Now in its 30th year, the annual Bloomin’ Festival kicks off Saturday. Finally, spring has arrived and it’s time to get out and enjoy some sunshine and fresh air.

The event begins with a 5K/10K run Saturday. Runners will enjoy the trek through the cool, quiet, wooded trails of the Abbey forest at 7:30 a.m.

If you’ve been cooped up too long this winter and want to enjoy a leisurely day with lots to do in a relaxed atmosphere, there is no better place to do just that than the beautiful grounds of the St. Bernard Abbey and Prep School in Cullman. The gates open to the craft fair at 9 a.m.

For arts and crafts fair enthusiasts, this is a celebration of exciting new treasures to discover.

“We have a fantastic, sold out show,” said festival director, Joyce Nix.  “We encourage everyone to invite their family, neighbors and friends to visit St. Bernard for a weekend of wholesome fun for the entire family.”

Live demonstrations of broom making, glass blowing and pottery demonstrations will take place throughout the weekend. There will be several booths from which to choose colorful oil and portrait paintings, a plethora of jewelry, interesting ironwork, handcrafted birdhouses, unique children and ladies clothing, and clay works, as well as wood-turned items that include pens, shaving tools, and bowls; personalized clocks, windchimes, hummingbird feeders, handmade soaps, home décor, painted eggs, and many more interesting finds.

The Cullman County Master Gardeners have been working diligently for months to pot blooming and evergreen plants in hundreds of species and varieties. Master Gardeners will be on hand to help you choose the right plant for your landscape.

The monks have been busy baking monk bread, candles, and have added hand-made rosaries to their list of works.

Everyone is excited about the new addition to the Bloomin’ Festival — a down home, old-fashioned, lip-smackin’ crawfish boil. The zydeco music will lead you straight to it, if the smell of spicy Cajun crawfish just out of the pot doesn’t.

Of course, there will also be the great food you’ve been accustomed to eating at the Bloomin’ Festival, like savory smoked chicken, polish sausages, grilled hamburgers and hotdogs with all the fixins. And don’t forget to save room for funnel cakes, strawberry Belgian waffles, or soft serve ice cream.

Freshly squeezed lemonade and Pepsi products will be served to quench your thirst after a day of strolling over the campus and visiting the Ave Maria Grotto just across the way.  

Nix encourages Bloomin’ Festival attendees to be supportive of  Bloomin’ Festival sponsors who help each year in bringing this family-oriented festival to life.

“Our festival sponsors are giving and community-minded servants,” said Nix. “Their support helps bring this art-filled event to Cullman and St. Bernard. Make sure you let the fine folks at Pepsi, O.F. Richter & Sons, Richard Electric, Merchants Bank, Cullman Jefferson Gas, Wal-Mart Distribution, and Regions Bank know how much you enjoy Bloomin’ Festival.”

On Sunday at 5 p.m., a 2014 Jeep Patriot, digital camera, a GPS system, a Blu-Ray disc player, and an iPod shuffle will be given away.

Admission to the festival is a donation of $5. Children five and under are free. Admission to Ave Maria Grotto for the festival weekend only is $3 per person. All proceeds benefit St. Bernard Preparatory School, a private boarding and day school operated by the Benedictine monks of St. Bernard Abbey.

For more information, visit www.stbernardprep.com or www.bloominfestival.com.

