Not that many years ago, I thought that anyone sixty-five was “old” or at least moving in that direction. Sixty five has all of a sudden become MUCH younger than it usta was. Especially since I have now reached that milestone. In keeping with a tradition that started way back when I was in my twenties. That tradition is that I don’t just celebrate on my birthday, but manage to drag out the occasion over a week or more. I had one birthday celebration that lasted so long, that a toast was made at a retiree’s party…"May your retirement last as long as Molly’s birthday!”
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| Hi, there! Whatcha'll doin' tonight! |
Festival: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Parking: $5.00/car
Admission: $8.00/ Children 12 and under free
Farm:
Mid Sept thru Mid June
8 am - 4 pm Mon-Sat
5500 CR 675, Bradenton, FL 34211
U-pick Hotline: 941-331-1212
Farm Market: 941-322-2168
The Hunsader family in Bradenton/Myakka Florida has a bodacious pumpkin festival each year. This was their twentieth year. Steve and I went to one of the early events. It was small, but very enjoyable. One weekend in October. It has grown to huge proportions…now filling the last three weekends in October. Last year and this year there were five full weekends in October. Therefore, my birthday has fallen somewhere in or near that last weekend. Lynne is the coordinator for the Pioneer Trades Village, so I participate in that portion of the event. I usually promise her two of the three weekends. I thought this year it would be the first and second, but it turned out to be the first and third.
Many of those of us who participate in the Pioneer Village sleep in our tents, which for many reasons proved challenging this year.
My birthday would fall smack dab in the middle of that weekend. Try to keep it a secret! Wrong!
The festival is amazing. Hunsaders is a working farm, producing a whole lot of produce. Even without the festival, they are open throughout the year. There are several venues with stages. They use much of the tried and true events every year. Yet, they also bring in new entertainment as well.
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| Sweeney Family Band |
Great day(s) of family fun and entertainment!
The décor is that of scare crows dressed in various attire from bikinis to farmers in overalls. Many of them have pumpkin heads. Some are self supporting, standing by themselves. Some are sitting on lots of different props, including wagons. Lots of whimsical fun. Several barns of various sizes and shapes, each with its own specialty items for sale. Fruit/vegetables. Jellies, jams, etc. Farm related fun stuff including some very funny signs…many regarding Jeff Foxworthy’s favorite subject…rednecks.
Old style machines and memorabilia…Coke, farm implements.
The Hunsader family is an extremely charitable group…heavy donations to children’s benefits. Rock climbing. An area dedicated to games…variations on typical carny style games…with all funds going to charity. Lots of fun!
Lots of animals as a “petting zoo”! Several types of goats. Sheep. Peacocks. Lots of chicken (many of the roosters think two o’clock in the morning is a good time to crow…for about fifteen minutes). A donkey that brays regularly (also periodically during the night)! A deer. Geese. Ducks. Peacocks. Emu (I think, or maybe a Rhea). Like any good petting zoo, food is available for purchase to feed the critters. Kids and adults alike seem to like to participate in this. There are also sanitizer stations located near and around the animals to clean ones hands after touching the animals.
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| You've stolen my heart! |
A frog “show” and a one man band were near enough to our “village” for us to hear most of their shows regularly. Great kid (of any age) entertainment.
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| Yes, I am real and alive! |
Wildlife rescue and preserves. One wildlife rescue is dedicated to wounded birds. They bring some very interesting specimens. When they are rescued, the goal is to get them rehabilitated and returned to the wild. But many of them have been injured too seriously to be released, so they will live happily the rest of their natural lives at the rehab facility. A great display of owls and other raptors were brought for interest and education.
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| Me too! |
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| As am I! My wing was permanently damaged by a pellet gun! |
A chain saw artist designed his artifacts in a twice-a-day show with donations going toward the various children’s charities.
Cloggers. Singers. Dancers. Comedians. Family friendly performers on various stages. A one ring circus tent. Pumpkin walks. Corn mazes. Rides on the corn train. Pony rides. Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins!
Craft show: A great array of crafts and crafters. There is always the new kids’ craft of the year. All the kids seem to have to have one. One year it was a small water balloon on a large elastic band. This year, it was a bubble machine…a simple plastic cup with a cloth on the one end and a short straw through the other, dipped in dish soap. One blows through the straw. And, Voile! Bubbles! Crafts that one would see at a good craft show abounded.
Food. And then there was the food! One’s imagination can run the gambit in what one might find to fill that growling cavity, sometimes known as the tummy. Home made ice cream. Tacos. Pizza. Hot Dogs. Lemonade. Ice Tea. Coffee. Lattes. Fried Onions. Potatoes every which way. Gyros. Philly Steak Sandwiches. Kettle Corn. Desserts of all sorts. All the regular fair fare, plus lots of fare not often seen at run-of-the-mill fairs.
And, the best, in my opinion, our very special pioneer trades village. A separate posting for this very special group will soon appear.
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