DAPHNE, Ala. — People came from all over to attend the 22nd annual Jubilee Festival in Olde Towne Daphne on Saturday and Sunday, and there were a variety of reasons for people to attend.

Some came for the fine arts and crafts, whether an artist selling his or her work or a consumer looking to make a purchase or two.

“When Katrina hit, a lot of shows were canceled,” said Martin Benoit of Louisiana Ink Art in Covington, La., who had his tent and art pieces set up both days. “I called over here and they said, ‘Yes, we’re having the festival. We figure artists need to make some money.’ People here thought about artists before themselves.”

“I’m here to support local artists,” said Meghan Everett of Daphne.

Her son, Taplan, 2, came for a different reason: the kid’s part in Centennial Park, which offered children’s activities, including handprints on the fence, balloon art and wooden sculpture building.

“The puppets,” Taplan said, when asked to express his favorite part.

“She loved getting a snow cone,” said Beth Zeimet about her daughter, 4-year-old Emma. “We’ve done our hand prints every year.” Emma has attended the festival for three years.

Some people came for the food vendors on Main Street, like Viper BBQ, which sent an aroma sliding down the street even before crowds began piling up.

Others attended for the 5K Jubilee Race for Life, and stayed in their sweaty shirts with their race numbers attached to their front.

A few people watched college football on the big screen television in the City Hall council chambers.

“Definitely watching,” said Terry Hadley, sporting his Alabama shirt along with his dog, Fiona, who wore Crimson Tide apparel.

“She’s going to be my cheerleader,” Hadley said.

“We had a lot of people come watch the football games, so that was pretty cool,” said Kathie Barton, communications coordinator for the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce.

Some even came just because of the name.

“We started coming last year because of the name of it,” said Miranda Lampron, the Pensacola, Fla., mother of 2-year-old Jubilee Lampron.

“We are going to come every year because her name is Jubilee,” said the child’s grandfather, Richard Coffey.

Some people’s festival activities were affected by the rain, which started coming down at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

Ragan Powers and her son, Keegan Powers, 3, were hiding under a tree just before the festival tents, hoping the rain would pass. The family just moved from Kentucky last week, and they were attending their first Jubilee Festival.

“I just want a (balloon) doggie,” Keegan said.

The year’s event was haunted by rain throughout the weekend, with showers coming in mid-Saturday and then again at 3 p.m. Sunday.

“It rained, and we had to shut down the kids event Saturday afternoon because it was mushy and wet,” Barton said. “It was packed and we opened it up the next day and they had a ball!”

This year’s event will help the Gulf Coast, with a percentage of funds raised going toward oil spill recovery efforts.

“Ten percent of the profits off the festival’s T-shirts and posters will go to Alabama Coastal Foundation towards the regeneration of the Gulf Coast,” said Darrelyn Bender, president of the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce.

WINNERS OF THE 22nd ANNUAL JUBILEE FESTIVAL

Submitted by Kathie Barton

*Best of Show: Martin Benoit, Graphics & Drawing, Covington, La.

*Second Place Overall:  Johanna Massingale, Decorative Traditional Craft, Quitmann, Miss.

*Third Place Overall:  Linda Wilson, Decorative Traditional Craft, Leesburg, Ga.

Awards of Distinction

*Graphics & Drawing:  Ann Robertson, Anniston, Ala.

*Jewelry: Kay Barnell, Orange Beach

*Painting: Jean McKee, Spanish Fort

*Pottery: Ken Tracey, Pineville, La.

*Sculpture: Hought Wahill, Marietta, Ga.

*Functional Crafts: Tim & Rene’ Kuheman, Pensacola, Fla.

*Decorative Crafts:  George Kearney, Mobile

*Watercolor: Joe Sheffield, Daphne

*Photography: Steve White, Ocean Springs, Miss.