
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, September 27, 1993                   TAG: 9309270158
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: OCCOQUAN                                LENGTH: Short

FEUD SENDS CRAFTS TO FAR SIDE OF RIVER

An annual craft fair that has attracted tens of thousands of people was moved across the Occoquan River because of a feud between organizers and local officials.

The fair took place at a Fairfax County park Saturday - the first time it has been outside the Prince William County town of 360 residents since it began more than two decades ago.

Merchants who organize the festival say the Town Council wanted to increase revenue by charging visitors $2 a head to ride shuttle buses between parking lots and sales areas.

The merchants worried that the charge would scare away many of the fair's 100,000 annual visitors.

Merchants said they don't plan to hand over any of the weekend's profits to the town. Last year, they contributed $22,000, which was 25 percent of the craft fair's gross receipts and covered nearly 10 percent of the town budget.

"They were not letting us run our own crafts show," said Deanna Clough, an organizer of the festival. "They were trying to take control."

Counting on money from the fair and shuttle buses, the council this year voted to reduce real estate taxes. But with the fair across the river, Occoquan faces the possibility of a budget deficit.

"Our feeling is they're abandoning the town," said Harry Ervin, the vice mayor and one of the officials who wanted to charge a bus fee. "All of a sudden, the merchants more or less snub the town."

To make up for lost money, the council held its own festival on Occoquan's streets two weeks ago. Officials declared it a success, with a $56,000 profit.

by CNB