For Brandy Richardson a day full of headache, exhaustion, and hard work paid off as she and many others set up hundreds of booths during the 29th annual Cooper Young Festival.
“It was simply amazing, from the food to the customers to the art and music I loved everything about it,” said Richardson, a local artist who makes numerous pieces of art for Helen B Designs.
“It took a lot of work getting here from the painting to simply setting up the booth. I was extremely exhausted and my head was throbbing but in the end it was all worth it. I had an amazing time.”
During this day, many Memphians and people across the country gather on the street of Cooper St. and Young Ave. for the Cooper Young Festival. For almost 30 years, the Festival has served as one of the most attended Festivals in Memphis bringing over thousands of people along with music, and art by variety of people from across the world.
“This year, we expect more than 130,000 people. It’s remarkable how the festival has grown,” said Tamara Cook, executive director of the Cooper-Young Business Association
The Festival started with 25 vendor but has now stretched to 435 vendors according to Cook.
One of those vendors was Brandy Richardson, who’s a creator for Helen B. Designs, which has a range of artwork from paintings to serving trays. After only two years of work, her paintings have opened up doors she never imagined.
Richardson finished the festival reaching not only a personal goal but also her sales goal, gaining customers left and right.
One customer, Joshua Lee, 21, was one of Richardson’s customers who, attends the event every year. He likes the atmosphere and great things on sale.
“I love this time of the year,” Lee said. There’s great food, great art, and great people all on one street.”
During the festival Lee shops at numerous vendors, however something about Richardson’s work struck his eye.
“The coloring on her artwork was so unique and different I had to buy something from her booth. It was too creative,” said Lee.
Braendon Prude, another customer at Richardson’s booth who has never been to the festival before but heard about the event in class at the University of Memphis.
“It was very weird,” Prude said
“I never seen so much stuff on one street like that before so when I started shopping I was a kid with a bowl of candy,” said Prude.
Malorie Wheeler sitting at her Bawdy Bar Booth at the Cooper-Young Festival
Brandy Richardson, 25, standing at her first booth at The Cooper Young Festival.
Seametrus Battle Jr. 