Hot temperatures didn’t keep the crowds away as more than 10,000 people were estimated to have attended the 31st Guinea Jubilee Friday and Saturday.

"Water was the drink of the day," said Elliott Hogge, chairman of the festival’s organizing committee, although many vendors said they also did very well selling other beverages, foods such as chicken-on-a-skewer and crab chowder, handmade crafts, and more on the Abingdon Ruritan Club fairgrounds at Bena.

According to organizers, approximately 4,500 people turned out Friday, with most staying around until the end of Crazy X’s musical performance. Arts and crafts and food booths were open Friday and Saturday, along with the popular children’s rides that included a rock-climbing wall, inflatable slides and others.

A popular attraction Saturday—when well over 5,000 turned out—was the parade, which drew about 85 units. Hogge said this year fewer units took part in the parade, possibly due to budget cuts among some of the groups like volunteer fire and rescue departments. Despite the fewer number of units, several arrived from well outside of Gloucester, such as from Virginia Beach and other places.

"Everything was just perfect," Hogge said of the parade and the other events, due in large part to the many volunteers and steering committee who helped organize and run the event and the dedicated service of the Gloucester Sheriff’s Office personnel who were on hand throughout the festival.

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