Music fans were grateful for the peaked white tent at Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain on Saturday as the inaugural Old Farmers Ball started the venue's summer concert season with bands of rain.
Thin crowds for the earliest sets left plenty of room for hula-hooping, skirt-twirling and juggling at the foot of the main stage as Americana, roots, bluegrass and folk acts drew fans from the region and neighboring states.
Most people traveled to see the headliner, Cabinet, which hosted the all-day festival and hand-picked the participating bands, including local groups MiZ, And the Moneynotes and the Coal Town Rounders.
Berta Beekman and Jon Elkin drove from Boston to see Cabinet, but came early to listen to all the day's acts. Both said they have a summer full of concerts ahead.
" 'Tis the season," Mr. Elkin said.
The festival also featured visual artists, local farmers selling seasonal produce and a separate kids stage with young musicians performing for the event's charity partner, Marley's Mission.
Gene Talerico, president of the equine-assisted therapy program, said music and other expressive arts are an important part of the program's work.
"One of the things we do is try to help children regain their voice," he said.
Away from the stages, vendors eagerly engaged visitors browsing between musical sets.
Brian Cobb and Peter Ward of the Honesdale screen-printing cooperative the Serigraph Factory sold canvas bags printed with the ball's logo and encouraged people to try inking the pattern on a mobile screen-printing press.
As they do in the Honesdale shop, which offers lessons and equipment to artists and community groups, they used the opportunity to teach printing skills to new audiences.
An oven-hot flash-drier that cured the design onto pages doubled as a culinary tool. "We made grilled cheese today, too," Mr. Ward said.
Visitors who came for the music were happy to try craft beers, pesticide-free salad greens, whole-grain breads and cured meats.
Mike Best of White Haven shared a package of teriyaki venison sticks with friends who were undaunted by the weather.
"Rain never stops good music," he said.
Contact the writer: llegere@timesshamrock.com