By Jessica Dillon
Supervisor Chris Lawless hosted the first Spring Fest at the Henry County Recreation Facility, formerly the YMCA, in Collinsville. The event featured vendors, music, food trucks and bounce houses for children.
Lawless said attendance remained steady throughout the day, and he even donned a trash panda mascot costume to help draw attention to the event.
“I’m very blessed. I think it’s been a great day for everybody,” Lawless said. “I’ve been dancing on the corner trying to get people to come in, and when I say dancing on the corner, I mean in my panda outfit.”
Lawless said vendors benefited from the turnout.
“They were able to come out here and show people what they got, and that was success for me on its own,” he said. “Just keeping that steady trickle and letting the community know what we got — I’m blessed, and I want to thank the community, the vendors and my people for making it happen.”
Lawless also thanked those who helped organize the event.
“Megan, Jackie, Hunter, my wife and all of the other vendors, my guys from the shop — they’re here helping me,” he said. “I especially want to thank Charles, Louise and all my media outlets, because without you guys none of this would be possible, and without the community it wouldn’t be possible.”
The Henry County Animal Shelter attended the event with adoptable kittens and shared information about pet adoptions and spaying and neutering.
“Spring brings all the kittens and puppies, and it is also a very important time for us to advocate for spaying and neutering animals,” shelter representative Mackenzie Custer said. “We do not have as many adoptions as we previously had, so now we’re out in the community. This is really good for us to get our name out there because not a lot of people know we do adoptions.”
Tina Cox Succulents offered plant-themed decorations and succulents during the event.
“We put a lot of effort into it,” vendor Mercedes Marris said. “It was a lot of fun. We put together the shelves ourselves, and it was fun to make.”
Skyebright Smile, a local teeth whitening business, also participated.
“We are a community provider that offers teeth whitening services,” owner Devin Smithwick said.
A new mobile clothing business, Seek First Christian Clothing, also debuted at the festival.
“We are very excited to have this opportunity to showcase what we have,” owner Amanda Hendrix said. “We create the designs and press them onto the shirts ourselves.”
