Whirligig Festival looks like it's coming of age

Wilson's fourth Whirligig Festival was blessed with just about perfect weather Saturday. Thousands of people crowded Nash Street to see the vendors selling crafts, food and other things. The festival continues this afternoon. Music is part of any good street festival, and the Whirligig Festival was no exception. A variety of musical styles were available. I wanted to hear The Tams, a doo-wop, rhythm-and-blues group from the 1960s. I was not disappointed.

Beneath clear blue skies, in the shade of the BB&T towers, The Tams presented a high-energy, entertaining sentimental journey back to the days of "What Kind of Fool," "I've Been Hurt" and all their other hits, the vocals syncopated by the aerobic dancing quick-steps that could easily be a fitness video. The group even threw in a little James Brown and Jimmy Buffet.

I've attended most of the previous Whirligig Festivals, as well as the other incarnations of Wilson street festivals (remember Saturday on the Town, the Golden Leaf Festival and Another Bloomin' Festival?), and this year's Whirligig Festival had the feeling of having arrived. Whirligigs, created by legendary folk artist Vollis Simpson, give the festival a unique theme — something that's not a food, a crop or a flower that is celebrated in so many festivals across the country. Vollis was there, as were his whirligigs. Four new ones have been erected at Wilson's beautiful new Paul V. Berry Hickory Grove Park, and several additional Vollis Simpson creations spin in the breeze at downtown locations. Miniature whirligigs were available for sale. A number of Wilson homes and back yards display the Simpson originals. The Whirligig Festival may have a ways to go to match Salisbury's Barbecue Festival or Wilmington's Azalea Festival, but after this weekend it looks like it's well on its way.

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