About 302 exhibitors were here over the weekend, down about five from 2007, but no one canceled because Moultrie was without water, McDonald said.

According to a University of Georgia study visitors and vendors at the two arts and crafts shows, two car shows and Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition Field Day spend a total of $10.12 million in Colquitt County and 19 surrounding counties. Attendance of the five events combined equals that of the three-day Sunbelt farm show in October.

The study said that additional sales in the region related to the five events has a total impact of $9.59 million creating $3.16 million in income for employees and business owners and involves 175 part- and full-time workers.

Moultrie restaurants were affected because vendors and visitors frequent them during the days of the Calico show, McDonald said.

“I tell you what the hardest part -- everybody goes out to eat on Saturday night -- the hardest part was finding places for them to eat,” she said.

Although restaurants took a beating, other downtown stores reported that business was good over the weekend, said Amy Johnson, Main Street Moultrie director.

“I have had reports from retail folks that they did real well with Calico,” she said. “I’ve talked to a few that said they did get shoppers from Calico. I don’t think it stopped them from shopping. It might have affected it a little bit, but the merchants I talked to said they had a good day.”