The Hilltop Street Fair!

The 4th Annual Hilltop Street Fair was Saturday, August 26th!

The organizers were really... organized, and I got my booth up in record time.  I had tried some new things for my set up - some worked and some didn't - and I did like having my tables at the very front of the booth.  Needless to say, I'll ditch the new things that didn't work!

It was warm - our heat wave has returned - but there was a nice breeze all day that kept everyone (except, maybe, the bands!) from getting too hot and miserable.

There was a bandstand just around the corner and the first band up played great Santana music - I recognized "Black Magic Woman" right away.

There was a nice crowd, busy, talking and laughing, eating good food, and having a fun time.

I met three very sweet young women who are freshmen at the university that's just a street away from home.

They are from Colorado, Minnesota, and Wisconsin and were all quite excited about being away from home and starting on a great big new adventure.  

I gave each of them a paper Buddha amulet as a little treat.

The Buffalo Soldiers were there and I think they were the most popular of all of the groups I saw.  Being a long time horse fanatic, I was happy to meet Shakakan and her very lovely owner/rider. 

The group is dressed in very accurate Civil War  reproduction Union uniforms and the horses tack is spot on.  I was invited to visit them at their encampment up the street at the park but I couldn't get away to do that.  Maybe next time!

The Soldiers - and the horses - were very patient with the crowds around them.  The kids had the chance to have their photos taken and everyone was wanting to know all about the horses, where they live, what they eat, and so on.

I met some great folks and some old friends stopped by... Paul, Linda, and Pete to name a few. 

The Fair wasn't over until 7PM and by that time my feet were really sore and I was glad to pack up and go home.  As always happens, I learned a lot and came up with some new ideas to help make my next Fair even better!

And, I've been invited to help with the planning of next year's Fair!  What a compliment!