Troy Brown of Tops for Shoes on College Street tends the window boxes of flowers and hanging potato vines. Bob Carr chaired the first Bele Chere festival back in 1982 — Carr and his family own Tops for Shoes. The festival had just a $40,000 budget and it rained all weekend. Photo by Michael Muller
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Actually, Michael, the first Bele Chere was in 1979.
I was playing in a a Celtic band, Dust on the Needle, and we played on Wall Street, right where The Market Place is now. The festival organizers set up some folding chairs for us and about 50 audience members, and we played without benefit of a PA. I don’t remember how much it rained that weekend, but it didn’t rain on us.
And after having played in in about half of the Bele Cheres since, I’d have to say that that first one was my favorite!
Thanks for the clarification, Mr. Smartypants.
Those window boxes are sheer joy. Thanks to Tops for doing this.