Vendors

Rhonda Aldridge, Plant Rooters

Alejandro Amezcua – Nashville, TN, Sterling Silver Jewelry

Debra Ashworth – Gardendale, Childrens clothing, hairbows and doll clothes

Tara Atkins – Huntsville, Childrens hair accessories

Matt and Linda Barry – Sewanee, TN, Plants

Jimmy Bendall – Northport,  Woodturning and silverware jewelry

Dylan Britt – Higdon,Leather

Tracie Bryant – Madison, Rag dolls/Primitive gifts and doll clothing

Susie Bryars – Milton, FL, Handsewn items

Randy and Bev Bullard – Smyrna, TN, Themed clocks and wood

Talmadge Butler – Vinemont, Wood and plants

Bruce and JoAnne Byrd – Milton, FL, Recycled tire flower planters

Cindy Cail – West Blocton, Metal art, sculpture

Steve and Mechele Carter – Haleyville, Driftwood water fountains and birdhouses

Steven Febres-Cordero – Center Point, Woodcarvings

Larry and Ann Couch – Cullman, Wood birdhouses

Norris Crawford – Greensboro, Leather

Cullman County Master Gardeners – Cullman, Plants

Stacey Cummings – Muscle Shoals, Home decor, childrens attire, gifts

Mary Curtin – Bristol, TN, Clay

Claudia Dabbieri – Marion, Fashion accessories

Dahlia Society of Alabama – Birmingham, Dahlia bulbs

Debra and Mike Davis – McCalla, Painted wood, mix media

Janice Dearman – Decatur, Handmade fabric bags and accessories

Sam and Martha Dees – Peterman, Cypress furniture

Donna DiGiorgio – Hoover, Repurposed Art, 2-D mixed

Freddie DiPlacido – Huntsville, Sea Shell Art

Ralph Dougherty – Fayetteville, TN, Honey products

Shawn Doughty – Athens, State art work

Ray Dutton – Moulton, Birdhouses and feeders

Deborah Elliott – Birmingham, Art and towels

Ruby Ellison – Memphis, TN, Doll clothes

Debbie Elsberry – Springville, Crocheted hats, scarves, access

Guy Faranda – Tire Hill, PA, Roasted almonds

Bill Finklea – Columbiana, Kettle Korn

Carol Freeman/Sherry Hosmer – Sylvan Springs, Crocheted afghans, fabric dolls, animals, etc.

