40th Annual Newport News Fall Festival of Folklife

The first weekend of October was the 40th Annual Newport News Fall Festival of Folklife. 

I look forward to it every year.

If you are a regular, you just call it the Fall Festival, and it takes place in our beautiful shady (thankfully) Newport News Park, one of the largest city-run parks in the United States.  

It was really a perfect day. In the shade, that is.
I remember the last time I went a few years ago I had a jacket on.
Not this time. It was in the 80s.

First stop?

The animals, of course. 

I made us miss the Virginia State Fair this year, so I asked Jason if this made up for it. 

I think he said no. 

But, does the State Fair have remote control boats? I think not.

cute produce truck.

Cutest camper I've ever seen. 

Here's a look inside the camper. 

Jason's feet would hang out the door if he tried to lay on that bed. 

And you can't see him, but under that tent there is music going on provided by Bob Zentz. 

According to Jason, he plays pretty much every musical instrument in the world. 

Not really, but close. 

I certainly enjoyed him, and looking out over the reservoir while listening to the music wasn't bad either. 

Lots of fun craft vendors and hobbyists participate in the marketplace. 

There are also Juried Crafts at the Fall Festival. 

I didn't get many pictures as I was having too much fun looking. 

This man made cool sculptures and windchimes, etc. out of old air tanks.

Felt. I love felt.

This was not only stained glass, but the artwork within the frames was colored glass bits somehow melted onto the surface to make each scene. They were so pretty in person. 

I'm sure you've heard of scherenschnitte, right? It's paper-cutting. 

I only know the term because I took German in high school. ha

This crafter from our town of West Point was representing with some very cool, and very tiny paper cuttings. 

There was also this guy with a monkey on his shoulder. 

He did magic tricks, card tricks, breathed fire, etc. 

Made bad jokes. He was fun. 

Of course, you can't go to any kind of fare without eating fare food. I wish I'd taken a picture of our lunch, which was an amazing chicken kebab with some kind of yummy spicy rub on it. Ok, so it took the drunk girl (no lie) half an hour to get us our lemonade, but that chicken was worth it. 

And for dessert. Gotta have the funnel cake. No fruit on mine, please. 

It was a gorgeous day. Yes, it was hot, but in the shade it was perfect. 

Have a great weekend.