, AL – Jewelry

Izzy Florsheim – Meridianville, AL – Aprons, shawls, blanket pillows

Alex Fong – Suwanee, GA – Paper cutting/ink

Brian Fortenberry – Cullman, AL – BBQ Sauces

David Fortenberry – Huntsville, AL – Woodworking

Dave Geyer – Columbia, TN – Ladies Clothing

Paul Glenn – Birmingham, AL – Woodworking

Billy Goodman – Anderson, AL – Birdhouses

Christina Green – North Port, FL – Stoneware

Gina Green – Decatur, AL – Beaded crosses/jewelry

Brian Greer – Falkville, AL – Coin Jewelry

Hollie Guffey- Steele, AL – candies/sweets

Jessica Haigh – Ft. Payne, AL – Pottery

Tonia Hart – Prattville, AL – Dream Catchers and antler art

Krissy Hale – Muscle Shoals, AL – Handmade soap and bath products

Shannon Hall – Tupelo, MS – Fiber Art

Edward and Patricia Heerten – McCalla, AL – Woodworking

Theresa Heffner – Hayden, AL – Stained Glass

June Henderson – Holly Pond, AL – Fiber Art

Hugh Henry – Hartselle, AL – 35640

Marcus Hilden – New Market, AL – Blacksmith copper and iron

Tammy Hill – Vinemont, AL – Handmade furniture and accessories

Rebecca Hodo – Cullman, AL – crocheted laser engraved wood, home decor

Virgil Hoffman – French Lick, IN – Wood flowers

Paige Hughes – Columbiana, AL – Jewelry

Susan Irving – Athens, AL – Licorice

Liping Jackson – Clinton, MS – Sculpture

Laura Johnson – Hartselle, AL – Embroidery/monogramming

Sheila Johnson – Hanceville, AL – Purses

George Jones – Florence, AL – Brooms

Julie Kelley – Jasper, AL – Candles

Richard Kessinger – Crane Hill, AL – Woodwork

Donna Kessler – Columbia, TN – Gourmet Apples

Don & Delinda King – Cullman, AL – Leather

Molly King – Madison, AL – Jewelry

Richard King – Madison, AL – Wood crafts

Godwin Kou – Johns Creek, GA – Watercolors

Allan Kress- Baileyton, AL – Blacksmith

Jerry Lashley – Lithia Springs, GA – Cypress outdoor furniture

Johanna Littleton – Decatur, AL – Paintings

June Lusty – Franklin, TN – Leather

Lynn Lusty – Old Hickory, TN – Pottery/macrame

Rose Marcum – Toney, AL – Wood door hangers

Jack Marshall – Folsom, LA – Cinnamon roasted nuts, brittle

Francis Martin – Cantonment, FL – Wooden Toys

Robert Martindale – Russellville, AL – Pottery

Jeff Mayfield – Pulaski, TN – Pottery

Heaven McCaulley – Piedmont, AL – Wearable art bags pieced with vintage and repurposed textiles

Jeanne McCostlin – Ardmore, AL – Driftwood art, glass art, gourd art

Heather McDurmon – Rome, GA – Tye dye art

Roger McGuire – Falkville, AL – Wood

Sook Mellen – Madison, AL – Handpainted garden decor

Jackie Miller – Huntsville, AL – Fiber art

Nikki Miller – Falkville, AL – Candles, soap

Raven Mobley – Decatur, AL- Art

Lucy and Thomas Moore -Anniston, AL – Handmade puppets

Tracy Moore – Trussville, AL – Faith based apparel

Angela Morris – Vestavia Hills, AL – Jewelry

Chad Nelson – Cullman, AL – Pottery

Jeffrey Nelson – New Windsor, NY – Inlay wood furniture

Brandy Nevins – Hamilton, MS – Wooden Door Hangers

Adam Nicholson – Murphy, NC – Traditional longbows

Mark Niday – Winfield, AL – Embroidery

Kristen Nix – Muscle Shoals, AL – Bath and Body

Reata Nix – Hanceville, AL – Monograms

Roni and Delores Norbut – Arab, AL – Fiber Art

Kim Obman – Columbus, MS – Handmade pewter jewelry

Beth Overstreet – Hoover, AL – Functional Art

Shelley Ozbirn – Belmont, MS – Watercolor Art

Theresa Owens – Brandon, MS – 39042

Ayesha Patel – Huntsville, AL – Bundt Cakes

Chris Patterson – Gadsden, AL – Pottery jewelry

Jim Payne – Calhoun, TN- Hummingbird feeders

Jason Pearce – Cullman, AL – Pet Bakery

Cindy Petty – Ball Ground, GA – Quilts

Barton and Angela Pierce – Fyffe, AL – Woodcraft and resin crafts

Melanie Poole – Montevallo, AL – Steampunk functional crafts

David Pugh – Morristown, TN – License plates, photo slates, photo keychains

Emily Rapier – Hayden, AL – Baked goods

Steve Reavis – Huntsville, AL – Woodcarving

Tim Reid – Chattanooga, TN – Wood

Lori Rhodes – Pinson, AL – Jewelry

Pat Rike – Bristol, VA – Window clings, and fairy lights

Amelia Royalty – McCalla, AL – Dyed fiber art

James Rutherford – Shannon, MS – Metal Art

Phyllis Sauls – Gadsden, AL – Jewelry

Babs Schnable – Lake Geneva, WI – Pressed flower art

James Sebastian – Huntsville, AL – Chainsaw carvings

Tim Sebastian – Huntsville, AL – Concrete statues and woodcarvings

Sharalee Sherman-Huntsville, AL – Teakwood furniture

Mike and Jan Sherwood – Alabaster, AL – Art

Dan Skinner – Nashville, TN – Relax wraps

Liz Smith – Joppa, AL – Photography

Glenda Stiefel – Fyffe, AL – Glass art

David and Melonie Thompson – Danville, AL – Ironwork

Tim Tingle – Montevallo, AL – Carvings

Brenda Trunec – McCalla, AL – Baked Breads

Marty Vaughn – Cullman, AL – Windchimes

Laura Walker – Cullman, AL – Artist

Marvin and Maureen Wallace – Decatur, AL- monogrammed items

Alyssa Watson – Simpsonville, SC – Decorated Cookies

Anita Watson – Columbia, TN – Fudge

Leonda Whetstone – Huntsville, AL – Handwoven baskets

Dennis and Saundra Williams – Tallahassee, FL – Wooden Toys

Susan Williams – Abbeville, MS – Pottery

Janay Winchester – Russellville, AL – Paintings, wire wrap , fiber art

Fr. Paschal Yohe – Irondale, AL – Leather, pottery, rosary