This Appalachian
Festival was bittersweet for me because it was the last one of my undergrad
career. I was hoping for it to be a memorable experience. All of the cards were
in my favor, so to speak. Frostburg’s
weather did not disappoint. It was sunny and warm outside with a hint of brisk
Fall wind. People of all races and cultures were gathered together for what
would be a cheerful event. There were smiling faces everywhere that I looked.
And, the venue was very much perfumed with the sweet smell of culinary delights.
I did what most good people would do when they enjoyed something in the past. I
shared the experience with someone else.
This time around, I took two of my
younger friends with me. I wanted them to experience all the things that I
found fun in years past. We started the day with seeing the various crafts for
sale. I showed them wood carvings, custom handmade bottle art, lanyards, and
home brewed root beer. Next, I wanted them to experience some of the tastes of Appalachia.
Oh, this is where the fun began. I took them to the people who harvested real
honey straight from the hive. They had to taste the real thing for themselves.
Flavored Honey sticks were first on the menu. I bought them caramel, chocolate,
and regular- flavored treats, much to their pleasure. Their faces were
priceless. All I heard were “mhmms”. With their pallets wet with the sweet taste
of honey, we moved on to homemade bread with sweet apple butter. The warm bread
was a perfect canvas for the sticky, ambrosial spread. The talking stopped the
moment the butter- covered bread touched their lips. Pure bliss was pasted on
their faces. The cooking of Appalachia surely did not disappoint my friends.
We moved on to some Appalachian
culture building activities. Under the music stage tent, we were graced by the
Banjo music of Brad and Ken Kolodner. They played a couple of songs, but my
favorite was a cut called, "Billy in the Low grounds". The music was
very much alive with the twang of good ole country mountain music. We moved on
to the clogging tent. My two friends took to clogging like gangsters take to
guns. They were dancing well enough in no time. However, their day was complete
after this. They had a personal guide into the way of Appalachia. Their thankfulness
was evident in the way that they smiled the whole day. They left the upper quad
as happy as kids on a snow day.
My guide time was over. Then, I was
able to experience the festival on my own. All I’m going to say is crab cake
sandwich. That sandwich was absolutely amazing. Mine came stuffed with jumbo
lump crabmeat and no filler. It was served with a leaf of lettuce on a fresh Kaiser
roll. I found its perfect companion at the Amish food tent. A tall Styrofoam cup
of apple cider was the perfect date for my sammich. For Frostburg, the taste
combo was unmatched. My last Appalachian festival was an absolute success. I
experienced everything that I wanted to, and was able to bring a taste of a
different culture into the lives of my young friends.
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