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22 Sep 06 - 06:36 PM (#1841148) Subject: BS: SmallTownFestivals-GoodLaughsSometimes From: catspaw49 I know they happen all over the world but here in the great midwestern USA they are part and parcel of many folk's existence. Looking forward to the "doins" that your town puts on and trying to make it bigger and better each year is as ingrained in the Midwestern soul as the love for greasy and deep fried fair food......and that goes pretty deep! Even in today's modern times with worries about cholesterol and weight, the booths selling assorted types of sweetened, deep fried, dough make a killing. We love everything deep fried from ice cream to pickles. If you can batter it and toss it in the fat, we'll eat it. I'm waiting for cow patties.......... So our love and need for festivals outside of the yearly county fairs also burns far down in our genetic code. What do we celebrate you ask? Just like the fried food, we'll celebrate anything! In Ohio for instance, the list includes almost every vegetable and fruit from apricots to zuchini. I used to live in the "Home of the Tomato" and I figured the only saving grace was that it wasn't the home of the pea. We celebrate bratwurst, popcorn, pumpkin, walnuts, buzzards, soybeans...hell, we even have a CLAY festival. Up until a few years ago, we had an underwear festival in a mill town where they were made, but it was taken over by outlaw bikers and the townsfolk are now having to rely on other towns and the county fair to get their greasy food fix. Even in the tiny village where I now reside we have a little festival that has grown every year thanks to the work of a group of "community leaders." It started out as an Oktoberfest sincce the town is "Bremen" but that wasn't working as well as if they could just come up with something to celebrate. A few years back it became "Derrick Days" since they had once pumped oil out of the ground here. Oil has been pumped out of every county in Ohio but what the hell? Bremen needed a theme. The fact that they never found more than a smattering of oil here didn't matter at all. Like all festivals they have a parade with a Grand Marshall and a festival King and Queen and a Miss Bremen Derrick Days and all of that. After all, we can't be outdone by the corn festival forever. It is of course, but we have something to aspire to! And this brings us to what I wanted to actually say. Sorry about that! I have observed at these things all manner of silliness and stupiidity over the years and the rule seems to be that the smaller the burg, the more silly it is. Bemen, Ohio is very small. As I looked over this year's program I noted the page devoted to the Senior King and Queen. This is always an honored award and they ride in the nicest convertible through the streets of town during the parade. The parade only goes 4 blocks but the setup for it takes almost every other street...all 14 of them! So I read all about this couple and I realized they were both dead. Nowthis is a first as far as I know. I've never encountered thisparticularly odd situation before but I figured only here would something this stupid take place. I can hardly wait for the parade tomorrow. Somehow I just know it's going to be pretty weird. Perhaps a nice Vette with their portrait on the rear deck. Or maybe their adult kids holding photos or for all I know they might .........no............I won't go there. Got anything like this where you live? Tell me about it! Spaw |
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22 Sep 06 - 06:48 PM (#1841156) Subject: RE: BS: SmallTownFestivals-GoodLaughsSometimes From: Richard Bridge I am so glad to see you say that things get hardwired into genetic code (even if I know it to be an exaggeration). It's why I say English people should sing English, and American American, and Irish Irish, etc.... Lots of people would not buy that for music. |
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22 Sep 06 - 08:18 PM (#1841195) Subject: RE: BS: SmallTownFestivals-GoodLaughsSometimes From: The Fooles Troupe Spaw, you guys even have a GARLIC festival, complete with garlic ice cream.... you should watch the doco movie "Garlic is as good as 10 Mothers" - which has a nice song - mentioned elsewhere in Mudcat. |
