It's fair and festival season! I've counted up 33 festivals in Ohio in the month of August, and that does not include the massive Ohio State Fair. Most of these involve food - beyond the "everything fried on a stick" variety. There's the Caramel Festival, the Sweet Corn Festival, Zucchini Fest, many rib fests and Vintage Ohio Festival (Wine). We also have a Frog jumping festival, a Twins Day festival (in Twinsburg, Ohio) and an Asian Cultural Festival. Last weekend I went to one of my favorites - the Irish Festival in Dublin, Ohio.
Now I told my husband that it was absolutely necessary that I go ogle all those men in kilts. My work-in-process involves an Irish hero, and this was research! So I grabbed my camera and tape recorder and drove on over.
I must say I've never seen so many men in kilts - plaid kilts, camouflage kilts, and the versatile carpenter kilt
s (with pockets on the side). Noted on a Tshirt "If I wore something underneath, it would be called a skirt."I arrived to witness the end of the caber toss. That's when the participant lifts, carries, and tosses an 18-21 foot tree t
runk that weighs 90 - 150 lbs. I did manage to catch the Weight for Height competition whereupon the competitor must throw a 42 or 56 lb. weight over a high bar. The picture is a little hard to see, but the guy to the far left is preparing to toss the weight.I saw cultural events, re-enactors, replicas of medieval weapons, a re-enactmen
t of a wake, a man weaving cloth, another telling old Irish stories (which I have on tape so I can listen to the accents).I participated in a taste testing of Irish whiskeys and learned about the distilling process. (Research, all research!)
And I saw Irish wolfhounds (catch this guy out), Ir
ish setters, and terriers.And then there was the music...I'm guessing there were five or six stages - each with performers singing baudy ballads. Wonderful. Great food, great music, great weather.
I'm on the road today - not to another festival, but returning from a speaking engagement. But I'd love to hear about the festivals in
your neck of the woods. What's your favorite festival food? activity? Any festival stories you can share? I'll check in once I'm back safe and sound.In the meantime:
May you have the hindsight to know where you've been,
The foresight to know where you are going,
And the insight to know when you have gone too far.
76 comments:
Ha ha! At last! So close and yet so far the last few times. But he's mine, he's mine! Bwahahahahahahaha!
Donna, what is it with Irish heroes in the lair lately? They seem to be breeding! The Cabana boys will soon be O'Cabana boys!
Great post. Sounds like the fair was great fun. I haven't actually been to a lot of fairs. There was rather a sad renaissance fair (or fayre, I think it was) I went to in Brisbane years and years ago. And of course there's the Ekka which is an institution in Brisbane where I grew up. Ekka is short for the Exhibition and it was when the country came to the city. As a kid, all I cared about was sample bags and horses - which meant I was an utter bore to my parents who frankly were interested in neither. But when I got older, I used to love going to all the dogs and cats and the craft exhibits. What fun! And inevitably I ate junk food. It was part of the deal.
Actually it's the Ekka next week - I'm in Brisbane for our romance writers conference and it's on at the same time. Don't think I'll get there, sadly. Although just thinking about it makes me remember what a horse mad little critter I was! One funny thing about the Ekka is that it's often freezing cold with icy westerly winds and everybody gets sick!
Congrats Anna on nabbing that rooster. I think he was ready to move on today!
Great post Donna, I think I would have enjoyed the Irish festival that you went to. There have been a lot of festivals going on around here lately. Last weekend in the small town where I live the had their Railroad day festival. This weekend was the big 127 yard sell where they have them set up all around highway 127 in KY, people selling their junk. Next weekend they are having the High Bridge festival in the small comunity where I grew up. I may go this year because I have never been before and my sister is going to set up a booth to sell quilts in. There have also been a lot of county fairs going on to. I guess July and August are the big months for these things.
Congrats Anna what are you two going to get up to today?
Donna
Great post and you gotta love a man in a kilt,I have never been to a fair either we don't seem to have them very much that I have noticed.
