Spring is off to a great start! The flowers are blooming, the weather has finally warmed, and my calendar is getting full! This past weekend, I was a headliner for McCormick County’s Spring Bonanza! I had never been there before, but was impressed by this fun place!  I twisted balloons form morning to noon, then prepaired for a mega Balloon Show where we built a MASSIVE balloon butterfly! What fun!! Afterwards, in case folks hadn’t had their fill of balloons, we then had a Balloon Party where everyone helped themselves to over 200 balloons to twist their own creations (I was there to guide as well). We had SOOOOOOOOOOO much fun, I even made it to the front page of the newspaper!! Here’s a copy of the fun article :

SPRING BONANZA: McCormick festival had something for everyone

Entertainer Mark DeVerges twists balloons into a butterfly wing shape while 6-year-old Courtney Lamb of McCormick waits to add them to the purple balloon and try them on for size. (Staff photo by St. Claire Donaghy)

By ST. CLAIRE DONAGHY/ sdonaghy@indexjournal.com

Monday, April 19, 2010 9:00 AM EDT

McCORMICK – Whether the hot air variety or those that you inflate and twist into shapes, balloons were a big part of the fourth Spring Bonanza in McCormick Saturday.

… entertainer Mark DeVerges, of Asheville, who won hearts of all ages with his scores of balloon animal creations.

“I started learning magic tricks and twisting balloons when I was 7,” DeVerges said. “A magician friend [Ricky Boone] taught me some magic tricks and I was very interested in learning more and also was introduced to balloon twisting. By age 9, I was performing at birthday parties for other children. As I continued to hone my skills, I worked for many parties and public events. This has even helped put me through college, too!”

Now 27, DeVerges takes his talents across the Carolinas and elsewhere. Saturday, he delighted a room full of children and adults at the McCormick Public Library when he enlisted the kids’ help in crafting a huge butterfly, probably 15 feet long, using hundreds of twisted balloons.

“I estimated I can create 726 designs,” DeVerges said. “Kids’ imaginations, and working 10 years in the minor league baseball park twisting balloons for The Asheville Tourists baseball Team, will provide for many special requests.”

Warm sunshine and a festival atmosphere kept Bonanza folks going all day long.
“Events like this are so accessible,” Lorraine said. “It’s right on Main Street and the crowds are manageable. There are local artisans and friendly people and the food is always good.”

McCormick mayor, Roy Smith Jr., said he was pleased with the large, diverse crowd the festival attracted.

Turnout was so good, one barbecue vendor sold out by noon.