nestled in the TN Valley
things come alive when Fall arrives.
The first weekend of October
is set aside for what has become
the annual Pumpkintown Festival:
A Celebration of History, Harvest and Heritage.
Pumpkintown was a former name
of our fair city.
Something to make you stop and say, "Hmmm..."
These kinds of events are not
Sweet Husband's "cup of tea" but
he was kind and indulged me last Saturday.
We became part of the throng that was
2010 Pumpkintown...
strolled around the town square
looked at vendor booths of
jewelry, turned wood, hand woven baskets,
and, of course, lots and lots of FOOD!
You do not know what agony and angst
came over me as we approached and passed
each vendor selling funnel cakes...
sweaty palms, drool, glazed eyes,
incoherent mumbling...
not a pretty sight.
But, I'm allowed only one funnel cake
per year and I burned my one shot
during National MooFest last May...
another one of our annual fun festivals.
We live in a happenin' little town, I'm tellin' ya!!
I took some photos (with my phone) of some of the sites
we saw last Saturday at Pumpkintown.
Perhaps you'll be so enticed by what you see
you'll come to help us celebrate 2011 Pumpkintown!
It's quite irresistible...
There were all sorts of dogs walking around with their owners.
This was a bullmastiff that Sweet Husband and I fell in love with.
He was HUGE!! ...and as friendly as he was large.
Part of the entertainment for the day was
"The Mutt Strut"...
there were dogs dressed up in all sorts of costumes.
My favorite was the group of pit bulls...
dressed up like Dorothy, the scarecrow and the lion
from the Wizard of Oz.
Their owner was dressed like the tin man.
I tried to get a photo, but they were bookin' it
down the yellow-brick-road faster than I could shoot.
There was a petting zoo for the little ones.
This precious little guy was in the zoo trying to escape
all the little hands that were grabbing for him.
In the "zoo" were also a monkey, a goose, a puppy,
some guinea pigs, a calf, a cat, and
I don't remember what else.
I do know that I've never seen that many animals
and little kids in what was probably an 10' x 10' pen.
I'm betting the animals were exhausted at the end of that day!
Here's "Velcro Boy".
It was so hot that day...I poured sweat just watching
this kid in that thick black suit.
He seemed to be having a blast throwing himself
onto the wall and sticking.
...like I said...irresistible.
We walked to the large grassy area off the town square
and found some wonderful Indian exhibits.
There was a real tee-pee set up and
these Indians were demonstrating native dances.
They got some people from the crowd to join in.
I have a pic of the Indian playing a drum
and chanting for the dancers to dance...
but, it didn't want to post the correct way.
My computer illiteracy shines at times like this...
So...after the Indian dances, these half-dressed guys
came running out onto the field
and they were carrying sticks with nets at one end...
kind of like a really short lacrosse stick.
There was a little ball and they started trying
to get it in their nets.
They didn't want this guy to have it.
I think he was upset...
or he stepped on a sticker.
This is not a game for the tender of foot...
...no, this is a very rough game.
Kind of like rugby, football, and lacrosse all in one...
except you play half-naked, barefooted and
with little short sticks.
One of the Indian ladies I talked to in a jewelry booth
told me the name of this game...stick ball.
She said it is a rough game only for the boys...
the ladies are too smart to play.
I heard that!
We also encountered some Civil War soldiers.
There were re-enactments that took place...
we missed them...
but aren't these fine looking soldiers?!
...it bears repeating...irresistible!
After Sweet Husband and I had saluted the soldiers,
danced with the Indians, strutted with the mutts,
eyeballed all the wares, pet the pig and his friends...
we were famished.
So we enjoyed some BBQ courtesy of
Trinity United Methodist Church...
they were celebrating their 100th Anniversary!
I think it's quite evident that the celebration was a success!
So...have you already gotten your
calendar out and marked the first weekend in October 2011?
Now that you've seen what you're missing...
how could you think of being anywhere else?!?
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