Early Saturday, Amber Francis sought cover from the rain under a tarp as she worked on her chalk drawing of Santa Maria Mayor Larry Lavagnino on the ground in the plaza named for the man.

She had been working on the drawing since 9 a.m., she said as she put the finishing touches on the artwork Saturday afternoon during the 25th annual Autumn Arts Grapes & Grains Festival.

At one point, a downpour threatened her creation near the new Santa Maria Public Library.

“I had to throw my towel over it,” Francis, a Cal Poly senior selected to draw Lavagnino, said. “It was quite an ordeal.”

By early afternoon, the clouds were clearing and the sun was shining down. Francis's drawing was safe, at least for the time being.

Despite the morning rain, in the afternoon the festival was bustling, although not packed.

The event, which ran from

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10 a.m. to 4 p.m. along South McClelland Street between the Santa Maria Court Complex and the library, is put on by the Recreation and Parks Department along with the Santa Maria Noontime Kiwanis, People for Leisure And Youth, Inc. and community art groups. The art groups include: the Santa Maria Arts Council, Santa Maria Town Center Gallery and Los Padres Artist Guild. The festival is a tribute to the arts and grape harvest, according to organizers.

Umbrella-free festival attendees strolled past the vendors selling art, jewelry and snacks. Booths occupied by vendors and organizations also filled spaces in front of and beside the library.

A children's area with rides, inflatable slides and a cake walk was set up on the upper, outdoor level of the library parking structure.

Adults crowded into a sectioned-off area of the courthouse parking lot for a wine and beer tasting event.

A band played music from a stage set up at the south end of the festival.

For those seeking quieter entertainment, a fine art gallery was set up in the library.

A contest was held for the local artists who submitted artwork, said Beth Ostapiuk, president of the Town Center Gallery, and the public was able to vote for their favorite pieces along with judges.

Previously at Grapes & Grains, the art gallery was set up at the Maldonado Community Youth Center, Ostapiuik said.

“This is wonderful,” she said of the new location. Ostapiuk said the lighting was perfect for showing art.

Under the beer and wine tent, Rick Hossle, a tasting room staff member at Cambria Vineyards & Winery, poured wine for those visiting his table.

“It's been a lot of fun,” he said.

The Tepusquet Syrah was doing well at the festival, Hossle said.

He said that wine costs $19 a bottle but tastes like a $30 bottle of wine.

Karri Roslinda, of Santa Maria, watched in the children's area as her grandson,

6-year-old Justin Roslinda, played on a giant inflatable octopus with slides.

They came to check out the new library, as well as the festival, she Roslinda.

“It's gotten bigger every year,” she added.

Roslinda said she had been wondering if fewer people would come to the event because of the rain, but said there were more people there than she thought there would be.

Justin said the octopus was his favorite attraction “because you could slide down.”

Samantha Yale can be reached at 739-2159 or syale@santamariatimes.com.

October 5, 2008