Crowds flock to St. Bernard campus for annual Bloomin’ Festival
Published 7:40 pm Saturday, April 5, 2025
Huntsville's Davida Holiday Flax shares her vintage tin upcycled jewlery during the Bloomn' Festival Saturday, April 5. 'The Bloomin' Festival is one of the best shows I come to. Joyce (Nix, event organizer) does an amazing job," said the retired Air Force veteran. Amanda Shavers | The Cullman Times
A festival-goer is seen through a a painted gourd designed by artist Sook Mellen. Amanda Shavers | The Cullman Times
Guests navigate a campus full of vendors Saturday, April 5, at the 41st Annual Bloomin' Festival at St. Bernard Abbey. Amanda Shavers | The Cullman Times
A customer selects a pen created by woodworker Tim Reid Saturday, April 5, at the Bloomin' Festival. Amanda Shavers | The Cullman Times
Guests line up to purchase pieces of David and Melonie Thompson iron work, seen in the foreground. Amanda Shavers | The Cullman Times
Guests check out carpenter bee traps created by birdhouse maker Billy Goodman. Amanda Shavers | The Cullman Times
Chainsaw artist Jim Sebastian plans a delivery of one of his creations for a Bloomin' Festival guest. Amanda Shavers | The Cullman Times
Vinemont’s Christian Gingrich of Opa’s Woodshop, left, talks with Julie Foust and granddaughter, Ruby Farmer, 9 of Cullman. Ruby Ruby purchased an alligator puzzle. Amanda Shavers | The Cullman Times
A festival-goer is seen through a window painted by Deborah Elliott. Amanda Shavers | The Cullman Times
A Corgi takes in the sights Saturday, April 6. Amanda Shavers | The Cullman Times
JT Pottery's Jeff Mayfield chats with festivalgoers Saturday, April 5. Amanda Shavers | The Cullman Times
Woodworker Tim Reid talks to customers Saturday, April 5, at the Bloomin' Festival. Amanda Shavers | The Cullman Times
Artist Sook Mellen discusses her art with a Bloomin' Festival guest. Amanda Shavers | The Cullman Times
Photographer Cara Fuller brought her gallery of abandonned cars in the woods to the annual Bloomin' Festival Saturday, April 5. Amanda Shavers | The Cullman Times
Arts and crafts were on display Saturday, April 6, as St. Bernard Abbey and Prep School hosted the 41st Annual Bloomin’ Festival. The outdoor event, which continues Sunday, April 6, features handcrafted works of talented artists and crafts people, music and festival food.
More than 150 vendors from across the southeastern United States make their way to the Abbey to showcase their unique handcrafted work.
Along with shopping for handcrafted items, guests are treated to great food from a variety of concession vendors including the homemade loaves of Monk Bread and cookies. A grand prize giveaway will be Sunday, featuring a brand-new 2025 Buick Encore GX. Additional prizes include a portable projector, Apple AirPods, a mini foldable drone and a Fitbit Inspire Watch. Tickets for the prizes are $5 each or six for $25 and may be purchased online or at the event.
The event continues Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. rain or shine. Admission is a suggested donation of $10 per person with children five-years-old and under admitted free. Pets are not allowed. Proceeds benefit St. Bernard Prep School, a private co-educational boarding school for grades 9-12.
For more information, visit bloominfestival.com, call 256-255-5860 for follow on Facebook at facebook.com/bloominfestival/.
St. Bernard Abbey and Prep School is located at 1600 St. Bernard Drive SE in Cullman, adjacent to the Ave Maria Grotto, a 4-acre park featuring 125 miniature replicas of biblical structures and world-famous buildings l hand built by a Benedictine monk. Special reduced admission rates are offered to festival attendees to visit Ave Maria Grotto all weekend. For more information, visit avemariagrotto.com.
