9-12 – Weekend Recap

This weekend we attended the Miamisburg Starving Artists Festival, the Dayton Greek Festival, and the Shelby County Applefest.  It was not a good weekend.

Miamisburg was first, and while it was the best of the three, it is most noteworthy for its nickname, coined by the Fun Bunch, “‘Big Hot Dog” (which is ironic given the starving artist theme).  The gang attends the annual event mostly to sample the oversized and value-priced hot dog (I’ve learned that the Fun Bunch considers the price of food a flavor attribute—the cheaper, the tastier).  They do make a cursory sprint through the festival; but generally they are in and out in under 30 minutes.

I skipped the big hot dog hoping for a scrumptious lunch at the Dayton Greek Festival.  Instead, my prudence was rewarded with indigestion and a very disappointing experience.  I hate to say it because I have enjoyed this festival in the past, but the food was bad; so bad that I couldn’t wait to get out of there.  And it didn’t help that the place was swarmed by bees.

Finally we trekked to Sidney for the Shelby County Applefest.  Sidney has a ‘once-grand-but-now-cursed’ feel to it that is common in Southwestern Ohio.  The architecture in and around the town center suggests that Sidney has seen better days; but now the landscape resembles something out of a Stephen King novel, including a run-down, castle-like structure that sits on a hill overlooking the main square (“Salem’s Lot” comes immediately to mind).  I have no knowledge of its history, but I found myself wondering of the past sins that led to the demise of this place; it had that feeling to it.  Needless to say the festival never had a chance.  Despite the “Applefest” moniker, it was difficult to find anything apple.  The food and crafts were nondescript and there was an annoying Christian-rock band playing entirely too earnestly and entirely too loud.  As with the Greek festival, I couldn’t wait to get out of there.

Sorry to say it, but there was nothing festive about these three festivals and now I am more depressed than usual.  It’s hard to believe there’s still….more to come!

As the 1-Way sign seems to suggest, we should have headed in the other direction.

 

Uncle Ronald leading the crowd in an "All Heil!" chant was only one disturbing image from this festival....

 

....this was another.....one of the friendly folk from Shelby County.