Last night, the grandkids and I went to the Holiday Village at the Barnstable County Fairgrounds across the street from my neighborhood.
It was a delightful visit that (incredibly) all 3 of them enjoyed, and I’m glad we went. It was the first year for this particular event, and I hope it’s successful enough to be repeated.
The Fairgrounds is owned by the Barnstable County Agricultural Society Inc. and the Holiday Village is sponsored the Barnstable County Cooperative Extension.
These two organizations, one private, one public, have an impressive history of good works. The Agricultural Society was established before the Civil War, and has run the Barnstable County Fair since 1844.
While the Fair includes a modest-size midway, it also has a real county fair atmosphere, including participation by 4-H groups, pony rides, demonstrations and educational exhibits.
Cooperative Extension offers classes and clinics taught by Master Gardeners, and they are a reliable presence at home shows and other outdoor-oriented events. The Master Gardeners have a permanent exhibit at the Fairgrounds, and they are often available to talk to the public with sincere and informed enthusiasm.
Personally, I enjoy the fact that the Fairgrounds is so close, and that it’s a substantial piece of open space that is not a nitrogen-producing, elitist golf course.
So, I try to attend as many of their activities as I can, both because I always have a good time, and because I like the sponsoring organizations.
Attending the Holiday Village was expensive: last night’s total came to $46, about 1/3 of it on refreshments. If we go next year, maybe we’ll bring a thermos and snacks.
The biggest logistical challenge was the lack of toilets; they’d turned off the water to the fairgrounds some time ago, so when the youngest had to “go”, we were faced with the challenge of a short little boy having to use an adult-sized porta-pottie. With a strategic “hoist” from Grandma, who also served as a privacy screen, he managed just fine.
Still, the kids had a blast, especially on a (free) electrically-powered miniature train, which they rode almost a dozen times.
We also did a for-fee hay wagon ride, which took us among the several large and quite beautiful Christmas light displays, even more impressive than the ones we saw last year at Heritage Plantation.
There was also a wooden castle with a fire pole and monkey bars where they could climb and explore, and a superb indoor activity room run by a staff member from the Boys and Girls Club.
I knew the night was a success when the oldest, who has been a quasi-hermit in the past, asked at one point if there were any more outdoor activities to be done.
All in all, a very nice evening with the corollary benefit of supporting some very good local organizations.