German Street was closed to traffic on Saturday, June 25 as sponsors and volunteers helped to put on the annual Shepherdstown Street Fest. Vendors lined both sides of the street, selling a wide variety of items. There was also food, live music, and a kids’ camp put on the festival’s title sponsor, Morgan Academy, a private school for kids grades k-8 that is moving to a new 14-acre campus just outside of Shepherdstown.

“This year is going good,” said John Knickerson. He runs Gnarly Artly, a custom design shop in Thurmont, Maryland. His booth at Street Fest was selling dozens of custom t-shirts. “This is my fourth year with a booth at Street Fest.”

Walking around and enjoying the festival as well as the warm weather were many of Shepherdstown’s residents. Konrad Turnbull has been living in Shepherdstown since 2006 and has been attending Street Fest for the last five years. “I’ve been coming to Street Fest every year. Last year, the festival was rained out,” says Turnbull, “but this year seems pretty good, more organized. Looks like there’s more vendors.”

One booth was being ran by Inge Ledden from the Cottage of Herbs, who is a member of the Shepherdstown Farmers’ Market and also helped organize the annual Farm to Fork dinner. “We sell all natural herbs, and we do shows in five states,” says Ledden. “We have been operating since 1983.”

Perhaps one of the most interesting booths at Street Fest was Two Rivers Turnings, which uses hardwood that they harvest from local downed trees and hand make into bowls and other pieces.

“I have been a 25 year resident of Shepherdstown,” says Neil Super, who recovers and works the wood. “And I would support Street Fest every year.” There was also a map of Jefferson County at his booth with the locations of where he had recovered the wood used to make his pieces marked.

“I harvest wood from historical sites,” he explains, “and I give the buyers’ information about the site the wood was recovered from and the historical significance.”

Street Fest 2016 was a fun-filled day where the people of Shepherdstown and the surrounding area could enjoy some shopping, music, food and time in the sun. More information for Gnarly Artly can be found at www.gnarlyartly.com/, information about The Cottage of Herbs can be found www.cottageofherbs.com and they will also be at the Shepherdstown Farmers’ Market which is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays from April to December. Information about Two Rivers Turnings can be found at www.tworiversturnings.com; and information about Morgan Academy can be found at learnatmorgan.com/.