Local artist Emily Vaughn chats with Shepherdstown residents Karen Glennon and her daughter, Emma, by her booth at Mother Fest on Saturday. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — In anticipation of Mother’s Day, a new festival was introduced to town at Alma Bea on Saturday.

Organized by Shepherdstown resident Alisha Hanlin, Mother Fest featured a number of booths selling jewelry, art, pottery, baked goods, potted plants, records and locally grown flowers, along with live jazz music by Anita Thomas & Friends.

“Some I was closer with than others, but I pulled from people that I knew who would aesthetically be a good collection of vendors,” Hanlin said. “It’s great! Really good vibes.”

According to Hanlin, the event came to being as the result of some conversations between her and Alma Bea’s owner, Mary Ellen Diaz.

“I think the community really came out to support it,” Hanlin said. “I hope those who attended Mother Fest are reminded what a fun and supportive community that Shepherdstown has the potential to be. The best version of Shepherdstown is when makers, musicians and community members come together and are supportive of each other.”

Shepherdstown resident Brian Ellsworth purchases a necklace for his wife from Trusty Crow owner Courtney Fisher, as Shannon Pattajo, left, joins in the conversation at Mother Fest on Saturday. Tabitha Johnston

Over in the corner of the restaurant, Trusty Crow owner Courtney Fisher noted that Mother Fest appeared to have attracted a number of people wanting to buy themselves a little something special, along with family members searching for unique gifts for the mothers in their lives.

“I figured Mother’s Day would be a good time to come out and sell my jewelry. I’m dipping my toe into all of the markets that I can get into!” Fisher said of her business, selling a variety of chainmail and metal jewelry. “Some people were just coming through and were saying, ‘This is for me!’ And it had nothing to do with Mother’s Day, at all.”

One such couple was Harpers Ferry residents Robert Nelson and Christine Huddle, who came out to enjoy Mother Fest, regardless of not having children.

“I’m not a mom,” Huddle said. “We heard that the band was playing here until four o’clock, so we had to come!”

Huddle and Nelson enjoyed a hearty dinner, after dancing away to the music of the band. Across the room, at a booth selling the fiber art of Emily Vaughn, a mother and daughter could be found making the most of what they both considered to be an over-commercialized holiday.

Anita Thomas & Friends perform jazz music to the audience at Mother Fest in Alma Bea on Saturday. Tabitha Johnston

“We found some great records for Mother’s Day, as well as a pair of earrings,” said Emma Glennon, of Shepherdstown. “Mother’s Day is just a silly commercial day that Hallmark capitalizes on to make big bucks. But I like to support local people and I love my mother, which made it worth coming out to Mother Fest.”