The Mathews Museum’s spring festival, May Faire, opened Friday morning to clear skies and a welcoming breeze that lasted through to the festival’s end on Saturday.

While there was sparse attendance on Friday, crowds picked up on Saturday, said spokesman Barbara Bass, and the 48 craft and food vendors who participated were pleased with the results and are ready to come back next year.

The Maypole Dance was a hit with the crowd, said Bass. It was performed twice, once by a group of older girls and again by a team of “littles,” who used a tiny version of the traditional Maypole. She said the crowd also seemed pleased with the crowning of Kailey Kinker as the first Maypole Queen. She was crowned by Danny Harper, son of the late Cindy Harper-Roman, who was deeply involved with the plans for May Faire when she passed away recently.

Mathews Museum president Tom Robinson said that there was good music throughout the day on Saturday, that the children’s area “was a real hit,” and that the festival brought in more money this year than last year. Around 300 visitors stopped by the museum during festival hours on Saturday, he said, with many participating in a silent auction. They seemed excited about the prospect of a new exhibit featuring Dr. Haynes’s medical wagon, he said.

Robinson said there was standing room only at the museum Friday night at a talk by Pam and Dave Muffelman on the history of Williams Wharf.

Pound Cake Contest

Winners of the May Faire Pound Cake contest, judged by Dave Goldman and Carolyn Lynch, were: Traditional Pound Cake, First Place—Janet Clark, Second Place—June Mullinix, and Third Place—Robin Dehoux. Creative Pound Cake, First Place—Jeannie Corey, Second Place—Kim Cortes, Third Place—Alexandra Warhol. After awards were made, the cakes were taken to the welcome booth on the court green and sold for $20 each. Ribbons were given to the winners.