They certainly sound very interesting though and I would be there just to see the guys in the kilts LOL
The new book sounds very interesting Donna
Have Fun
Helen
Not only do I love the Irish (hey, I'm part Irish, it's in my blood!), I love the quote at the end of this post.
Margay
Great post, Donna! I'm not keen on fairs exactly, but we do try to make the California State Fair since we're so close.
However, I do love an Irish hero. I think it's the accent, something careless and brooding wrapped all in one hunky man!
Anna, congrats! I thought I read out-for-blood in those lines. Glad you got the rooster, about time!
Well Donna...where else WOULD there be an Irish festival save DUBLIN?
We have our own version here in Louisville. Irishfest. It began years ago, founded by my good friend Martha Ford and her husband Gerry. www.louisvilleirishfest.com
I'm proud to be a member of the Irish Arts Foundation which is putting on this wonderful celebration of the Irish heritage including a fantastic cultural and historical display, crafts, dog breeds (yes...those Irish wolfhounds COULD eat your house), vendors, traditional music (stirs the soul it does)and traditional foods including O'Joanie T's scones :-)
So yeah...LOVE it!
Then I have the Ky State Fair in a few weeks. This time next week I'll be whipping up my culinary entries. I CRAVE salt on that day.
And a CARAMEL festival? Really?
Yummoo
Hey, Anna! The chook came home to roost! :>
Donna, great post. Love me some festivals. There are a lot 'round here from wine and cheese food of all sorts to virtually every ethnicity-fest you can think of. It IS DC, you know! Ha!
Back home in NC, my favorite is the Highland Games at Grandfather Mountain. Och, lassie, it'll stir your ancestral gene pool fer shurrr, to hear the pipes played on the Old Man of the Mountain. :>
I also love the Bascomb Lamar Lunsford Festival in Mars Hill, NC. People come out of the hills for that one, and when I say that, I mean it, visual and all. Grins. The dulcimer music is just this side of the divine, however, so it's worth anythign to hear it.
Haven't been to an Irish-fest in a while. May have to look one up!
GREAT POST, Donna! AHHHH! Those lovely piccies stirred this Irish heart.
Congrats on the chook, Fo! About time he traveled DownUnder again. Is it a Tim Tam kinda day? Or not?
The Ekka sounds a lot like the State Fair here. Everything fried on a stick (including Twinkies and egg rolls) and lots of animals and handicraft displays. At least that's what *I* look at when I go to the State Fair (haven't been in several years). The animals are such fun, if a bit smelly, and I LOVE seeing the quilts and afghans and other needlework. I know, I know... BORING! At least that's what my DH says.
AC
"...careless and brooding wrapped in one hunky man..." Jo-Mama, are you talking about my latest hero? He's definitely brooding. ;-)
And Joanie, you are right about those Irish Wolfhounds, they COULD eat your entire house. But they are so sweet natured, they'd never do it. At least the few I've met.
AC
Anna--the chook! You haven't had him a while, have you? Congrats.
Donna, our favorite festival is the upcoming one at our local Greek Orthodox church. We go every year. They have food, including a huge array of desserts, kids from the church doing traditional dances, videos about Greece, a marketplace, an art show, food, including a wide array of desserts, a relaxed atmosphere, tours of the beautiful cathedral, food, including a wide array of desserts, music, food . . . *g*
We also enjoy the Renaissance Festival, where I always do some Christmas shopping. When the boy was small and enamored of the jousting, we went several times during the festival's six-week run. Now we go once and possibly, if we have an open weekend, twice.
Last year, Gillian Summers, whose books have Ren Faire settings, did a signing at the front gate that was a huge hit and she/they plan a repeat performance this year.
Anna, everyone getting sick isn't really much of a draw, is it? I wonder why the organizers didn't choose a more hospitable site.