Artisans
Heather Adams – Decatur – Polymer Clay jewelry, laser cut and engraved lanterns
Sarah Adams – Vestavia – Children’s Clothing
Debra Ashworth -Hayden – Hairbows, doll clothes, children jewelry
Rami Awwad – Tuscumbia – Hand carved Bethlehem olivewood
Elizabeth Aycock – Rose Hill, MS – Freeze dried candy
Sammy Aycock – Rose Hill. MS – Ironwork
Elizabeth Bacher – St. Johns, FL – Cheese straws
Matt and Linda Barry – Sewanee, TN – Perennial Plants
Vyron Bearden – Muscle Shoals – Wood turned pens, bowls, cutting boards, cheese slicers
Terry Benefield – Heflin – wrought iron, birdhouses
Barry Black – Bremen – 3-D Printed animals
Dylan Britt – Higdon – Leather
Glen and Maggie Bryan – Piedmont – Ceramics and bonsai
Connie Buchanan – Knoxville, TN – Face Painting Artist
Rebecca Bullion – Gurley – Kettlecorn
Amy M. Caffrey – John’s Creek, GA – Mixed media
Lisa Campbell – Hanceville – Shirt designs, wooden crafts
Theodore M. Cassidy – Murfreesboro, TN – Garden art & water sculptures
Linda Chism – Decatur – Wine bottle chimes
Bob Cochran – Cleveland, TN – Laser engraved items
Larry Couch – Cullman – Wood
Ray and Wendy Cousins – Hoover – Borth natural soaps
Natalie Craig – Birmingham – Homemade dog and cat treats, collars, leashes
Jeremy Crawford – Arab – Woodburning
Ruth Crist – Hueytown – Wreaths & Crochet
Robert Davis – Lawrenceburg, TN – Clocks
Sheri Deburcheo – Powell, TN – Self Care Items
Elton Denson – Ashland City, TN – Copper and Steel Creations
Richard Duren – Trussville – BBQ Sauce and seasonings
Ray Dutton – Moulton – Birdhouses
Deborah Elliott – Birmingham – Art, handmade towels
Nancy Elliott – Rainsville – Art
Beth Essner – Gurley – Repurposed vintage items
Sarah Evans – Cullman – Firepots
Kim Everett – Memphis, TN – Jewelry
Deborah Fears – Huntsville Candy Apples
Davida Holiday Flax – Madison – Jewelry
Izzy Florsheim – Meridianville – Household items
Becky Floyd – Vinemont – Little girl vintage dresses
Brian Fortenberry – Cullman – BBQ Sauce and seasonings
David Fortenberry – Gadsden – Wood
Cara Fuller – Huntsville – Photography
Dave Geyer – Columbia, TN – Clothing
Robert Gingrich – Falkville – Wooden handcrafted toys and flowers
Dorothy Glover – Iron City, TN – Rock Candles
Billy Goodman – Anderson – Birdhouses
Gina Green – Decatur – Beaded crosses/jewelry
Brian Greer – Falkville – Coin Jewelry
Frankie and Brett Greer – Cullman – Pottery
Kenny and Shannon Hall – Tupelo, MS – Sublimation shirts, blanket, kids clothing
Anna Hallmark – Moulton – Succulents
Randall Hanson – Lawrenceburg, TN – wood dog feeders, microwave potato bags
Tonia Hart – Prattville – Dream Catchers and antler art
Donny Harwell – Mountain Brook – Juice
Theresa Heffner – Hayden – Stained Glass
Megan Herndon – Arab – 3D Printing
Joe Hicks – Arab – Metal Wall Art
Marcus Hilden – New Market – Blacksmith copper and iron
Tammy Hill – Vinemont – ice cream
Rebecca Hodo – Warrior – crocheted laser engraved wood, home decor
Renee Hoffman – Vinemont – Pottery
Carol Hofstetter – Athens – Fiber art
Christopher Lee Holt – New Albany, MS – Laser and handmade furniture
