As temperatures rose to 90 degrees Saturday, the heat gave little indication that fall was in the air at the 25th Annual Old Court House Flea Market and coinciding 13th Annual Downtown Vicksburg Fall Festival. But food, crafts and music were aplenty throughout the day, giving crowds in the thousands good reason to get out and stroll downtown streets.

“I think last year we said we had 3,000 (people). I think this has surpassed last year,” said Bubba Bolm, director and curator of the Old Court House Museum. “There’s so much activity. It really got off to a good start.”

The threat of rain worried planners earlier in the week, when forecasters with the National Weather Service predicted a 50- and, then, 20-percent chance of showers, but nothing more than a few drops fell on festival-goers, who began their shopping sprees for festival garb at 8 a.m. around Court Square. A short-lived downpour, however, came at the festival’s closing as vendors packed up their goods.

Cathy Haynsworth of Cathy’s Dress to a “T” brought festival goodies all the way from her home of Dallas to sell at her booth, which she has manned for nearly 18 years at the flea market. Many of her offerings had a fall flare, including Halloween hats with bobbling critters on top. By 10 a.m., she had sold about 15 of the hats. Other items, such as wallets and T-shirts were also selling quickly at her corner booth.

“I am known for the ‘bling,'” she said. “Everything I have has a bling or a sparkle.”

The only thing on 5-year-old Patrick Jenkins’ mind was the blue cotton candy he munched on as he weaved through the crowds with his family. Besides the cotton candy, Patrick said his favorite part of the day was holding a “kitty cat” at the Warren County Humane Society booth, he said.

“We do this every year — we come out and mingle,” said his mother, Cheryle Jenkins. “We get to see people we haven’t seen in awhile.

Festival food — funnel cakes, alligator tails, chicken on a stick and snow cones — was all the rage for many festival participants. Jimmy Walker of Crystal Springs brought his food trailer from Crystal Springs, and before lunchtime, his biggest sellers were his funnel cakes and sausage dogs, he said. Roger Arnold and his daughter, 9-year-old Bailey, both of Vicksburg, stopped to dine on some of Walker’s food treats.

“They’re always good. Who would want a hot dog when you can have this?” Arnold said of the sausage.

Brother/sister duo Kenny and Natalie McMillin, who came with their mother, Deborah McMillin, had their sights set on a marshmallow shooter — made of painted PVC pipe — that drew a crowd for demonstrations at the flea market.

“It’s awesome — it shoots marshmallows,” 10-year-old Kenny said. “I’m going to aim them at Natalie’s head.”

“We’re going to have a marshmallow war,” 9-year-old Natalie added.

Crowds of the older variety gathered in the shady overhang of trees on the lawn of the Old Court House Museum, where musicians played old-time tunes. R.C. Strickland drove the 50 miles from his home in Copiah County just to hear the sounds of the Mississippi Old Time Music Society.

“I listen to this music group wherever they come,” he said. “This is stuff they played 100 to 150 years ago.”

Down the hill along Washington Street, sidewalks were overflowing with merchan-dise from downtown merchants. Across the street at Crawford Square, musicians took to the stage to perform a steady stream of music. Inflatable jumps and concessions also filled the area.

The Vicksburg High School Key Club spent the day painting children’s faces. Six-year-old Jalen Kemp had them paint a “T” on his cheek. The “T,” he said, stood for turtle. Jalen came to the festival with his brother, 11-year-old Jeremy Summers, and his mother, Lynda Kemp.

Rosalie Theobald, Vickbsurg Main Street director and organizer for the fall festival, said the crowd along Washington seemed about equal to that of last year.

“They are all up and down the street. They’ve been coming since 9 this morning,” she said. “It looks like everybody is having a good time.”

While an exact number could not be collected because all of the events were free, Theobald estimated about 900 people at the festival.