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Post by Sir Trevor on Jul 8, 2023 18:08:09 GMT -5
Well, I hit opening day today. Here are the pix tylisaari.com/me/photos/index.php?cat=22Here are some of my thoughts. Crowded! It took 20 minutes just for me to park. Traffic was stopped in both directions on 534 waiting to get in. I was running a little late as I didn't get there until like 11:15. Glad I didn't have to wait in line for the ticket booth as I couldn't even see the end of it as I was walking up to the gate. (I got stuck parking in the 2nd lot) Lots of old familiar faces. Saw people today that I haven't seen in years. I was too busy visiting to catch any actual shows, but they seemed to have good sized audiences. Lots of new buildings. Fryer Plucks now has a building next door instead of a tent. Drift food court is all buildings now, no tents. The chessboard has been fixed and they are now doing 2 chess matches a day. Also, they opened up the woods for fairyland again. I didn't go back there to check it out, but there were plenty of people back there. A few changes. No Alpaca Mike. The tent was there but nothing else. No Highland Crew, or Highland Games. The bakery seems to be run by someone new. A lot less selection, and what they did have didn't look that good  Piper's Pub is back though! I got Wizards Wine for the first time in I can't remember how many years. |
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Post by catharinethelady on Jul 9, 2023 15:15:55 GMT -5
Did they have raspberry lemonade?
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Post by Sir Trevor on Jul 10, 2023 17:24:46 GMT -5
Yes.
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Post by Sir Trevor on Jul 16, 2023 20:38:43 GMT -5
Today's pics are up. tylisaari.com/me/photos/thumbnails.php?album=97A little slower today, less crowded, though it was kind of muddy. Got to visit with more people today, and even took in a bit of a few shows. Saw some of the first chess match. Watched a little Johnny. Visited with, and listened to Menagerie, and got to listen to a bit of the Donegal Dogs. Still really thrown off my schedule by not having anything good to get at the bakery. I need my sweets to start off the day! Today I also found out you can't buy advanced tickets at the ticket booth. I was gonna get my wife's ticket on my way out for the one day she is coming this year. No such luck. They only sell tickets to be used that day, as they apparently change the colors of the ticket each day. |
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Post by Sir Trevor on Jul 23, 2023 16:33:15 GMT -5
Day 5 pix are up now.
Had beautiful weather. Spent much more time visiting with people. Finally caught the parade. Which is actually kind of hard. It starts at the chessboard and ends at the joust field. And it only hits one side of the faire. Which side changes each day. And it is awfully quiet.
I finally got some Frier Plucks. The potatoes are as great as always.
I also finally got something from the bakery. They finally had brownies in the afternoon. $3.
Good size, not as thick or as heavy as the old brownies. No frosting either.
Finally got to catch Michael Manderen, love his playing.
No Johnny Phoenix though as he was trapped by plane delays. He was supposed to be there today, but I didn't go, so I don't know.
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Post by Sir Trevor on Jul 31, 2023 19:07:20 GMT -5
Pirate Sunday pics are up.
I skipped Saturday, and looks like it was a good thing. Plenty of mud on Sunday from all the rain.
It was also pretty packed. We got there at 11 and they were already filling the 2nd lot. Traffic was starting to back up on 534 as well.
Saw lots of people I haven't seen at faire in a few years. So that was great.
The wife came and that was fun too. She had a lot of fun catching up with people. My son and his family came as well. We caught up with them and caught Johnny's show together. The wife and I shared some loaded fries which were good, and more than we could eat.
Unfortunately, I bit the bullet and tried the cinnamon rolls from the new bakery. Ugh! It was bland and tasteless. I had a feeling since it had no frosting, but I hoped it would at least taste like cinnamon. But I think the only cinnamon it had was what they sprinkled on top. I wanted to try cookies, but they didn't have any at all until just before we left around 4. They also didn't have any brownies at any time I went by.
Mostly what they seem to focus on is the strudel, which I hear is very good. But I'm not much for it, and they want $5 each for those.
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Post by Sir Trevor on Aug 6, 2023 19:33:04 GMT -5
Celtic Saturday pics are up now. As well as a link to the video of Jen singing with Cast In Bronze www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY5mc9LG9lwHad a great day. The weather was really nice. Took like 15 minutes to get to a parking spot. You'd think I would learn to get there earlier by now, but I really just can't get that motivated anymore. Saw lots of people, some I haven't seen in a few years. Was there at the picnic table for some shenanigans. Also was there after the Menagerie show for Dawno giving Lisa some great gifts. Even managed to find something good at the bakery. Baklava. Nice big piece for only $3. |
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Post by Sir Trevor on Aug 15, 2023 17:28:30 GMT -5
Final Sunday pics are up.
The wife came along for the last day. The weather was warm, things were wet and swampy, so, in places it was pretty humid. If there was a breeze it was pleasant. Saw lots more people again. I would have stayed longer, as I was having fun visiting with people. But the wife was getting tired around 3-ish. So we cut out early.
Overall, it was a nice run this year. Seems like there were good crowds. Most vendors I talked to were happy with the traffic and the sales this year. A decent mix of entertainment. Still think they need a good pipe-drum band for lively music. The cast did pretty good. I saw them out and about around the shire. Nice to see continual improvements to the buildings and infrastructure. Hopefully next season I will have more time / energy to spend more time at faire.
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Post by catharinethelady on Aug 17, 2023 6:55:59 GMT -5
Trev, can you send e the pic of the Golden wearing a kilt?
Gramercy!
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