Rainy weather slowed business at the Picayune Fall Street Festival hosted by Picayune Main Street this past weekend.

Despite the inclement weather, the downtown area celebrated the fall season on Nov. 7 and 8 with live entertainment, a classic car show, children’s activities such as train rides and around 300 vendors selling handmade crafts and food.

Picayune Main Street Director Reba Beebe said the weather forecast deterred 18 vendors from participating on Saturday.

“Overnight storm damaged several tents causing several vendors to not be able to stay on Sunday,” Beebe said.

Beebe also said those vendors who chose to stay “were pleased with the shoppers and the many new customers who promised to return.”

Many shops were open during the festival, including Crystal Gallery and Infused. Crystal Gallery Manager Katy Jarrell said the festival wasn’t as busy as years prior due to Saturday’s weather.

“We’ve had better turnouts. I think the weather turned some away. But we still had people come in and we always appreciate our customers,” Jarrell said.

This year, the family business set up a Christmas window display with a gingerbread house theme.

“We try to do something for the community that’s special for them to look at every year,” Jarrell said.

Infused Owner Charity Cosme also said business was slow due to the weather.

“It was the worst festival we’ve been involved with in the past couple of years because of the rain. It wasn’t as busy as it would’ve been otherwise,” Cosme said.

Dancers with the XFinity Dance Academy performed twice on Saturday despite the weather. Academy Owner E. Jae James said his dance team performed various styles of dance such as jazz, lyrical and hip-hop, along with members of Brandi’s Hope, a program for adults with developmental disabilities.

The academy has performed at the festival for the past five years.

“It was rainy, but rain or shine, my students and Brandi’s Hope still performed,” James said.

Beebe said they look forward to next year’s festival.

Main Street’s next event will be the Christmas Open House at downtown Picayune on Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information about other upcoming Picayune Main Street events, call 601-799-3070.