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Autumn Clarke; her Shih tzu, Chrissy; and best friend, Stephanie Douglas, walked through the late-August heat shimmering over the annual Peabody Festival grounds. Packed with locals and visitors alike, the festival was an important part of Knollwood’s economy. The town benefitted from the influx of tourists who patronized the bed and breakfasts, restaurants, and Main Street retailers. The number of vendors and booths at the festival seemed to double over last year, with rows of tents added to the center of the fair grounds and an expanded stage area.
Autumn and Stephanie scanned the schedule of speeches and bands. The map of vendor tables handed to them at the gate helped them strategize to visit as many booths as possible before twilight fell. Once it got dark, the blasts from
