Any cool local Fall festivals in your area?

[LadyShea]

This weekend is the 35th annual Shrimp Festival (http://www.nationalshrimpfestival.com/) in Gulf Shores. Last year was our first, and since 2004's was cancelled on accounta Hurricane Ivan, there was a sense of accomplishment and pride that they had cleaned up enough in a year to hold it again. We are excited about taking Cade this year as it is full of people and art for him to look at, which he loves to do.

So, anyone have any Oktoberfests, harvest festivals etc. you traditionally attend?

[Zehava]

Not really fall but, Sandy Mountain Festival (http://www.sandymountainfestival.org/)

Until just a few years ago my mother was a vendor at this festival every year, selling tole painting (shelves, benches, knick-knaks and brick-a-brack).

Sandy is a small town (less then 5,000 people), but I'd guess that on average 10-15,000 people would come through town for the festival. Does wonders for the local economy :)

[ms_ann_thrope]

We've got the Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival. (http://www.miramarevents.com/pumpkinfest/) Apparently Half Moon Bay is the "Pumpkin Capital of the World." :pumpkin: My parents used to take us every year when we were little, but it's too big and crowded now for me to enjoy it anymore (~250K visitors now vs. 30K visitors then). :sadcheer:

[Dingfod]

The War Eagle Mill Fall Fair Arts Festival (http://www.beaverlake.com/wareagle/wareagle.htm) is coming up weekend after next.

[BracesForImpact]

There's the Tipton County Pork Festival (http://www.jerrypalmer.com/porkfestival/) which just took place. There is a beauty contest involved, I guess she is dubbed "Pork Queen".

Funny, I didn't see a single Muslim.

[quiet bear]

Here in Delaware, we have the mother of all fall festivals.

http://www.punkinchunkin.com/ (http://)


It's so big now, though, I think they're moving it out of state.

[Dingfod]

This weekend in Hartshorne, Oklahoma there is the Hard Times Festival (http://www.hardtimesfestival.com/), an annual reminder of how things were during The Great Depression.

Friday night kicks off with a Roadhouse Dinner and Dance where you can get cornbread and beans for 25 cents a bowl.

Saturday starts off with a biscuits and gravy breakfast. There is a quilt show and a vintage apron and blanket display open all day.

For lunch Saturday, you can get 50 cent hamburgers or the $1 Blue Plate Special right after Dr. Phineas Hardcase's 11:00 AM medicine show. He will be selling his Feel Good Elixir during the show that will also feature Depression Era music and comedy, tap dancing and more.

All during the day there will be a cornbread contest, a pie contest, a domino tournament, a talent show, etc., as well as people selling homemade lye soap, crafts and more.

The grand finale of the festival is a Depression Era music show at Liberty Theatre.

I might hop a train down there myself.

[Dingfod]

Next week, the annual Tulsa Oktoberfest (http://www.tulsaoktoberfest.org/) returns for beer-imbibing, chicken-dancing, oompah band listening, polka-dancing, pretzel-eating fun and friviolity.

http://www.tulsaoktoberfest.org/pics/Food---German-Miss.jpg

Ziggy-zocky, ziggy-zocky, hoi, hoi, hoi!!!

[Ari]

...we jump frogs... :)
More interesting is the local celtic faire (at the same place they jump frogs), lots of scottish and celtic stuff, good beer and scotch and good celtic rock and traditional bands.

[Artemis Entreri]

Small world. I'm in Mobile. I'll have to make it out to Gulf Shores this weekend.

[Dingfod]

There are three this weekend in Oklahoma:

Robber's Cave State Park near Wilburton hosts the annual Robber's Cave Fall Festival (http://www.mcalesternews.com/local/local_story_293110314.html), which includes an art show, a car show, and a gospel music sing-a-long. This event draws 50,000 - 100,000 people to what is basically a rural area of Oklahoma.


20,000 people are expected to attend Fall-A-Days (http://www.woodwardnews.net/local/local_story_291125641.html) out in Woodward. Over 150 exhibitors of Made in Oklahoma products will be displaying their wares. The Oklahoma wine industry will be well-represented. (http://www.nuyakacreek.com/blog/2006/08/woodward-fall-days-festival-october-20.htm)


A little less popular, but growing, a festival that started with 40 people in 2003 is expected to draw 400 or more, the annual Punkin Chunkin (http://www.woodwardnews.net/local/local_story_285091253.html) out in the Panhandle community of Gate, where contestants see how far a pumpkin can fly by whatever means they can devise, from pumpkins thrown by hand to trebuchet and air cannons.

[LadyShea]

Fall-A-Days sounds like something I would really enjoy

[Dingfod]

I bet you would. Me, I'll be chunkin' punkins out in Gate, in spirit, if not in person.

[Ymir's blood]

There are three occurring this weekend in Western NC. Two of them are within five miles of home. Not going to be a good weekend for being on the road.

:peekaboo:

[Dingfod]

This article on Chickasha's Neewollah (http://www.chickashanews.com/local/local_story_298133459.html) reminded me of the one that started it all, at least in regionally, Neewollah in Independence, Kansas (http://www.neewollah.com/), about 100 miles north of here. It started in 1918, after vandalism was giving Halloween a bad name and endangering trick-or-treaters. The city council, tired of the shenannigans, came up with an alternative celebration, Neewollah, or Halloween spelled backwards. The Independence, Kansas celebration is a big deal. People come from all over to attend the various events, concerts, parades, and other activities. This very evening, at 6:00 PM is the Doodah Parade, for adults in costume. There's a kid's parade Friday evening and the Grand Parade on Saturday. Saturday also brings a marching band competition; Independence always puts on a good show, with this year's theme being Phantom of the Opera, very Halloweeny. Speaking of weenie, former Tulsan, Roy Clark, of Hee-Haw fame, will be performing in two concerts Saturday, surgically implanted clown face and all.

http://www1.lookinglass-labels.com/neewollah2006/pageimages/p213-roy-130.jpg