THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 26, 1996 TAG: 9605260117
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL AND NANCY LEWIS, STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 79 lines
Despite cool weather and a constant threat of rain, thousands jammed festivals on opposite ends of South Hampton Roads on Saturday to kick off the Memorial Day weekend.
Norfolk's 13th annual AFR'AM Fest was packed as an estimated 65,000 people crowded into and around Town Point Park, according to Festevents.
The crowd was peaking late Saturday as some of the festival's national acts took the stage.
The weather's ill mood didn't stop Avon Howard from singing. Despite 14 years honing his skill at making rug art, he had never shown his work - until Saturday.
``This is the best thing I've done,'' he said, adding that he sold some of his more expensive pieces. ``I've been staggered by this. And even on a day like this. Next year, I'm coming back here tenfold.''
The biggest problem at the event was lost children, according to organizers.
But for Floyd Robinson, who helps gain corporate sponsorships, such as Coca-Cola, the biggest setback was the cloudy skies. No one was terribly thirsty.
``It's not selling,'' Robinson said. ``And that's the weather's fault.''
The festival continues today and Monday.
In Virginia Beach, the scene was countrified at the 13th Pungo Strawberry Festival.
While plucky porkers raced around a 110-foot sawdust track, big hunks of boneless Boston butts roasted nearby on a gas ``pig cooker.''
Each of the four sausages-on-the-hoof was trying to beat his or her fellow squealers to the trough to hog down the sweet peas and cookies set out by their trainers, ``Porkchop'' and ``Hambone.'' Getting the pigs motivated to compete takes about a week, said Hambone - a.k.a. Nathan Tidewell - of the Missouri-based Bob Hale Pig Racing Team.
Meanwhile, John Kaminski of Norfolk forked 3-pound porcine slabs off the grill in an effort to keep up with the demand for barbecue pork sandwiches as hungry folks lined up at Tabor's food stand. Kaminski said he'd slice up some 2,100 pounds on Saturday alone.
Eating was clearly the name of the game for many of the thousands who attended the celebration of strawberries, which continues today.
Virginia Beach police officers J. Lisowski and A. Huffman took a break from their Pungo patrol duty to enjoy some gyros.
``I couldn't decide between gyros and turkey legs,'' said Huffman, swallowing the last bite of his sandwich.
``I think now I should have had the legs, because I'm still hungry.''
The two officers planned to buy strawberry pies to take home, and Lisowski's wife will join hundreds of others today, picking baskets and pails of the freckled red fruits fresh from Pungo fields.
``Who did this?'' asked congressman Owen Pickett, sipping a spoonful of Berry Simple Soup, one of 12 finalist entries in Johnson & Wales University's Strawberry Cook Off. ``My compliments to the chef . . . Give them a gold star right away.''
Robert and Alexandra Hall of Virginia Beach watched the cooking competition and said they'd be back for more next year. It was the couple's first time at the festival because he is usually out at sea on a Navy ship when it takes place.
``I'm surprised at the crowd,'' said Robert Hall.
``I'm going to buy some strawberries,'' said Alexandra Hall, a graduate student at William and Mary College.
``This is just delicious, but I hope I don't eat anything more,'' said Alma Benson of Virginia Beach, savoring a dish of homemade strawberry ice cream.
``I think adults have more fun than the kids.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos
CANDICE C. CUSIC/The Virginian-Pilot
The heart of the Pungo Strawberry Festival is, of course, picking
the seed-speckled fruits. The Keeley family of Virginia Beach took
part in the ritual Saturday under cloudy skies. From left were
Matthew, 9, father Robert, son Robert, 12, and Max, 4.
RICHARD L. DUNSTON/The Virginian-Pilot
Anita Haskin, left, reaches for a pair of glasses from vendor Bethea
Darick while her friend Lisa Midgett looks over hats at the AFR'AM
Fest at Town Point Park in Norfolk. The women, who made the trip
from Greensboro, were among 65,000 at the 13th annual Fest. by CNB