Sounds like a great festival, Donna. I'm for anything that features sexy Irish (or Scots) men in kilts! :)
We have a lot of festivals, craft fairs and Civil War re-enactments here in Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina. Summer kicks off with the Peach Festival (July) and wraps up with the Apple Festival (Sept).
A really fun, and very unique, festival coming up later this month is Spittoono, a Redneck version of the Spoleto arts festival in Charleston. Spittoono is all about beer, bands, fun and charity. Admission is free, bands play for free (18 of them this year)and all merchandise proceeds go to "kid and kritter" local charities. This festival has been going strong since 1981, ever since its somewhat dubious beginnings over a few too many beers at the ESSO Club.
http://tinyurl.com/ntbsfj
Almost forgot to mention some of the festivals in this area...
This weekend we had a very popular one called the Buddhist Food Festival held at the local Buddhist temple. I've been before and YUM!
We also have a lot of produce related festivals including the Strawberry festival, the Asparagus festival (always mobbed) and the Brussell Sprout festival. Yes, I attended the latter one year, just happened to be in Santa Cruz when it happened. Would you believe they had Brussell Sprout flavored ice cream and taffy?!?! I happen to like Brussell Sprouts but um... ICK!
I live in California, what more can I say?
AC
Virginia, the railroad festival sounds like lots of fun. A city a bit to the north of here used to have something similar. We took the boy during his transportation-mad phase and had a great time, but it's not on our radar anymore since his interests moved off of vehicles and onto videogames.
Nancy, I'm determined to make it to the Renaissance Festival this year.
Are you talking about the Yiasou Greek Festival? I want to try to go to that one this year too. It's in my friends' neighborhood but I always seem to have a conflict that weekend.
Congrats on nabbing that rooster, Anna!
JT, good luck with the State Fair baking! Sounds like so much fun!
AC Said: And Joanie, you are right about those Irish Wolfhounds, they COULD eat your entire house. But they are so sweet natured, they'd never do it. At least the few I've met.
So true, AC! They are the gentlest of giants, those wolfies. My own Irish breed - Irish Water Spaniels - usually make a showing too. Joanie, are there Irishers (or IWS as they're familiarly called) at your fest?
The Ren Faires have the best food of the non-food faires, if you ask me. But then, I'm biased, I like huge turkey legs. Grins.
PJ, I've been to Spoleto, and I'll bet I'd like Spittono better. Snork.
Forgot to mention Asheville's Belle Chere festival. REALLY nice - great food, great music, lovely crafts...yep. A keeper.
Now the State Fair? Awesome food on a stick. Oh, yeah.
Nancy,
We have one Greek Orthodox church here who puts on a food fest...er, festival. That's where I fell in love with moussaka and those spinach triangles and Greek green beans!
Jeanne, they haven't had IWS in the past...I'd not heard of that breed until you got Diver. I'd heard of the Portugese version. I'll be sure to look out for them.
I'm for anything that features sexy Irish (or Scots) men in kilts! :)
Remember PJ...many of the Celts fought in blue paint ONLY......:-) Have I ever told ya'll my favorite color is blue?
Isn't it amazing that most of our enjoyment of these affairs is in the FOOD?
Between today's blog and the Food Network I've got on in the background I've gained ten pounds!!!
Oohhhhh, the Greek Festival. Yummmmmy. Don't even go there, JT. I'm lovin' me some Greek men, Greek food, Greek pastries...Did I mention Greek men?
Love Moussaka, spanikopita (the spinach things) gyro's and gyro salads...baklava...groan! LURVE me some baklava.
IWS are a rarer breed, Joanie. Not quite as rare as a tone-deaf, non-drinking Irishman, but pretty close. Grins.
BTW, since my DH's family is HUGELY Irish, I'm now Irish by marriage. Isn't that fun?
That's it!
I'm going to the Dairy Queen!!!
Poor substitute for baklava but still....
Congrats on the GR, Anna.
