Perfect Day for the Clayton Harvest & Music Festival

The Clayton Harvest & Music Festival, sponsored by the Clayton Chamber of Commerce on Saturday was a bit different than in the past, but retained a lot of the same activities. The Farmers Market was moved to W Main Street, adjacent to the Town Square where the market usually resides on Saturday mornings, while a stage, beer garden and vendors were located on the Town Square. 120 or more antique cars were on display on Main Street from Fayetteville Street to Church Street and up the side roads.

School bands, athletic performances and other activities took place in the Clayton Mart parking lot and then the more than 150 vendors of all types lined both sides of Main Street almost to Smith Street, where there was another stage with performances all day. A petting zoo with Noah's Ark Ministries was a great hit, and there were contests such the Hot Dog Eating Contest across the street from Jone's Lunch Cafe. Music was also ongoing at The Flipside all afternoon and evening. Of course, the carnival rides are always a big hit and they were locatred behind HTR/Main Street Seafood/Avent-Permenter Group building next to the Town Lot which is under construction. No official estimate of the number of attendees is yet available.

Of course, the Clayton Idol Competition, emceed by WQDR's Marty "the One Man Party" Young was a great hit at the West Stage (Town Square) with 10 finalists - 5 in the 5-11 year old age group and 5 in the 12-18 year old age group. Taylor Leopold, a 16 year old singer songwriter, is the 2010 Clayton Idol. She performed an original song "Missing You". Jordan Hines won the younger age group competition; Mackenzie Roberts won the older group competition.