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22 Sep 06 - 09:08 PM (#1841213) Subject: RE: BS: SmallTownFestivals-GoodLaughsSometimes From: JennieG Casino, a town in north-eastern New South Wales, calls itself "Australia's Beef Capital". It has - or used to have - an annual Beef Festival with the Festival Queen being called Miss Beef. And Stanthorpe, which is over the border in Queensland (but not very far from Casino as the crow flies) has an annual "Miss Ring and Rodeo" quest. The Stanthorpe district was where the rodeo movement started in Oz many years ago, hence the rodeo connection - but "ring" is Ozzie slang for the rectum. Spaw, I am with you on this. I love small-town festivals and the community spirit they foster! Cheers JennieG |
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22 Sep 06 - 09:17 PM (#1841222) Subject: RE: BS: SmallTownFestivals-GoodLaughsSometimes From: The Fooles Troupe JennieG I thought Stanthorpe had the "Apple and Grape" festival, which had a name change after it became unfortunatley popularly known as the "Grapple and Rape" Festival... |
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22 Sep 06 - 09:22 PM (#1841224) Subject: RE: BS: SmallTownFestivals-GoodLaughsSometimes From: wysiwyg Are the Sr. Couple going to be IN the parade? If so, I will definitely NOT be able to match that. :~) ~S~ |
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22 Sep 06 - 09:25 PM (#1841227) Subject: RE: BS: SmallTownFestivals-GoodLaughsSometimes From: Bobert Old farm tractors here, Spawzer, with lots of deep fried anything... I was kinda hopin' not to get "that call" but "that call" came in spite of my hopin's and looks as if I'll be performin' at the Heritage, think old farm tractors here, Festival again this year on Oct 7th... Nuthin' better than 70 year old tractors and colestoral... This is what America is all about... All that is missin' is duct tape and then all 3 major food groups would be covered... Bobert |
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22 Sep 06 - 09:28 PM (#1841228) Subject: RE: BS: SmallTownFestivals-GoodLaughsSometimes From: JennieG Robin, Stanthorpe may have the fruit festival but when we stopped there about 3 years ago there were posters in shop windows advertising the "Miss Ring and Rodeo" quest! I thought of the unfortunate young lass with that title on her CV forever. Cheers JennieG |
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22 Sep 06 - 10:03 PM (#1841253) Subject: RE: BS: SmallTownFestivals-GoodLaughsSometimes From: freda underhill I went to the Kangaroo Valley folk festival a couple of weeks ago. Despite the fact that there were torrential rains and the festival grounds were ankle deep in mud - i had a fantastic weekend. every moment was good - from the local second hand and craft shops though the rain, lots of great performers, to the fantastic session at our cabin (jennyo, john warner & me)on saturday night - i came away with some wonderful CDs. The local pie shop had 1st prize certificates from every show in NSW - and a huge selection of very delicious pies. being vegetarian, I opted for their apple pies! freda |
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22 Sep 06 - 10:10 PM (#1841256) Subject: RE: BS: SmallTownFestivals-GoodLaughsSometimes From: catspaw49 Richard---I used to believe that it was all nurture and damn little nature but as I've gotten older I have had to conclude I was wrong(:<)) Susan---If they show up in the parade...........I'll let you know right here! Jenny---Glad to see I'm not alone.(;<)) Bobert---A few years ago at a Steam tractor even, one of them blew up killing 2 and injuring about a dozen. FoolOldFriend---Here's a partial list and it includes only the larger ones. Probably 25 or so more including ours here! Geauga County Maple Festival April 20 - 23, 2006 Chardon, Ohio Wild Turkey Festival May 4 - 7, 2006 McArthur, Ohio Dennison Railroad Festival May 17 - 21, 2006 Dennison, Ohio Moonshine Festival May 25 - 29, 2006 New Straitsville, Ohio Port Clinton Walleye Festival May 25 - 29, 2006 Port Clinton, Ohio Oak Hill Village Festival of Flags May 26 - 29, 2006 Oak Hill, Ohio Utica Old Fashioned Ice Cream Festival May 27 - 29, 2006 Utica, Ohio Deercreek Dam Days Festival May 31 - June 3, 2006 Williamsport, Ohio Lancaster Old Car Club Spring Festival June 3 - 4, 2006 