Sep 25, 2004 By Josh Krysak 3 min read

FARMINGTON – While thousands of spectators flock to Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa to watch PGA Tour professionals battle on Mystic Rock, home of the 84 Lumber Classic, hundreds more are joining the masses to catch some of the sights and to do a little shopping. This year, not only have tournament officials brought in big-name performers like Smash Mouth and Jo Dee Messina to entertain evening crowds, event organizers have created a little village within a village for the fall festival, the newest attraction at the tournament.

“This is more of a place for shopping and to focus on the outdoors and culture,” said Tom Baxter, director of the tournament being held through Sunday.

The village, located between the 14th green and the 17th fairway on the golf course grounds, is nothing more than a group of green and white pointed tents, displaying everything from homemade candles to locally made wines.

Donna Riggin, an employee of Labella Bottles, said tournament-goers were very interested in the hand-painted bottles filled with Christmas lights, backlighting different scenes including flower arrangements and golf course scenes.

“We have seen lots of interest,” Riggin said, as more spectators, a group of teachers escorting 96 students on a fieldtrip from Bentworth Middle School, stopped to view the odd crafts.

“We are having a great time,” said Erin Roberts, a social studies teacher at the school.

“There is a lot to do.”

Nearby, tents displaying wines from Christian Klay Winery were busy, with wine tasting available to spectators.

Visitors can peruse exhibits from paintings to silk flowers to a tent featuring salsa, and they can eat at the large food court located at the festival.

The tents also were filled with various nonprofit groups working for causes from cancer to children’s issues.

Lisa Hulse from Annapolis, Md., and her husband, Jason, were also working to hawk their wares at the festival, homemade candles created by Lisa and formed in molds built by Jason, who is battling bone cancer and recently underwent a bone marrow transplant.

“We had just been through it all and had seen all the people at the hospitals fighting,” Lisa said, regarding her new venture. “We needed $10,000 to complete the surgery and had to raise it. We just thought we could help others.”

The Hulses donate all the proceeds from their candles to the John Hopkins Research Center to help pay for cancer-related surgeries.

The village will remain open through Sunday, the final day of the tournament.