Walleye Festival Rapidly Approaching

Local Festival Packs in The Tourists and Locals

It won't be long before the annual Wallleye festival begins again. I have been to so many that I could navigate the course blindfolded. This is a Carnival/Merchandise Hawkers/Trailers of foul cuisine/Small Circus Tent Talent Show and of course the most prestigious event - the crowning of the "Walleye Queen" and her court! These are picked from local High School Seniors but it's a real drama as Ms. Walleye joyfully waves to the adulation of throngs of spectators amidst cheers and catcalls.

The vendors will all pull up in their little trailers of deep fried veggies, meatball subs and of course, lets not forget watered down soda pop and hot dogs and burgers. The local gentry will be assembled behind a chain link fence which comprises the beer tent (small canopy) and slamming down brews non-stop, while they sit on the picnic tables and swap old stories and lies. They get sunburned red while chugging down the suds and about sundown the yelps and catcalls get louder until the "rock bands" start playing. These local bands that play - perform poor covers of good old time rock and roll anthems to the delight of the heavily intoxicated drinkers. You'd have to be half in the bag to cheer these bands.

Then there's the Northern section of the festival where the mini-carnival company sets up there vintage 1960 rusty, creaking rides. These are some hair raising rides as one gets on and pays close attention to the machinery. $1 per ticket and 2 or three per ride while the stereotypical carnies bark for riders. They also line the whole section between the rides, with every kind of scam game known to man. Throw a ping pong ball at the bowls of of goldfish sir - do it for the lady! Or the impossible ring toss over some cheap lighter or other trinket - only a buck! Step up sir and pop a balloon with a dart and take home a small mirror with Harley Davidson scribbled across the top.

As you exit toward the parking area you're met with table on top of table of $5 tapestries, cheap lighter covers for your Bic lighter. Caps, pocket knives, keychains and SMC knick knacks line the entrance/exit. I recall how many times I've seen a gusty storm come ripping across the area, leaving the table vendors in shambles and looking like Hurricane Andrew had just swept through. Give them an hour and they're back up and hawking their wares again.

These local events are always held in the same spot - concrete, gravel and dirt/dust /mud. I always put my little Canon PowerShot S45 in a waterproof, dust proof camera case so I can be assure of getting pics of the festivities with 100% protection from rain or the clouds of dust suspended in the air. I always get some zany shots and my digital camera stays hermetically sealed until I get it home again.

Doesn't this make you appreciate your County or State Fairs? It should, although what you get is probably the same thing - only on a wider scale!