Multi-part Photo TR: Bolton Fair 2009 (Lancaster MA)-Full TR

[pete4winds]

This past weekend, August 15th and 16th, the American Indian dance troupe I founded last year, The HawkFeather Dancers, was booked to perform at The Bolton Fair 2009. We did four shows over the two days, sharing the main stage with some great Northeastern regional acts such as Red Molly, Aunt Mimi, California Dreamers, and Hooper & Beckwith, among others. Also on the bill was the legendary high-wire family The Flying Wallendas (their rig was right beside the main stage) and Master Illusionist Lance Gifford (longtime friend of mine, though we only run into each other at fairs these days).

 

We arrived just before 9:00 AM Saturday morning, and our first performance wasn't until 1:00 PM, so after pitching camp (the one thing I regret not getting photos of), we all went our separate ways to check out the fair.

 

I have tons pf photos from this fair, so I'll split this TR into several parts. Enjoy "Episode 1," which takes us through our first performance of the day. Credit for the photos of our performance goes to my mom.

The final dance of the show, The Round Dance (also known as the Friendship Dance in some Native communities), is an audience participation dance.

...but became a multi-hoop exhibition dance in the mid-1920s.

The original hoop dance was a sacred healing dance only performed in ceremony with one hoop...

Other than hosting and narrating, this is what I bring to the show...the hoop dance.

Connor helps me explain another dance.

Chris joins in on the Sneak Up, while the women dance on the edge of the floor, symbolically "waiting for the men to return from the hunt."

Paul and Brian perform the Sneak Up, an old men's traditional storytelling dance...it tells the story of the hunt and the war party.

Naomi Otter, also dancing the Women's Fancy Shawl.

Angie Clear Waters shares a Women's Fancy Shawl dance.

(L-R) Cheryl Painted Morning, Sue Strong Woman, and Tosba (pronounced Topah, MicMac for "turtle") share a women's cloth traditional dance (a popular style after European settlers introduced cloth to our ancestors).

Paul Whispering Wolf (left - woodlands "summer" traditional) and Brian Red Moon Hawk (right - plains traditional) share a Men's Traditional Dance.

Iron Hawk Drum was our drum for the weekend, made up of drumkeeper Coyote Red Hawk (in buckskin), and my wife Jen Fire Dancing Turtle (in blue shirt). Chris Running Fox joined in when he wasn't dancing.

Grass dancer Chris Running Fox tears it up as Naomi Otter, fancy shawl dancer, looks on.

The first dance of our performance, an intertribal dance.

In any other TR, this would be coaster porn, but given that this is a kiddie coaster, it just seems way too wrong.

Connor was tall enough by two inches, but it was just too damn hot all weekend to ride during the day. By the time it was cooled off enough, he and my wife were home for the night.

Wisdom Orient Express.

Probably the best-themed fair walkthrough I've ever seen. Shame most of the effort went into theming the outside.

Most of the midway. It wasn't bad, just a little small. The kiddieland midway was through the trees to the right of this photo.

Chance Thunderbolt.

Still being assembled. I squeezed in a ride on Saturday night.

The play structure on the kiddieland side of the midway.

See? There we are...two on Saturday and two on Sunday.

The passes we were issued.

[pete4winds]

Episode 2, through my early-Sunday walk through the fair:

Random piece of RCT theming.

The lake in the middle of the fairgrounds.

What's a TPR trip report without a donkey?

Empty theme park = good. Empty fair = I'm awake too damn early...

I drove 76 miles to see sheep from a farm only 5 miles from home. Nice obscure Firefly/Serenity reference for my fellow Browncoats.

Someone was more interested in eating their ribbon than winning it.

Rasta-lamb.

Insert buffet joke here.

Breakfast.

Early Sunday morning, my mom and I took a walk (no, this isn't us...sheesh), and came across these sheep out for their "morning walk." They'd started out with leashes and all!

After hours, the fair takes on a uniquely eerie quality.

The Round-Up in action.

What is a fair TR without a Zipper?

Straight out of your darkest UFO-abduction nightmares? Or just a well-timed strobe light photo of Remix?

Tivoli Remix-II. I got some kick-ass slow-shutter photos of this ride.

Round-up. Didn't anyone ever tell that guy that stripes and plaid just don't mix?

...and at rest.

Thunder Bolt at speed...

Chris Running Fox models his new neon hat. I tried to convince him to wear it during a Sunday show, but he was having none of it.

World's fastest carousel? This guy in the referee shirt managed to end up in a number of my photos.

Restored '49 Indian Scout in the bed of the pickup. Look at the Indian taking a picture of the Indian!

Gorgeous '47 Chevy pickup, Saturday night.

[pete4winds]

Episode 3, still early morning Sunday.

The National Guard was out in force, marketing themselves like crazy with all kinds of free swag. The Humvee was open later in the day for "tours."

That's my mom.

That time of the morning, this was the only one on display, and was my favorite. The other two were out later that day.

For you lovers of Russian Motorcycles.

[pete4winds]

Episode 4 (The Final Chapter). Jen and Connor arrived from home about 10 or so.

 

Thanks for checking out my TR!

Connor actually did pretty well in this hay maze near our camp, but by the end of the weekend he was so wiped out that he just stood there and groaned until someone carried him out.

Last year at this fair Connor modeled a handmade baby sling for the crafters, E.I.E.I.O. (for their website), and here he shows us his photo on their display board (in the red sling). In the other photo on their site, he tried to eat the sling.

There's my little man, another proponent of the stripe-and-plaid look.

I managed to catch one of The Wallendas' shows before our final show of the weekend.

They opened up the Humvee for tours.

The last thing a pit board ever sees.

For my fellow Jr. fans. I know he's having a crappy season, but I'm still a fan.

The rest of the Urals are out.

The lake and pavilion tent. That's where we performed last year. Thius year's outdoor show was extremely hot and sunny, but way better.

Lumberjack show.

The family-show stage of my friend, Master Illusionist Lance Gifford. His Hallowe'en shows are much better, but this show wasn't bad by any standards.

At 7:30 or so in the morning, this is just very very wrong.