A summer Festival

I don't know what its like in other places but around here summertime means summer festivals and whether it's The Tulip Festival, The Apple Blossom Festival or The Strawberry Festival, nearly every community does something that celebrates what is special about where they live.  Our festival is meant to celebrate and showcase our beautiful lake community.  Over the 37 years that we have lived in our town I don't remember ever missing our festival and we have watched it grow and change just as our community has grown and changed.

Most years we have celebrated under bright sunny skies but ironically, this year we had cloudy skies and the first rain we have seen in the past ten weeks of unusually high temperatures and drought.  That meant we didn't have the usual crowds.  Even so, the locals came out all weekend to celebrate and support our community.  Here is a little taste of the weekend.
 

Two contestants  for the Proud Pet Show

The annual book sale

The carnival comes to town.

 

Elephant Ears and Sweet Kettle Corn

Exotic Frozen Fruit Smoothies

Blowing giant bubbles

free carriage rides

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 There are always two parades, the children's parade on Friday night and then our small town "Grand" Parade on Saturday.  Come and see.

After spending the morning cooking and serving at the annual Fireman's Pancake Breakfast, our local heroes jump into one of the firetrucks to lead off the parade. 

Next,comes our military veterans and honor guard.
 

Representing the schools are the high school band and cheerleaders. 

Do you believe in Big Foot?

  The local churches always take part in the parade.





Of course, once the parades are over some of the most popular spots to head for are the food booths on the street and in the food court.

Our church youth group and volunteers run this booth every year to help support their youth activities and summer camp.  The Investigator and I both helped out for several hours. The corn dogs are delicious and a great favorite with everyone.  

As we walk past this booth we remember many former years as volunteers making snow cones and spinning cotton candy when our boys were in Boy Scouts.

After savoring several tasty treats we leave the street fair behind to walk over the hill and down to the cove.  Here we can listen to bands playing as we look out over the water. 

 

 As we are walking out onto the city dock, and listening to the music we can see more storm clouds coming in.  It's only early afternoon but the sky is getting pretty dark. That's ok.  We need the rain.

The clouds and rain may have kept the crowds away but it has still been a great weekend to enjoy celebrating with our neighbors and friends and after all, isn't that what it's all about?