TUPELO - There's optimism and there's realism, and it really rained at the Cellular South GumTree Festival on Sunday.

"I try to control everything, but I can't control this," said Tina Lutz, festival director. "I can't control the weather."

It should be noted that Lutz spoke with a resigned smile, one that was often repeated by artists and patrons on Lee County Courthouse's muddy lawn

"It's such a lovely day," said Suzanne Warfield, 62, of Saltillo, from beneath her umbrella.

Warfield is a fan of the University of Mississippi baseball team, and the Rebels were beat Friday and Saturday by the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Warfield said she couldn't see going back to Oxford for another game on Sunday.

"We haven't been to GumTree in so many years because we're always at baseball games," she said.

Gene Smith, 40, of Mendenhall, stayed mostly dry under his tent, which leaked a little. This was his first visit to the GumTree Festival, and he took second prize in traditional crafts for his cigar box guitars.

"I made some violins and I made some banjos. They're sold," Smith said. "It's a pretty good festival. I'll definitely be back after I put some rain guard on my tent."

Marietta potter Helene Fielder, 50, won best in show for her clay work. This is her second time to win the festival's overall award.

Fielder reported decent sales for the weekend. She didn't have a tent over her pottery, but that didn't hurt anything.

"I let my husband borrow my tent because my work is waterproof," she said. "A million years from now, you can dig it up and it'll be fine."

The rain stopped about 1:30 p.m., and there was a wave of after-church visitors. A majority of the artists remained open, but a few left early.

"We can't blame them for leaving," Lutz said, "but we appreciate the artists for hanging in there."

The inflatable bouncy games for kids were deflated early in the day, and the rock climbing wall was gone.

Tracy Nock, 32, of Saltillo, had to close down her kids' arts center early.

"The rain's hard on tissue paper hats and flowers," Nock said.

She and her husband, George Nock, 35, bought a Mother's Day present before leaving the festival. In keeping with the day, the wood sculpture was wrapped in plastic and covered by a plastic bag.