Hi Donna,
There's always some festival going on here, but I just checked and found that The Great Irish Festival is on August 22. The popular Dragon Boat Festival is happening right now. I've never been, but it looks fun. My favorite festival is the San Gennaro Feast. I love the cannoli and zeppoles.
Oh! Cannoli!
Man, there's that food thing again. I guess you eat so much at a festival and walk it off again (or dance it off!) that it doesn't seem as calorie-laden. :>
JT, you can drive us both to DQ! Think they have cannoli flavored ice cream? I had bannana pudding gelato at the beach this last week. To. Die. For.
Oh, Fo, you sneaky chook nabber! I hope you enjoy the GR today, though he's never really "yours", you know. His heart is like the wild wind blowing across the high chapparal...or something.
We have lots of arts and crafts festivals here in North Carolina. I a few weeks, we will have the Lazy Daze festival in Cary. You can imagine how insanely hot this thing is at the end of August (the Dog Days of summer) in the South. Yikes. I try to stay home in the air conditioning. *g*
Another summer festival I like is the Eno River Festival in Durham. It's also insanely hot, but lots of fun. The emphasis there is on having an environmentally-repsonsible festival, where a huge percentage of the waste is recycled or composted. Love that!
North Carolina also has lot of different festivals celebrating local specialties: the Watermelon Festival, L'il John's Mountain Music, Merlefest (featuring Merle Haggard), Blues Brews & BBQs, Apple Fest, Pork Jam, Future Legends of BBQ, Black Walnut Festival, and lots more. Lots of barbecue, bluegrass and watermelon.
As we get into fall, there will be lots of pumpkin festivals, sweet potato festivals and more pork products.
The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games is the largest gathering of Scottish clans in the world. Many Scots settled in the colony of North Carolina after Culloden in 1745. Many people of Scottish descent still inhabit North Carolina. It's a huge festival and I fully intend to go one of these days. I'm sure Gannon has been!
I always look forward to the NC State Fair. It's always in mid-October here in Raleigh and, as faithful followers of the Romance Bandits know, I LOVE FAIR FOOD! Joanie and I will be waxing rhapsodic about the Kentucky and North Carolina State Fairs as the year wears on.
We don't have an Irish festival around here, but there are always some GREAT Oktberfests! We have lots of Germans in NC, too. *g* Wurst for everyone! In my family, we are of English/Welsh/Scottish/German/Native American/French descent, so we go to ALL the festivals!
Nancy, I love the Greek Festival in Charlotte! We used to go every year and gorge ourselves on stuffed grape leaves, spanakopita, moussaka and baklava. I don't think my family has any Greek blood, but I sure do love their food!
Caren said: As we get into fall, there will be lots of pumpkin festivals, sweet potato festivals and more pork products.
Oh, yes. We NC'ers looovvvveee our pork products. Grins. I would be among the major pork consuming NC people, so I can stand up and testify to this! *waving hanky, standing on pew*
Oh, in Raleigh we also have a huge India Fest at the state fairgrounds. Talk about amazing food, clothes and music! There is also a Diwali festival in Cary that is smaller but really nice. There are several Indian girls in my Girl Scout troop, so I always hear about the festivals coming up. Plus, several of them are in traditional dance troops and it's so cool to watch them perform!
Speaking of Fall festivals, Caren, one of these days I'm going to get to the Pumpkin festival in Keene, NH. They have the largest pumpkin fest EVAH! Very cool!
PJ, they call it the Yiasou festival. Let me know if you're coming. You, too, Caren.
Jeanne, the NC Highland Games have been on my "someday" list for years. I've never seen more than a scrap of the MacQueen tartan, which is mine via my mom's side of the family. I'd love to see actual people actually walking around in it.
Plus I hear the rest of the events are way cool.
Helen, one of the GH finalists from here in NC asked me to snap a photo of her with her dh at the conference in DC. That's when I noticed he was wearing a kilt. They made a very attractive couple.
Margay, I love that quote, too. I'm Scots-Irish on my mom's side.
Joan, you like Irish culture? Really?
