Rainy days heading into the 2011 Hanover Tomato Festival couldn’t keep 38,000 people from making their way to Pole Green Park on Saturday. And the Black Creek Volunteer Fire Department, which started the festival 33 years ago, should see a profit of $13,000 to $15,000 in Hanover Tomato sales.

Last year, the Black Creek VFD made about $10,000. On Monday, Hanover County Parks & Rec director Greg Sager said the expected increase in profits to the department “is great it’s all for a good cause.”

He also said this year’s festival was “probably our second largest event.” In 2009, 42,000 people attended, filling the park and experiencing traffic tie-ups that have led to ongoing attempts to ease congestion.

Committee members and volunteers in the tomato tent, which is always in the center on the park grounds, celebrated with the last bag of tomatoes being sold as the festival drew to a close at 4 p.m.

“At 4 o’clock sharp,” Sager said, “we sold the last bag of tomatoes, which I don’t know how we could have timed it any better than that.” Two hundred bushels are purchased and, he added, “that’s 400 boxes of tomatoes.”

A high point of the day is the crowning of the 2011 Tiny Miss and Little Miss Hanover Tomato Festival. Director Lynn Watson, who emceed the pageant on June 25, brought the 29 contestants to the stage in the main tent as she announced the winners. Claiming the titles were Miranda Paige Gagnon, Tiny Miss, and Sydney Waldrop, Little Miss.

He praised the volunteers, noting those who “actually volunteered for parking,” rather than the “fun” events like the children’s area. Sgt. Gary Abele, whose wife Janet works for Parks & Rec, brought National Guard members to help with traffic control. Lt. Kenny Epling of the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office heads up traffic. Deputies were positioned in several locations along Pole Green Road.

“The guardsmen did a phenomenal job,” Sager said. “Everybody who volunteered had a smile on their faces.” He also acknowledged the support of spouses of Parks & Rec employees who volunteered their time to the festival.

Despite plans to use Tate Lane as an exit, rainy conditions that started on Wednesday and continued through Friday forced motorists to leave on the same road on which they entered.

According to Sager, the rain gauge at the park measured five inches total since Wednesday. Three and a half inches fell on Friday.

The rainfall saturated the grounds, but it did not dampen the spirits of those participating or attending.

Rain also was an issue last year, when a downpour struck about 90 minutes after the festival began.

Looking back to 2010, Sager said the estimated 35,000 who turned out on Saturday was “a lot more than last year. The weather was obviously a whole lot better than last year, but not nearly the record we had two years ago when we were busting at the seams.”

Last year, Sager said “just under 25,000” attended, citing the inclement weather as a factor.

“We were going to use Tate Lane,” Sager said about the traffic situation. “The new access road was a muddy mess, so we did not get an opportunity to use that or a few other areas at the park because we had three inches of rain on Friday. That was what our rain gauge measured for Friday alone and five inches since Wednesday.”

With the exception of the parking areas, which Sager said “were fine,” the Tomato Festival Committee and volunteers could not keep grassy areas from being soggy.

“The good news is no one had to be towed out of there,” he added. No spectators.

The only vehicle that had difficulty because of the wet grounds was an ice truck that became stuck in one of the middle aisles around 8 a.m.

“We were able to get it extracted,” Sager said. “It was probably 10 o’clock before we were able to get him out of there.”

He did say that the stuck truck did provide for some humorous moments. “It was funny, and we appreciate it was funny for folks.” Sager said he wouldn’t be surprised if a video of the incident shows up on YouTube.

Opening ceremonies included Rebecca Agee singing “The National Anthem” and performances by the Richmond School of Rock.

Greg Glassner, a member of the Tomato Festival Committee, introduced the elected officials who were in attendance. They included: Sen. Ryan T. McDougle, R-4; Sen. Walter A. Stosch, R-12; Del. John A. Cox, R-55; county administrator Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris Jr.; Col. David R. Hines, sheriff; and Hanover County Board of Supervisors members Deborah B. Winans, Aubrey M. “Bucky” Stanley, G. Ed Via III, Robert R. Setliff, Elton J. Wade Sr. and John E. Gordon Jr.

The Tomato Festival is presented by the Black Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Hanover Parks & Rec, The Herald Progress and The Mechanicsville Local.

This year’s sponsors included: 98.9 Liberty, Big Oldies 107.3, 93.1 The Wolf, Verizon Wireless, Henrico Doctors’ Hospital, Martin’s, Marty’s Grill and Riverbound Cafe, Geico, Save Our Food, Covenant Woods, Mechanicsville Rental Center, Mechanicsville Party Rental, Minnieland Private Day School, Macaroni Kid, Essex Bank, AccuFlight and Frame Packaging Solutions.