Though Kathryn Tucker Windham was not at the Tale Tellin’ Festival in person, she was there in spirit.

All day Saturday through Market Day and the Tale Tellin’ Festival, people of all ages and backgrounds came together for fun, food, music, and, of course, the stories.

For those who came to the festival from out of town, some changes were made, like the move to the Carneal ArtsRevive building, but the spirit was the same as it always has been.

“This is my second year and I loved it last year,” said Sylvia Griffith of Oak Mountain. “I love the new building.”

Griffith, who also attended Market Day, said she loved the way the two events complimented each other.

Another visitor, Pam Hamilton, said she missed seeing Windham, but also cherished her fond memories.

“I always told her when I did get to see her that she was the second-best storyteller I ever knew,” she said. “The first was my dad. She was so special and we do miss her.”

Organizers of the festival were very pleased Saturday that Mother Nature and other elements offered their cooperation for the 33rd Tale Tellin’. Event chair Ann Thomas said they could not have asked for better conditions.

“We had a good crowd and the people that came were very receptive to our tellers,” she said. “The tellers have told us how much they enjoyed the venue and the weather was perfect. People could sit out and eat and still hear the storytellers.”

Traffic, Thomas said, had been a concern. But, she said, everything flowed well throughout both festivals.

“The traffic guards were great to help direct people,” she said. “We have good neighbors who have vacant lots and allowed us to use those, so we really could park a lot of people close by.”

Thomas said she was also pleased to see so many new faces in attendance.

Though the final numbers were not immediately available, she said the festival was a success.