Despite the downed trees and months of hard work rebuilding, Fort Deposit Arts Council President Frieda Cross said this year's Calico Fort would feature the same variety of exhibitors and vendors.

"We're about at the same place we were this time last year," Cross said. "We will have most of the same exhibitors from last year. A few have had to cancel for health reasons but we've also added some great new ones."

As of Wednesday, Cross said 110 exhibitors had confirmed their positions this year with several taking multiple booths.

"One of the great new exhibitors this year is Jaky and Jeff Felix of Titus," she said. "They do fused glass jewelry and sun-catchers. It's really quite amazing what they can do. They put this glass together into whatever shape they want and then stick it into a kiln and fuse it together."

"We also have many returning this year, like Kim Lyon of Tyler who does hand poured candles," she said. "They are really fragrant. And Harold Powell will be here with his coin collection. He's been coming here for years and years."

Many exhibitors come from far off, Cross said, with some coming from Kansas and even Arkansas.

"Gene and Dianne Tanner of Slidell, La., make wooden buffet pirogues and electric lighthouses," she said. "Then there's Bill and Lee Schmate of Tallalah, La., make soup, dip and pie mixes. We advertise in many craftsman magazines and a lot hear about up through word-of-mouth. We're been doing this 34 years and people just know about us now.

Cross said in addition to the exhibitors, children always find enjoyable the pony rides, petting zoo, choo-choo train and the climbing rock wall.

"The list isn't complete yet and we expect to get a lot more finalized in the next week," she said.