A little bit of rain didn’t damper the spirits of thousands of people as they made their way through the streets of Downtown Laurel for the annual Loblolly Festival Saturday, October 5.  Over 200 vendors were set up throughout the downtown area with food vendors lining the entire length of Oak Street from 5th Avenue to Front Street providing the opportunity for that first corn dog of the season.  All the restaurants and shops in downtown were open as well.