One fine festival season

By Jennifer Moonsong, Regional Manager

I’ve said it before, but I will say it again: I often hear there is nothing to do “around here”.

It’s simply not true.

If a fantastic season of festivals is a sign of a community’s success, Metcalfe County will go down in history as one of the finest places around.

There are many communities that have just one festival, and many who have no festivals at all to offer the people in the community.

That’s certainly not the case here.

From the time of the county fair in June forward, our dot on the map has had a steady stream of activities from one end of the county to the other, with each long-standing festival and tradition offering something for everyone: Games, shopping, culinary treats, fresh fruits and vegetables, music and so on.

This year, the Sulphur Well Homecoming grew with a blend of old and new traditions and drew a prolific crowd. Branstetter Park did just the same, with time-tested pastimes like bluegrass songs picked under shade trees and sack races.

The newest of the bunch, the Sorghum Festival, went above and beyond for the community with lots of free things for little ones, like hay rides and a petting zoo, along with reasonably priced hot air balloon rides.

Just this past weekend, the perhaps most beloved of them, the Pumpkin Festival, took place with every booth space filled.

If you have any doubts about the wonder and magic of any, just look at the faces of children who attended. This community was blessed with smiling, little faces this year.

And although I know it won’t happen again in my lifetime, and it is not a yearly happening, I would be remiss to not mention the Bicentennial. It was certainly a beautiful celebration of home.

These events don’t happen overnight.

Many thanks to the people who work all year long so that we can all enjoy a few days of fun. Each of these happenings is a huge undertaking to organize, fund and promote.

I for one think we are fortunate to have people so devoted to community they make sure these festivals happen.

Happy Fall!