Cara Fuller – Huntsville, Photography

Hannah Gallups – Cleveland, Jewelry frames, paintings, vintage decor

Pat Gann – Jasper, Childrens clothing, ladies accessories

Jane Gargis – Killen, Handpainted items

Meredith Geyer – Navarre, FL, Ladies apparel

Dusty Gibbs – Holly Pond, Flowers

Glenda Giles – Chattanooga, TN, Fiber arts

Lourie E. Givens – Florence, Ceramics

Sylvia Gonda – Birmingham, Game day and tailgating clothing

Billy and Peggy Goodman – Florence, Birdhouses

Cecilia Greene – Maplesville, Handmade children’s clothing

Brian and Paige Greer – Falkville, Jewelry

Kim Haney – Arab, Decorative wood

Nicole Harbin – Huntsville, Paintings, jewelry, shirts

Beth Harrison – Elkmont, Handmade soap, bath and body

Diane Harrison – Birmingham, Kerchiller neck wraps

Edward and Patricia Heerten – McCalla, Wooden bowls and puzzles

Tonya Higginbotham – Piedmont, Embroidered items, handmade boutique outfits

Marcus W. Hilden – New Market, Forged iron/copper

Tammy Hill – Vinemont, Handmade children’s clothing

Tim Hobbs – Bon Aqua, TN, Gristmill

Jim and Frances Holliday – Hayden, Eggshell art

Joanne Holloway – Birmingham, Jewelry holders, magnetic chalkboards

Kacie Hoostal – Woodstock, GA, Pet items

Debbie Hoover – Calera, Sewn vintage chenille items

Tammy Howell – Gardendale, Door hangers, cake takers, tumblers

Georgia Hulbert – Gurley, Wood/mixed media

Connie and Mike Hulsey – Decatur, Ink/Fountain pens, recycled crafts

Joyce Hyde – Cullman, Paper potter/magazine art

Richard Jacobus – Douglasville, GA, Metalworks

Robin and Bobby Johnston – Jemison, Jewelry and wood items

George Jones – Florence, Handmade brooms

Laura and Bryan Jordan – Hoover, Pottery

Sheree Kilgore –Maggie Valley, NC, Glass sculpture

Bradley Kirkpatrick – Nashville, TN, Solo piano CDs

Allan Kress – Baileyton, Blacksmith

Jerry Lashley – Lithia Springs, GA, Cypress outdoor furniture

David and Linda Lawson – Decatur, Windmobiles, picture frames, face painting

James Ledbetter – Opelika, Antique spoon jewelry

Debbie Lindsay – Gardendale, Decorative wood

Johanna Littleton – Decatur, Paintings

Jeffery Long – Alexander City, Recycled art/candles

June Lusty – Nashville, TN, Leather

Lynn Lusty – Old Hickory, TN, Handbuilt pottery and macrame

Jeff Martin – Cantonment, FL, Wooden toys

Janeen May – Harvest, Wood picture frames, scripture, pallets, crosses

Jeff and Maggie Mayfield – Pulaski, TN, Pottery

Heaven McCaulley – Piedmont, Wearable art, purses

Ted McCoy – Stevenson, Pen and ink drawings

Heather McDurmon – Rome, GA, Functional fiber-tie dye

Bill and Elfriede McGee – Huntsville,  Scroll saw art and pens; jewelry

Robin and Wesley Merritt – Zionsville, IN, Photography letter art

Stacy Morgan – Hazelgreen, Stoneware pottery

Feranando Moya – Louisville, KY, Native handmade crafts, CDs

Chad Nelson – Cullman, Clay

Roni and Veronica Norbut – Arab, Handmade purses, hairbows, burlap hangers

Julie O’Neal – Nashville, TN, Pottery clay-functional and jewelry

Jack Pair – Arley, Birdhouses

James Payne  – Calhoun, TN, Hummingbird feeders

Monte Perry – Brownsboro, Jewelry design

Shannon Quick – Vinemont, Furniture

Ken and Melissa Ray – Pell City, Birdhouses, lamps, furniture

Heather Russell – Pike Road, Burlap and canvas door hangers

Jimmy and Sara Rutherford – Shannon, MS, Metal art; jewelry

Phyllis Sauls – Gadsden, Appliqued ladies clothing

Diane Scott – Pinson, Vintage and new girls dresses

Darlene Seals – Holly Springs, MS, Hairbows and holders

Carolina Seamen – Lester, Lathe turned crafts

James Sebastian – Huntsville, Stump men woodcarvings

Gloria Simons – Montgomery, Stained glass

Ashley Skinner – Nashville, TN, Relax wraps

Pam Smith – Jacksonville, Nature photography

Roger Smith – Cullman, Turned wooden art and game calls

Jarrod Smitherman – Cullman, Woodwork

Pam Snellgrove – LaGrange, GA, Glass blowing

Betsy Spurgeon/Tom Simmons, Mesh wreaths and paracord accessories

Beverly Stephens – Falkville, Children’s clothing

Kim and Phillip Terry – Trinity, Gourd art, mosaic stained glass

Jim Tompkins – Athens, Wood crafts

Thomas Troup – Guntersville, Windchimes and fishermen

Karen Tucker – Helena, Lanterns

Lisa Tyler – Florence, Mixed media

Michael and Laura Vest – Birmingham, Soap, bath and body; jewelry

Ann Waldrop – Houston, Pottery

Laura Willingham Walker – Cullman, Fine art

Marvin and Maureen Wallace – Decatur, Monogrammed items, wood established plaques

Kathleen J. Warner – Cullman, Portrait drawings and paintings

Jaime Weaver and Wade Berry – Leighton, Woodworking w/reclaimed materials

Steve and Missie Webb – Owens Cross Roads, Chainmaille jewelry, electric cigar box guitars

Len and Judy Weiss – Rocky Face, GA, Bavarian art wax

Leonda Whetstone – Huntsville, Handwoven baskets

Annette White – Butler, Handpainted slates

Dennis Williams – Tallahassee, FL, Wooden toys

Susan and Lamar Williams – Abbeville, MS, Pottery, ceramics and goat milk soap

Pam Willingham – Cullman, Art

Pat Wilson, Linda Hickam, Carol English – Brownsboro, Fused glass

Jill Windham – Madison, Art strings, brag boards, clipboards, handy hooks, etc.

Cathy Worsham – Pulaski, TN, Monogrammed coasters and tiles