Wow. The things you never know about people . . .
VBG! One of the things I love about you is your love of Irishness, Ireland, Irish heroes, and all related things.
One of my college professors had two IWs he used to walk across the campus. They really are cool-looking dogs.
AC wrote: Everything fried on a stick (including Twinkies and egg rolls)
As we say in the South, AC, "If you can eat it, we can fry it." Just walking through the NC State Fair is probably enough to close off a few arteries.
Fried Milky Way bar, anyone?
Seriously.
PJ, please tell me the peach stands along I-85 are now open. I looked earlier in the summer as I came up from Atlanta, and they were closed.
Nothing like fresh peaches. My dad used to always insist on stopping for a basket. Then he'd slice them up, add sugar (increasing amounts as he grew older), and freeze them. Slushy, half-thawed peaches--Yum!
Caren, your reference to Keene, NH, made me think of Rutland, VT (same approximate part of the country, which is all my brain needs to launch to it), where they used to have a giant parade every Halloween--of people dressed as super-heroes. I don't know whether they still do, but I always wanted to go.
Hmm. Off to launch Google.
Donna, great post! Wow, you people in Ohio sure know how to celebrate. Here, as Anna said, we have the Ekka, and we're considering going as it's the last year you can ride on the chairlift, a very rickety, hair-raising ride over the showground. They're overhauling the site so it won't be there next year, apparently. As children, we used to look forward to the Ekka all year but now it's not such a big deal. Kids have so many theme parks to go to these days it's just not as special. Ours are still a bit young to really get into it but it won't be long before they'll be begging to go.
Love the Oktoberfest, too, more for the music, pretzels and gingerbread than the drinking! I'd love to go to the real thing one day.
Me, too, Nancy! Well, actually, I'm English, Irish, Scottish, French and Indian (Abenaki) on my mother's side. Not sure on father's side (Grammaw was closed-mouthed about that. When asked, all she would say is, "I'm an American."), except for one: Cherokee. I'm a mash-up. Just call me Heinz 57.
Margay
Joan, you like Irish culture? Really?
Wow. The things you never know about people . . .
A wee bit....now pass the potatoes and go on.....
Okay. We'll call you Heinz 57 Margay! Heehee. Well, you said...
Grins.
My people all leaned toward the UK - Scots, English, Irish and a bit of Welsh on both sides. There were a few Germans in there too, for good measure, but the preponderance was the British Isles.
Now my hubby on the other hand...English and Irish with that very large helping of Swedish.
Ahhhh, the diaspora!
This Irish festival sounds great. I've been to several Scottish Highland Games and LOVE them -- particularly the pipes and drums competitions. I haven't been to one in several years, so I need to look one up and get out to one.
When I worked full time at a magazine here in Tennessee, I covered a lot of different festivals all over the state celebrating food, music, arts and crafts, you name it. There's everything from the Allardt Great Pumpkin Festival and Weigh-Off to the National Catfish Derby to Native American pow wows to the Cosby Ramp Festival (celebrating wild leeks).
Anna, I was going to go to our Ren Faire this year, but it was the day after I crashed my car. Alas.
Jeanne, I've always wanted to go to the Highland Games at Grandfather Mountain, but it never works out with my schedule.
Caren, I should go to that Oktoberbest since I'm part German (my earliest Fritts ancestors in American were buried in N.C. shortly after the Revolution).
Jeanne, I must still have some of that North Carolina blood in me because I love pork too. In fact, just yesterday I looked at the hubby and said, "Bacon is the reason I could never be vegetarian." :)
Donna, I find the crafts section really interesting. Don't know why. I'm comletely UN-crafty. And it's lovely to see all those pedigreed animals in one spot. And I still love the horse events. Olympic riders compete so the standard is really high.
The rooster is waving at you all with his left wing. His right wing is full of four-leaf clovers. I've finally found a way to keep him quiet. Ask him to go out looking for good luck tokens aka chick magnets!
