Family Photo Project, October 2015 and The Pumpkin Show!

October at Cowfeathers is a wonderful whirlwind. A few chilly days that kill my tender summer annuals, and a few sunny days that gloriously light up the sunset-colored trees, but most of the days are overcast grey ones. Darkness comes earlier, and lightness arrives later. The list of things to get done before winter doesn't seem to shorten as one thing gets crossed off and several more land on the list.
Marching Band occupies our weekends as the kids complete the show they have been working on since July and polish it to perfect in time for Ohio Marching Band State Finals.
And, it's the "Punkin' Show".
Or, as I prefer to call it, "The Pumpkin Show."
This is an occasion that holds power I don't fully comprehend. It is a festival in downtown Circleville that draws thousands and thousands of people (no kidding- about 400,000) to it's fried food and temporary rides.
Here is some things I "get" about the "Greatest Free Show on Earth".
- Well, it is free to attend, and people watch...which is pretty darn amazing entertainment along the lines of old carnival shows. You are guaranteed to see at least one "Bearded Lady!", "Fattest Man On Earth!" and "Amazing Hairy Baby!" Along with many other wonders. You are also in for seeing the largest collection of personal pumpkin wear in a human population.
- Really, Really big pumpkins, and fantastical gourds of all kinds. Growing enormous pumpkins is a local hobby. There are a few families that really dedicate their time to having the heaviest pumpkin at weigh-in for the Biggest Pumpkin Contest.

This year's winner!

Do you see what they did here? Cuneiform gourds, representing the sovereignty of the state.

- The Pumpkin Pie that only the pigs eat. Lindsey's Bakery in downtown Circleville makes the largest pumpkin pie on record each year that is on display as folks queue up for their pumpkin donut. At the end of the week, it goes to some lucky hogs who don't mind the children's finger gauges along the edge.

- Parades. I've written about this before in the blog, but parades are serious business in Ohio. The Pumpkin Show doesn't shrink away from going for the gold in the parade competition. They have parades every day of the week, night parades, day parades, parades with kids dressed in costumes, parades with animals dressed in costumes, parades with babies, parades with queens, parades with all of the above, and the one we wedge ourselves into the crowd for every year; the Parade of Bands. The high school marching bands from all over the area- and some not really in our area at all- come to march the streets and play "Sloopy", or "Celebration". More than 50 bands march the streets of Circleville, rain or, well, not rain.  They are accompanied by the regular accoutrements of a Ohio Parade, namely, tractors, floats, Queens, cheerleaders, tumblers, jugglers, boyscouts, political leaders, vintage cars, firetrucks,  FFA-Future Farmers of America, horse drawn wagons and children's sports teams.The Band Parade is usually anchored by a University Marching Band, the favorite of which would be The Ohio State University Marching Band, or "TBDBITL" as it is known. Folks mostly try to find a seat for this parade, as it is rather extensive. The streets are lined with chairs 4+ rows deep in most spots.

Middlest conducts her band, while also keeping an eye on parade movement. The band played Guns N' Roses "Sweet Child O' Mine" this year.

RaRahs Up! Adding danger to the show.

-Traditions. The Pumpkin Show Queen- perhaps the pinnacle of high school honors of non-academic or athletic pursuit. The Pumpkin Man- a guy in an orange tee shirt with "Pumpkin Man" written on it with a sharpie, who paints his face like a clown and roller blades in every parade.

This year's Queen, Court and Little Miss Pumpkin Show.

Yep. Pumpkin Man.

- Food. While The Pumpkin Show has it's share of fried dough and Lemon Shake-ups, it really excels in choices including pumpkin. The churches sell pumpkin pies, but there are all sorts of "pumpkiny" choices, like pumpkin chili or pumpkin ice cream to choose from. The long term favorite of our family is the Mini Pumpkin Donuts, which are hot, fresh, and doused in cinnamon sugar. So, while I don't usually appreciate the food served at carnivals or fairs, The Pumpkin Show does have some unique choices worth trying.
-No School. The kids get a few days off school (but not off band) for the Pumpkin Show, and not only is this fun for them but it often brings family for a visit! This year, we were lucky enough to have Huz' parents come for a few days.

This also brings Eldest home to see her grandparents...so we were all together for a day, and stubbornly committed to the Family Photo Project in the few hours we had together. Unfortunately, I wanted the FPP taken outside with the colors of autumn, and between Huz and my work schedules, and nature's schedule of shorter days we had only a two hour window. In which Cowfeathers was entrenched in less than optimal October weather: rain. So, we set up the tripod, and trooped out under one of the grand old Sugar Maples for a bit of shelter and smiled for October, anyway.