Ithaca Festival Faces, 2006

Ithaca Festival was a blur. We went to the parade, belly danced on the Commons, sang along with who knows how many musical groups, shopped the stalls and vendors, and even tried a little Boom Boom BBQ. But the rain...oh the rain! Non-stop trickles, thunderous thunder, sky washing waves of rain! Despite the damp, a good time was had by the Laia and her tall ones.

The La Leche League marched with their "sling babies"...we thought about marching, but decided to host a Festival Party instead. It was nice to see all the nursing toddlers though! The photo didn't come out, but there were sheep and goats with children on their backs, and lots of great LLL banners.

The Ithaca Festival Parade is...well...it is. Anyone can join and there are 50+ groups that do. The volvo ballet? In it's third year. The Marching Chainsaw Orchestra? Back once more and louder than ever. Clergy on Scooters and Clowns on Hogs? Veggie-gas cars? Vermiculture? Jugglers, Stilt-walkers, Hoola-Hooping Roller Bladers? We have it all...

Laia wasn't amused by the chainsaws. Percussion was provided by metal hammers on a steel Ibeam, and of course, 15 chainsaws revving in time...smelly, loud, and not baby friendly. But still fun and funky in that special festival way.

The Association of Leisurely Persons rode along the route and our very own Red Hat Society practiced their "elbow, elbow, wrist wrist wrist" technique.

Drag Queens and Farmers and pretty purple parasols oh my!

Laia loooooved the whole crazy thing! (well, everything but those chansaws, of course)

The festival ran for four days. It rained for four days. Ah well. It's Ithaca!

Showers and shimmies? Juggling thunder? All that and a bag of chips!

And on our own...Laia walked everywhere, "la-la-la-ing" to herself and charming the crowds. And then we saw it...Boom Boom BBQ! How could we resist?

yummy rice crackers for the babe

Blurring ever on...Ithaca Festval 2006!