“Please, please don’t throw me in the briar patch,” Br’er Rabbit begged Br’er Fox in Joel Chandler Harris’ iconic “Uncle Remus” stories. Saturday, festival-goers begged to be thrown into the third annual Briar Patch Festival for treats, gifts and fellowship. Savannah Cox, an 8-year-old from Eatonton, brought to the festival a little friend.

“I brought my little five-day-old goat, Snowflake, because I wanted her to see everything at the festival. I love my new hairstyle too, because it is really cool,” she said.

Lexi Minchey, an 11-year-old who attends Putnam County Middle School, was raising money to attend classes in France and England next summer as a People to People Ambassador.

“If I raise enough money to go, I will learn all of the history in those places and I will get to see castles and a bunch of other famous places in France and England,” Minchey said.

She was selling customized clipboards, brownies and cookies and decorated hand sanitizer, as well as unique bracelets to raise money for her trip.

Tom Hansel of Milledgeville runs Ultra Pampering, a completely natural line of bath soaps, lotions, scrubs and candles. The idea stemmed from his wife’s sensitive skin and Ultra Pampering was born.

“My soap vendors are out in California. Everything I use to make the soaps I get from the West Coast because so many of the vendors here supply unnatural materials. I’d rather go further to get the best materials, than sell products that say they are all-natural but aren’t really,” Hansel said.

At the festival, Hansel sold completely natural bug sprays, soaps, reed diffusers, lotions and candles as well as plenty of advice on how to go the all-natural route.

“Everything you buy in the store is basically detergent. Ask questions and check the labels. So many skin conditions and scalp conditions can be cleared up by using all-natural remedies that don’t cause further harm to the skin or mask the problem.”

Tammy Walker dreamed once of housing all of her children’s Barbies in one convenient and beautiful house. When she woke up, she decided to do just that. She has handcrafted dozens of unique dollhouses that fit little one’s toys for the ultimate play experience.

“I just started making my dollhouses again,” Walker said. “I do a mansion, townhouse and cottage. My Mansion is $250, and each dollhouse is different depending on the size. I love doing my dollhouses, and I’m definitely known for doing them. All of my houses are completely customizable as well.”

Donna Waters and Twyla Swift are both employed at the People’s Bank in Eatonton and are members of the Lions Club. The two were in their element as they found new and unique treasures for themselves, friends and family.

“I love everything about the festival,” Waters said. “You meet new people and you see people you haven’t seen in a while. I’ve picked up so many treasures today.”

For Swift, giving back to the community is key.

“Being out and about doing something good in the community makes me feel good. It is the time of year to give. We shop at home and we keep it local,” she said.

Being a good patron of local festivals helps the entire community stay strong and keeps dollars within the community. With the holidays right around the corner, this year’s festival was a perfect place to celebrate the arts and pick something up for everyone on your list.