Lack of blossoms did not dampen festival enthusiasm

For his role as emcee of the Cherry Blossom Festival Fashion Show after a two-year absence, Mark Ballard was greeted with a sold-out house at the Anderson Conference Center on March 30. Ballard’s casual banter, mixed with a little self-deprecating humor, put the models, festival royalty and other participants at ease during the two-hour brunch and fashion show.

After introducing the original Cherry Blossom Festival cheerleader, Carolyn Crayton, to the crowd, Ballard thanked the numerous volunteers who worked tirelessly to decorate the convention hall, man the check-in desks and help the models with their quick-change artistry. He recognized the donors that underwrote the fashion show, including Capital City Bank, Carlyle Place, Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete and McNair, McLemore, Middlebrooks & Co., LLC. Backdrops Fantastic provided the scenery — a Yoshino cherry tree-lined city street with enough blossoms to make up for the lackluster showing in Macon.

Among the clothing stores represented were Dry Falls Outfitters, Karats and Keepsakes, Dillard’s, Belks and Chico’s. The formal wear was provided by House of Hines, which rents and sells tuxedos and women’s evening wear. Featuring the latest in spring fashion trends for men and women, pastels and linens were popular items. Layering of lightweight fabrics over short skirts and cropped pants or tights continues this season to be a favorite for women. It was refreshing to see more dresses on the runway, this year in flattering jersey fabrics or in crisp silks with tiny waistbands.

There are favorite models who each year are crowd-pleasers and always draw applause from the guests. Local writer for The Telegraph Liz Fabian, who seems to cover the grittiest of subjects, swept on to the runway in a cherry pink straw hat accessorizing her spring suit, and received a hardy welcome from her fans who know her from the newspaper and from her former television reporting days.

Dele Reichert has become a household name since her husband has served as mayor of Macon and of a consolidated Macon-Bibb County for more than two terms. Dressed by Chico’s in a dressy casual outfit and in a jeans and spring poncho ensemble, Macon’s first lady was upstaged only by Blossom the pink poodle, the festival’s official mascot.

Ballard commented that Macon has become so accustomed to seeing the pink poodles during the Cherry Blossom Festival, it is surprising to see the shock of out-of-town visitors who, upon seeing Blossom, think they are seeing an apparition or that Blossom cannot be real. She has only to be seen on the runway to appreciate her showmanship and professional timing — yes, she is real!

Departing from his usual flower arrangements for the table centerpieces, Ballard created small hatboxes festooned with large pink paper blossoms for each table and for gifts and surprises during the fashion show. Tiny pots with tall stems held delicate, miniature Japanese fans for some tables, a balancing feat for the artist, who seemed to be comfortable in a role he has made a Cherry Blossom Festival tradition.

JAZZ AT SUNSET ON COLEMAN HILL

After a day at the fashion show, sitting on blankets to take in the jazz concert on the evening of March 30 was the perfect ending to a beautiful day. K-Mo and Friends, members of the Jazz Association of Macon, played for two hours while the sun slowly dropped from sight and a cool breeze blew away the early summer heat.

Chester Gibbs, familiar to local ballroom dancers as a deejay and an accomplished dancer who has participated in the Alzheimer’s Association’s Dancing Stars of Central Georgia, kept his friends informed on the play list, tapping out the tunes from such iconic jazz musicians as Herbie Hancock, musician and composer of “Chameleon,” from his 1973 “Headhunters” album, which the jazz ensemble played that Thursday evening, incorporating the synthesizer that Hancock embraced early in his career as a pianist.

Other jazz enthusiasts and music lovers of all stripes were relaxing on the embankment of Coleman Hill, not to be nudged from their comfort zones for a little dancing — even though dance instructor Paula East tried her best to get some of them to take advantage of the level area near the bandstand for some Latin steps. Ellen Sappington, in training for this year’s Alzheimer’s benefit dance competition, chose easy listening over dancing for the Coleman Hill concert.

The cherry blossoms, confused by the hurly burly weather of the last few weeks, did not lessen the enthusiasm for the successful 35th year of the festival. All of the free concerts and other events were well attended, including the enduring Mulberry Street Arts and Crafts Festival last weekend and the colorful finale on Wesleyan College’s campus last Sunday afternoon, where tunes and balloons captured the imagination of children of all ages.

This story was originally published April 7, 2017 at 7:06 AM with the headline "Lack of blossoms did not dampen festival enthusiasm."