AgriFest: Culture, Community, and Crucian Spirit
AgriFest is a long-standing island tradition, but it was a first for my humans when they attended last month. With their church so close to the fairgrounds, they headed straight over after worship on a Sunday morning. Upon arrival, they navigated a huge parking lot (well...huge for a little dog like me), grabbed their wristbands, and were on their way. From the very first step onto the grounds, they were met with a wave of music, yummy smells, and colorful artwork. It was easy to see why AgriFest has been a beloved tradition for more than 50 years.
Human dad was already there, volunteering at the Botanical Garden’s plant sale booth (the garden my family helps at each week). So naturally, when they arrived, my mom, Elijah, and Penelope beelined it for the plant section to find him. The booth was toward the rear of the fairgrounds, and there was a lot to take in between the entrance and where Nick was. Fortunately, they ran into some friends who helped guide them to the right spot. After collecting human dad, they all set off in search of food. And from what it sounds like...finding food was NOT the problem. The challenge was choosing from all the incredible options.
There were so many delicious options, they decided the only reasonable approach was to try a little bit of everything. Sharing, smorgasbord style, is a family tradition after all. They enjoyed slow-cooked chicken, johnny cakes, bean balls, and fried cauliflower. What a spread!
Once they were fueled up, Nick headed back to volunteering, and the rest of the crew went to see the animals. As it turned out, they got to do more than just see them...they were allowed to pet them too! I wasn’t there, but looking at the pictures, I understand why I wasn’t invited. What they saw as adorable babies to pet looked like free snacks to me. What can I say...it’s in my nature.
My human mom loved feeding the baby chicks right out of her hand. Penelope was all about the soft bunnies. Elijah? He was a big fan of the goats. I get it, they are the greatest of all time...after me, of course.
After their animal encounters, it was time to shop. The number of local vendors selling beautiful, handmade goods was remarkable. Penelope picked out a vibrant shirt, and her brother Elijah found some awesome jewelry. Before parting ways with AgriFest, they enjoyed steel drums, watched an incredible band, and cooled off with refreshing slushies. All in all, it was a wonderful day. After years of hearing Crucians talk about AgriFest, my family was so grateful to finally be there. It felt like so much of what makes this island special came together in one place—the culture, the community, and the vibrant spirit of the Crucian people. What a privilege to be part of it all!
Incredible pics! So many fun things to do and see and eat! I love these blogs to see what you are doing!😍