Lancaster, Ohio Commercial Point Homecoming June 7 - 10, 2006 Commercial Point, Ohio Festival of the Fish June 16 - 18, 2006 Vermilion, Ohio Earth Angel Super Cruise In June 17, 2006 Lancaster, Ohio London Strawberry Festival June 21 - 24, 2006 London, Ohio Old Fashion Days of Brunswick June 21 - 25, 2006 Brunswick, Ohio Lorain Internation Festival June 23 - 25, 2006 Lorain, Ohio First Town Days Festival June 30 - July 4, 2006 New Philadelphia, Ohio Ashville 4th of July Celebration July 1 - 4, 2006 Ashville, Ohio Gallipolis River Recreation Festival July 1 - 4, 2006 Gallipolis, Ohio Ohio Hills Folk Festival July 6 - 8, 2006 Quaker City, Ohio Miami Valley Steam Threshers Association July 13 - 16, 2006 Plain City, Ohio The Baltimore Festival-Canal Lock Days August 9 - 12, 2006 Baltimore, Ohio Ohio Valley Antique Machinery Show August 10 - 13, 2006 Georgetown, Ohio Tuscarawas County Italian-American Festival August 11 - 13, 2006 Dover, Ohio North Ridgeville Corn Festival August 11 - 13, 2006 North Ridgeville, Ohio Pemberville Free Fair August 16 - 19, 2006 Pemberville, Ohio The Parade of the Hills August 16 - 19, 2006 Nelsonville, Ohio Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival August 17 - 19, 2006 Bucyrus, Ohio Ohio Tobacco Festival August 24 - 27, 2006 Ripley, Ohio Sweet Corn Festival August 30 - September 2, 2006 Millersport, Ohio Portsmouth River Days August 31 - September 3, 2006 Portsmouth, Ohio West Jefferson Annual Ox Roast September 1 - 4, 2006 West Jefferson, Ohio Milan Melon Festival September 2 - 4, 2006 Milan, Ohio Wellston Coal Festival September 5 - 9, 2006 Wellston, Ohio Fredericktown Tomato Show September 6 - 9, 2006 Fredericktown, Ohio Marion Popcorn Festival September 7 - 9, 2006 Marion, Ohio Mantua Potato Festival September 8 - 10, 2006 Mantua, Ohio Crestline Harvest - Antique Festival September 14 - 17, 2006 Crestline, Ohio Clyde Country Fair September 15 - 17, 2006 Clyde, Ohio Jackson Co. Apple Festival September 19 - 23, 2006 Jackson, Ohio Barnesville Pumpkin Festival September 21 - 24, 2006 Barnesville, Ohio Geneva Area Grape Jamboree September 23 - 24, 2006 Geneva, Ohio Germantown Pretzel Festival September 23 - 24, 2006 Germantown, Ohio Ohio Swiss Festival, Inc. September 27 - 30, 2006 Sugarcreek, Ohio Ohio Gourd Show September 30 - October 1, 2006 Greenville, Ohio, Ohio Holmes County Antique Festival October 7 - 8, 2006 Millersburg, Ohio Algonquin Mill Fall Festival October 13 - 15, 2006 Carrollton, Ohio Ashtabula County Covered Bridge Festival October 14 - 15, 2006 Jefferson, Ohio Oak Harbor Apple Festival October 14 - 15, 2006 Oak Harbor, Ohio Circleville Pumpkin Show October 18 - 21, 2006 Circleville, Ohio Fall Festival of Leaves October 20 - 22, 2006 Bainbridge, Ohio Dalton Holidays Festival December 2 - 3, 2006 Dalton, Ohio Feast of the Flowering Moon May 25 - 27, 2007 Chillicothe, Ohio Spaw |
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22 Sep 06 - 10:46 PM (#1841275) Subject: RE: BS: SmallTownFestivals-GoodLaughsSometimes From: katlaughing Good gawd! You could make a career outta going to all them! |
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22 Sep 06 - 11:33 PM (#1841281) Subject: RE: BS: SmallTownFestivals-GoodLaughsSometimes From: wysiwyg We almost got a call to ministry in Gallipolis (pron Gal-p-lice)! In fact we were there on an interview weekend, taking a few minutes between interviews stretched out on th emotel beds, when we got the message Greg had been elected here, where we are now. I was disappointed not to see a couple of events I might have expected, in your festival list-- Duct Tape Days Crack Creme Follies Roadkill Revival Sunday Take Back the Possum Night I'm sure the rest of you have others you might like to mention? :~) ~Susan |
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22 Sep 06 - 11:43 PM (#1841284) Subject: RE: BS: SmallTownFestivals-GoodLaughsSometimes From: Bee-dubya-ell September is seafood festival month down here on the Gulf coast. We have the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama, the Pensacola Seafood Festival, the Panama City Seafood festival, and the Apalachicola Seafood Festival all back-to-back. Seafood festivals are basically opportunities for people to stand in long lines waiting to buy stuff they'd never order in a restaurant. Like shark-on-a-stick. But their real appeal is that drunks can walk around with open alcoholic beverages and not get hassled by the cops. |