Paige Hughes – Columbiana – Jewelry
Liping Jackson – Clinton, MS – Sculpture
Larry Jarvis – Cottondale – Wood and expoxy turnings
Alan Johnson – Cullman – woodworking and pottery
Mike Jones – Danville – Local grown spices and seasonings
Julie Kelley – Jasper – Candles
Allan Kress – Cullman – Blacksmith
Alexis Lamote – Cullman – Goat Cheese
Jerry Lashley – Lithia Springs, GA – Cypress outdoor furniture
Kelly Li – Peoria, IL – Succulents
Johanna Littleton – Decatur – Paintings
June Lusty – Franklin, TN – Leather
Lynn Lusty – Old Hickory, TN – Pottery/macrame
William Marcum – Toney – Wood door hangers
Jack Marshall – Folsom, LA – Cinnamon roasted nuts, brittle
Robert Martindale – Russellville – Pottery
Michael McCandless – McCalla – Woodworking
Jeanne McCostlin – Ardmore Driftwood, shell and pine cone art
Caitlin McKamey – Lake View – Crochet stuffed animals
Sook Mellen – Madison – Handpainted garden decor
Jackie Miller – Huntsville – Fiber
Nikki Miller – Falkville – Candles, soap
Paul and Natalie Mitchell – Pinson – Handcrafted sterling silver
Mary Moody – Helena – Wood decor
Lucy and Thomas Moore -Anniston – Handmade puppets
Tracy Moore – Trussville – Faith based apparel
Angela Morris – Vestavia Hills – Jewelry
David and Tami Newcomb – Gulfport, MS – Semi-precious gemstone jewelry
Phil & Mary Nichols – Aberdeen, MS – Silverware jewely
Roni and Delores Norbut – Arab – Fiber Art
Jim Payne – Calhoun, TN- Hummingbird feeders
Jason Pearce – Cullman – Pet snacks
Janet Peterson – Gadsden – Fused Glass
Lauren Preiss – Hanceville – Rosaries and Veils
Shannon Quick – Vinemont – leather crafts/upholstered furniture
John Ragan – Bristol, TN – Pottery
Tim Reid – Chattanooga, TN – Wood
Yara Reynolds – Hanceville – Handmade hats, jewelry, purses
Lori Rhodes – Pinson – Jewelry
Jacob Richter – Hanceville – Woodwork
Cathie Rickert – Cullman – Baked Goods
Pat Rike – Bristol, VA – Window clings, and fairy lights
Jacob Richter – Cullman – Woodworking
Sara Rigdon – Gadsden – Crochet
Phillip Russell – Violet, LA – Wooden Toys
James Rutherford – Shannon, MS – Ornamental iron
Phyllis Sauls – Gadsden – Jewelry
Heather B. Seagraves – Macon, GA – Handmade pet accessories
James Sebastian – Huntsville – Chainsaw carvings
Sheila Sexton – Seymour, TN – Repurposed decorative crafts
Dan Skinner – Starkville, MS – Handmade herb packs
Susan Smith – Cullman – Candles
Britney Smothers– Bardstown, KY – Woodworking
Glenda Stiefel – Fyffe – Glass Art
Carla Stiles – Arab – Local lavender products
Jim Swimelar – Helena – Mini donuts
Kim Swafford – Trussville – Pottery
Sharon Terry – Brookwood – T-Shirts
David and Melonie Thompson – Danville – Ironwork
Jim Tompkins – Athens – Home decor
Roger Dale Timmerman – Alabaster – Leather
Brenda Trunec – McCalla – Baked Breads
Marty Vaughn – Cullman – Windchimes
Marvin and Maureen Wallace – Decatur – monogrammed items
Anita Watson – Columbia, TN – Fudge
Leonda Whetstone – Huntsville – Handwoven baskets
Victoria Whitlow – Moulton – Candles
Tim Whitten – Decatur – Pottery
Dennis and Saundra Williams – Tallahassee, FL – Wooden Toys
Joy Wright – Huntsville – Jewelry
