Several Main Street businesses opened their doors on May Day with beautiful handmade flower basket displays adorning their entrances.

Organizers of the May Day event included Patricia Crute, Audrey Sullivan, Red Door 104 LLC; Helen Smith, Nan Colvin, John Burton and Brenda Hawkins. According to Crute the project originated with Sullivan, who had made efforts for a few years without a lot of participation. Crute went on to say, “I’ve just pestered everyone with emails since sometime in March.” Persistence pays off as Farmville’s Main Street business entrances were adorned with baskets of beautiful flowers.

Crute said the impetus for the project was, “Showcasing historic downtown Farmville, getting a beautiful start to our wonderful Heart of Virginia weekend. Enticing community members and visitors to walk our downtown streets, enjoy the beauty, shop and dine.”

To participate in the May Day event, citizens could elect to decorate a basket for a local business or the business itself could create and display its own creations. Baskets were judged on May Day and winners were given ribbons for first, second and third place.

Participants were: Gladiola Girls, Caryn’s Bridals Formals & Tuxedos, Red Door 104 LLC, Town of Farmville, Crute Stage, Hotel Weyanoke, Barnes & Noble at Longwood, Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce, Pairet’s Inc., Mainly Clay, Charley’s Waterfront Café, The Virginia Tasting Cellar, Letterpress Communications, Sleeping Bee, Amish Originals, Real Living Cornerstone, Yoder Properties and Discount Fabrics Inc.

Caryn’s Bridals Formals & Tuxedos won the blue ribbon for its basket arrangement.