It’s just not the same

I remember the first time I went to a festival down in Tennessee.  Because the Fall Festival is such a huge event and one of the largest street festivals in the nation (or is it the largest??), I grew up with delusions of grandeur.  I thought all festivals were supposed to be like that.  You know – nonprofit organizations selling amazing foods like sausage burgers and pronto pups and some unusual fare like fried cookie dough and brain sandwiches.  You go to the Fall Festival for the food!

Not so in Tennessee.  Basically, you go there for the crafts and other stuff that people are selling.  Food is an afterthought and not provided by nonprofit organizations.  I don’t mind paying outrageous prices if it’s going to a good cause.  When someone’s charging huge prices just to line their pockets, I have a more difficult time parting  with my cash – especially when the food quality isn’t so good.  My first experience  with an upper East Tennessee fair left a bad taste in my mouth.  I was sorely disappointed.

Christy, on the other hand, has always loved the fairs and festivals in the region.  I guess she domesticated me because I have come to appreciate the character of the festival/fair of East Tennessee.  I didn’t really realize it until we took the kids to Frankton Heritage Days today.  As the cloggers were clogging to some country music, we looked at each other and said, “It’s just not the same.”  Of course, the allure of a clogging performance has as much to do with the regional, indigenous music they clog to as it does the clogging itself.  It just ain’t the same when they’re playing Toby Keith.  They might as well be playing 50 Cent.

Although there was some disappointment, we still had a good time.  The kids rode some rides, we ate some festival food (and yes, I found a nonprofit to buy something from) and watched a pet parade.  It was definitely not the worst festival/fair experience I’ve had.  I’ve had better, though. 

We’ll probably go back next year.

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Matt Todd

Howdy. I'm Matt. My wife, Christy, and I have four kids and two dogs, I'm passionate about orphan care. I'm a die-hard fan of the Evansville Aces, the Indiana Hoosiers, and Star Wars. I'm trying to live life by the Todd family motto: "It behooves us to live!"

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