OOOOOH, NOOOOOOO!!! Christine, they can't dismantle the chairlift. It has to be heritage!!! I went there the first year it went in and remember getting very excited about it. As did all the creepy boys in my class who tried to see the girls' undies standing under it. Ah, the sweet memories of childhood! NOT!
Actually I thought of another fair I've been to. The Greek fair in South Brisbane - LOVE those Cypriot honey puffs. Seriously, food of the gods!
Trish said: In fact, just yesterday I looked at the hubby and said, "Bacon is the reason I could never be vegetarian." :)
Oooohhhhhh yeah. And Pulled pork BBQ. And Ham. Cold or hot. Pork chops.
Off to make a ham sandwich...
Nancy, the peach stands have been open since early July and this year's crop has been wonderful. Most of the stands along I-85 are closed on Sundays though so if you're coming through on a Sunday you're out of luck.
Trish, I only managed to go to Grandfather once while I was in college. It usually falls on a weird, somebody's birthday weekend so I usually couldn't go. :>
Nancy, the Ferguson Tartan can be a bit bland, but the McDowell is quite nice to see, strolling about. Grins. Then again, men in Kilts...what's not to love?
I think a fondness for pork is a pre-requisite to moving to the Carolinas. I indulged in some a couple weeks ago when I took my niece up to Cashiers to my favorite smokey BBQ joint. Yum!
Hi, Donna,
Festival for me is our parish festival which we hold annually.
My family and I have worked at
the gathering every year for 35
years. I've been the publicity
chair for the last fifteen years.
Among my favorite festival foods
are the fajitas, turkey legs, the
baked potatoes, and then there's
the funnel cakes, with lots of
confectioner's sugar & cinnamon
dusted over! YUMMY!
Pat Cochran
The rooster is waving at you all with his left wing. His right wing is full of four-leaf clovers. I've finally found a way to keep him quiet. Ask him to go out looking for good luck tokens aka chick magnets!
ROFL....
Well, I'm late to the party as usual! But better late than never...
Anna, I fear for the Rooster's safety! That's a very scary laugh I'm hearing from you! Hope you have fun today. :-)
Wonderful post, Donna! I've only been to the Scottish fairs in my part of the world but they sound similar, especially the men in kilts part! I always love to see the sheep herding competition. Those dogs are wonderful to watch!
Virginia, you were soooo close!! He must've needed a change in latitude today! :-)
My sister-in-law's brother is a huge train enthusiast. He goes all over the country and I'll bet he's been to your Railroad Day Festival.
Anna, I had to laugh at your "sad renaissance fair" reference. I went to more than my share of those back in the day! And the Ekka does sound like our state fair--or county fair, depending on how big the county is.
Hi Helen! I know you'd get a great big kick out of our men-in-kilts fairs! Yum!
Margay, hi! That is a lovely quote, isn't it? If only I had that insight more often. :-)
Hey Jo, we do love our Irish heros here in the Lair, don't we!!
Joanie, the fairs in your area are sooooo lucky to have you there! I wish I could fly in just to try one of your scones. And as for trying the other culinary delights you cook up for the state fair ... well, I'm just plain jealous, that's all. I hope you snag the blue ribbon this year!!
Jeanne, those fairs in your neck of the woods sound intriguing. I'm a big fan of the Highland Games myself. But then, who isn't? :-)
And those wolfhounds do look so sweet-natured!! Huge, but sweet!
Hi Aunty! Speaking of Irish hero, you write the best!
I love visiting the quilts and sewing displays, too. And also the canned goods and the pies...heh hee. But that's what makes the fair special, I think. It's sort of a trip back to yesteryear.
Ooh Nancy, I love our local Festival. The food!!!! Oh heck, I it's always all about the food for me... :-)
PJ, I love the Spittono!!! OMG, that's a hilarious take-off! I'll bet it's a lot of fun, too. And all for a good cause. Sounds great!
