And I do not mean as in Attila the Hun so much as Hairspray hon! It’s time for
TONS OF HONS In Charm City…
That’s Baltimore for those you who don’t know. It calls for beehives, boas and big shades. The motto is
The Higher the Hair the Closer to God!
Ever see Hairspray the movie and/or the musical? Weeeeeellll, since it was shot in Baltimore and Baltimore is most proud of this they have an annual event to celebrate. It’s a chance to enjoy your favorite festival foods and eclectic vendors, and the best part -just watch the hons on parade!
Now I know some of you are true hons. If you call the refrigerator a fridgidare or ice-box? A sandwich a samidge. Are the steps the stoop? Well then you are definitely a Hon for real.
I love local festivals like this. They keep regional color alive. Makes everyone’s part of the USA different from the rest. No one celebrates Mardi Gras like New Orleans.
Here in Cincinnati we just had Goetta Fest. So what is Goetta, you ask? It’s a German thing made up of ground pork and beef and seasonings. You put it in a loaf, cut chunks and fry it. And it’s sooooo good! And it’s strictly a Cincy thing! J
So my question to you is… What local festival makes your neck of the woods unique? A special food? Dance? Dress? 
Let me know and I’ll give away a Hot and Bothered T-shirt from the answers.
Have a fun week, Hon!
Hugs, Dianne
Hot and Bothered
Kensington
www.DianneCastell.com
Mornin’, Dianne! I’m guilty of calling a step a stoop and my hubby ALWAYS says samich. Does that make him a hon?
We have a festival here during labor day weekend called River Days (obviously we live on the river). It lasts nearly a week. There’s singing every night, rides for kids a huge parade on Saturday mornings, there’s even a River Days pageant on Saturday night! It’s a big deal around here and a nice end to the summer.
Can’t wait to get my copy of Hot and Bothered. I’m loving it just for the cover…I know I’ll love what’s inside;)
Hugs,
Jules
Great pics Dianne! This looks like a fun festival.
Round here in my neck of the woods it’s the Kentucky Derby Festival. We have everything from bed races, balloon races, waiters and waitresses running around with glasses of wine on trays, marathon, mini marathon, parade and of course to start off the festival the largest fireworks display in North America (and most of the world). If you haven’t seen it you are missing a really spectatcular show and it gets bigger every year. There are over 70 differant events held over 2 weeks to celebrate a 2 minute horse race.
Hi Dianne. Hot and Bothered was awesome! Can’t wait for the next one in the series!
Our most original festival is the Dickens Festival the first weekend in December. We dress in period costumes, there are contests, vendors, craft booths, miniature horse and carriage rides which are a big hit. There is always caroling and other music too. On the kick off of Dickens weekend they have a candle lighting ceremony downtown and an open house for the business where you can get all kinds of food and goodies. They have caroling, Mr and Mrs. Santa Claus come to town in a horse drawn carriage and on Sat there is breakfast with Mrs. Claus and of course time for the kids to tell Santa what they want. Last year I dressed in period costume and spent a couple of hours reading to the kids. I was even filmed for it. That part was a big scary. lol It’s definitely a busy and fun weekend.
Wonderful pictures Dianne. The festival looks like it would be a blast.
We don’t really have a festival of sorts here. What we do have is the Calgary Stampede - where the whole City goes Western with pancake breakfasts and entertainment all over the city. We have the Exhibition grounds, with the Chuckwagon races, Rodeo shows, Grandstand shows and fireworks every night. It runs for 10 days and is just all out fun. This happens at the beginning of July. In fact we are two weeks away from the bedlam.
Hi, Jules. River Days sounds great. Wonderful way to end the summer. I’m a river-rat at heart. Maybe I can make it to River Days.
Hi, Laura. There is nothing like THE Derby! Being so close to Lexington we feel the vibes all the way up here in Cincy. Do you make bergoo (sp?) and mint juleps (sp?)? The whole event is incredible. Women in big hats, men in white suits. What a celebration.
Hi, Deb. What a terrific weekend…Dickens! Bet the costumes are fab. That it’s tied into Christmas makes it all the more fun. Do you have a costume?
Hi, Cryna. Western weekend sounds like the best. An excuse to go cowboy…and cowgirl. Fun for everyone and it’s right around the corner for you. Enjoy! Let us know how it goes.
Hugs, Dianne
Hi Dianne,
I just read the blog this am. We have something called the Spiedi Fest. It’s all about Spiedi’s which is a samidge made from marinated pork, chicken, beef or veal which is then cooked on the grill. This was invented in this area and not a lot of people don’t know what it is unless they’ve been here. They have great hot air balloon rides and all kinds of great thing. It just keeps getting bigger every year. Just to let you know I got Hot & Bothered and am trying to get 5 mins to myself so I can relax and read it. Anyhoo! lots of hugs,
PS: I’ve called it a stoop too:o)
Shari
Please excuse my grammatical error……….lol
Hi, Dianne!
Here in Central Florida, the Highland Games in late Januray/early February are always great fun. There are always some people from the Society for Creative Anachronism around, plus dancing and music and of course, the games themselves.
Lots of great looking Scots in kilts too
Hi, Shari! Anything grilled is great by me. I swear, you could grill an old shoe and I’d be there.
Hi, Azteclady. My daughter just married a Scott. Love the family plaid. I made him a “throw” from the family plaid for Christmas last year. I’m sure the Society for Creative Anachronism is great. What fun.
Dianne
In Ballard, the scandinavian neighborhood of Seattle where I live, we host the world’s 3rd largest Norwegian Independence Day parade every May 14th. We often have dignitaries and royalty from the scandinavian countries in attendance. We also celebrate Tivoli and Yule Fest, and at the end of July have the Viking Days Seafood Festival. The Leif Ericson Lodge crowns a Saint Lucia every year on Saint Lucia day in December. Lutefisk and glugg for everyone!
Hi Dianne!
We have tons of festivals where I live but the funniest one is in Whiting close to me where they hold the Pierogi festival in July. It usually falls on the dates 25, 26, and 27th. The first day is the parade and it is a hoot! Since it is a polish festival the parade picks up on that. No men riding motorcycles, but guys walking behind handle bars that had the body of a bike at one time. Then there is the group that push an assembly of mowers down the street. No wait, it isn’t your gas powered mower but the kind from days gone by where it was a rotating blade that you pushed yourself to make go around to cut the grass. Then there is the babushkas all dressed up, but wait it isn’t ladies out there but men all dressed up as ladies with big bums. On and on it is a parody of polish schtick and fun. It is a blast!
Oh and the fun it is out of this world! If you like pierogi’s then this is the place to get them! Fillings galore to suit your palate! Food booth upon food booth and a huge beer garden! It is my favorite festival of all and always go on the day of the parade! The town is quaint, the streets are very narrow, and the streets are filled to capacity with people!
Hi, Michele.
My kids loooove pierogi’s! Totally delish. What a fun time.
Where is Whiting? One of these days I have to get there for this festival! I’ll bring my kids.
Dianne
Anyone here wanting a Hot and Bothered T-shit just email me at DianneCastell@hotmail.com and I’ll send one to you.
Hugs and thanks for chatting, Dianne
Hi Dianne!
Ha, ha! Love your e-mail up above! The “r” is missing from “shirt”. Oh and Whiting is in northern Indiana close to Chicago along lake Michigan.
I will shoot you an e-mail! Thanks a bunch for the T-shit! Ha, ha! Love it!
Hugs,
Michele
Hey, Michele!
Yikes! I didn’t do it on purpose but I can’t say I’ve never used the word.
Hugs, Dianne