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22 Sep 06 - 11:45 PM (#1841285) Subject: RE: BS: SmallTownFestivals-GoodLaughsSometimes From: JennyO Hi freda - glad you at least had apple pie from KV. I took home some of the meat pies and assorted versions thereof, and all I can say is, what a shame you're vegetarian. They were to die (live) for. Funny thing was, as I drove out of town I noticed a sign "the best pies in the world" on ANOTHER pie shop. If the ones we had were the SECOND best, I can't wait to try the best ones! Now back to small town festivals, Spaw I can't wait to hear about what they put in the best convertible for the senior king and queen! Does seem kinda bizarre, and I can't top that with my old home town festival. In the place where I grew up, Goulburn, which is a fairly large country town, they always had the "Lilac Time" festival in October, which had all the usual trappings - the parade and floats, the crowning of the king and queen, the stalls and the greasy food. Goulburn is a very old city (Australia's first inland city) so this festival is comparatively young (55 years), but it's still going, only now it's called the Lilac City Festival. In fact, Goulburn seems to be very well endowed with festivals and events of all kinds - blues, jazz, motor racing, and on the long weekend after this one as part of the Lilac festival, there is a new one, advertised as "The Inaugural Annual Bush Traditions Gathering The Old Goulburn Brewery, Bungonia Road, Goulburn NSW a loooong weekend of music, dance, song and spoken word celebrating an Australian tradition" Sandra in Sydney is going, and I'm tempted, although I feel a bit festivalled out at the moment. I have a real soft spot for Goulburn - the old brewery is an interesting spot, and the smell of lilacs still takes me back... |
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23 Sep 06 - 01:41 AM (#1841303) Subject: RE: BS: SmallTownFestivals-GoodLaughsSometimes From: JennieG Geez, Spaw, you could go a festival every weekend and not double up! Triffic! Can I move to Ohio? You mentioned the Commercial Point Homecoming, is there a difference between a homecoming and a regular festival? I'm not going to the Goulburn festival, by the time I found out about it I had made other plans. Cheers JennieG |
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23 Sep 06 - 05:30 AM (#1841365) Subject: RE: BS: SmallTownFestivals-GoodLaughsSometimes From: eddie1 The "International Goat Days Festival" is held every year in Millington Tn. Check out this link for lots of information. My attention was drawn to a dish called "Pulled Pork"! The mind boggles! http://www.karlschatz.com/yearofthegoat/archives/000038.shtml |
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23 Sep 06 - 05:40 PM (#1841646) Subject: RE: BS: SmallTownFestivals-GoodLaughsSometimes From: katlaughing The best we've ever been to were powwows, both back East and in WY. Nothing beats the fried bread and fresh squeezed lemonade and the whitehides trying to shuffle-step dance. I really miss them! |
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23 Sep 06 - 07:40 PM (#1841701) Subject: RE: BS: SmallTownFestivals-GoodLaughsSometimes From: Fibula Mattock Portaferry has Gala Week which involves such highlights as the Goat Show (yes, prize for the most beautiful goat), pitching the sheaf, pig racing, and the suchlike. Despite such 'Father Ted' activities, the culmination of the week - the float parade - is rather bloody good... |
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23 Sep 06 - 08:56 PM (#1841747) Subject: RE: BS: SmallTownFestivals-GoodLaughsSometimes From: JennieG It's the weekend and there are lots of festivals to choose from in Ohio! According to Spaw's calendar there is: Jackson Co. Apple Festival September 19 - 23, 2006 Jackson, Ohio Barnesville Pumpkin Festival September 21 - 24, 2006 Barnesville, Ohio Geneva Area Grape Jamboree September 23 - 24, 2006 Geneva, Ohio Germantown Pretzel Festival September 23 - 24, 2006 Germantown, Ohio I like the sound of the pretzel festival but it's a long way from Sydney, I would have to tie myself up in knots to make it in time. Cheers JennieG |