Uh, Cindy, the Brussel Sprouts fair? Really? See, now this is what gives our state such a bad name. LOLOL
Joanie, I agree with you about all this food talk. I'm feeling full and I haven't even eaten dinner!
Good on you, La Campbell !! I just KNOW he's looking forward to spending the day with you!
Joan, keep us posted on how things go at the state fair. Do you need any taste testers?
We have the Alabama State Fair every year, of course.
Here in Wetumpka we have the Bark in the Park every year, which is a wonderful fair by the river and everyone's pet is welcome (so long as he or she is well-behaved. Shame the same rule doesn't apply to children!)It is a fund-raiser for the local animal shelter and always great fun.
We have Christmas on the Coosa, which is a winter fair with lots of arts and crafts and lots of food and music. It ends with the Christmas parade on the river. Organizations and businesses have parade floats made of boats and at the end of the parade Santa comes in on water skis.
ROTFL, Nancy! If you can eat it, we can fry it?? I must come to some of those festivals sometime.
Here in California, I'm afraid the slogan goes more like, "If you can eat it, we can put alfalfa sprouts on it." So sad. LOL
Hey Jane, the Dragon Boat Festival sounds interesting! What do they eat there? :-)
OMG, you had me at cannoli. Seriously. I love those little goodies!
Joanie, I don't blame you for succumbing. Wish there was a DQ nearby...
Trish, those festivals you wrote about sound fabulous! What fun that must've been to visit them all.
And I'm right there with you on the BACON issue!!!
Now I'm hungry all over again.
Hi Pat! Seriously, I'm going to gain 20 pounds from this blog. Funnel cakes? I want them now!!!
Oh Anna, chick magnets?? LOLOL
Louisa, Bark in the Park sounds like so much fun! And yeah, Joanie's always looking for extra tasters, right Joanie? Right? Please?????
Joanie's always looking for extra tasters, right Joanie? Right? Please?????
This time next week there will be plenty of bowls to lick.....
*Mapquests Directions to Joanie's house*
I'm always up for "cleaning the bowl" after a good cookie making fest. So, about what time should I be there, JT? Grins.
So, about what time should I be there, JT? Grins.
I don't start as early as I used to, Duchesse....so long about 10 am will do.
Bring salty potato chips. After dealing with all that SUGAR, I need it.
Margay, I'm kind of a Heinz, too. On my mom's side, I'm Scots-Irish. Oh my dad's, I'm Spanish and English (the other great Heinz national grouping, with Angles, Saxons, Celts, Norse, and a bit of French probably all thrown in). The boy also gets Polish and Swedish stirred in.
Joan, our Greek festival serves some sort of custard-ish square pastry that's fabulous, and don't get me started on the cookies!
PJ, thanks. Not traveling on a Sunday this time, so I'll have my eyes peeled. There was one stand, south of Gaffney, that my dad used to favor.
Jeanne, as you say, men in kilts are a mighty draw for any festival. :-)
Trish, bacon is one of the first things I gave up. I eat ersatz bacon, aka turkey bacon. *g*
Must be like the Coke/Pepsi thing.
Kate, alfalfa sprouts are undoubtedly healthier than grease. I have to admit I find the grease tastier, though.
Hm... festivals? No. But - wow. Didn't know Ohio had that many :P While driving around in Cleveland this past weekend I saw that the Greek Festival is coming out - which is different from Greek Fest on college campuses, which I imagine might be soon as well :P
Congrats on the GR, Anna!
Donna,
I enjoyed meeting you yesterday in Indiana.
You should come back in late September and I'll take you around the Remembering James Dean Festival in Fairmount. You can meet my Friends of the Library group where we always hold a book sale.
When the weather is good, approx. 30,000 people from all over the world will show up in this miniscule town. Dean imitators abound and there's a contest for the winner.
My favorite food? That's a tough one. The warm apple dumplings with soft vanilla ice cream melted on top probably win out. Elephant ears and funnel cakes tie for second place.
I appreciate the chance to remember a great festival!
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