Folk Festival Magic

When the folk festival is not happening, I think about it and am overwhelmed at what a massive project it is.  The logistics make my head spin. 

When I am at the folk festival, I think it should be mandatory for every Manitoban to attend.  Top ten reasons why attending the folk festival is like attending a master class on life. 

10.  For some reason, when you are up there, you shed your outer skin and let your true self shine.  You wear what you wouldn't normally wear.  You dance in bare feet.  You come as you actually are. 

9.  You are transported to a different time, maybe the 60s, I don't know what it was like then.  But, at the folk festival everyone is chill.  Since you are out of the city, it is like everyone is living together and working together at sharing and laughing. 

8.  You have a massive choice of food and the food vendors are so great they recommend each other.  Somehow, they forget the laws of commerce and their focus is to give people what they really want.  Crazy. 

7.  I bought a specialty iced tea and asked the vendor if it was alright if I could give him 5 loonies.  He told me he loved me because he needed more change.  The woman behind me asked if she could pay with a $100 bill and he told her he loved her because he had too much bulk in the till.  Where else do you have the freedom of telling people you don't even know that you love them?  Wouldn't the world be a better place if you were able to just randomly tell people you love them?  Yes, it would, and since we are on the subject, I love you too for getting this far!!!!

6.  The massive amount of volunteers is inspiring.  I have no idea how many volunteers they have but it is probably a thousand, or maybe more.  They are there at all times of day and night doing all kinds of jobs that I never even thought they needed volunteers for and they are all happy.  That right there.  That is inspiring.  If that many people can get together to volunteer, then it is possible to change the world. If you give them the right opportunity, people will show up and be the change. 

5.  Have you ever been to a grocery store and seen an upset toddler?  Of course, you have.  It happens every time you go to the grocery store.  Go to the folk festival.  It is either hot or raining and there are lots of toddlers and they are in a crowded environment.  Yet, they don't get upset.  It is the power of music.  They are focused on the music and the vibe and are just moving their bodies along with the rest of us.  It is magic, and if that is not enough, there are oodles of activities for kids of all ages. 

4.  The artisans are amazing.  You are not just buying a souvenir, you are buying part of someone's story that they are willing to share. 

3.  Sustainability is something real at the folk festival.  All the vendors must serve their products on compostable material.  There is actually a volunteer at every garbage station to guide you.  There is a guy sitting on a lawn chair helping you with your trash and he has the biggest smile on his face.  He is happy to be contributing.  It is magic.  Everyone plays a part in making this magic happen. 

2.  A few people dance but the majority just move their bodies to the music.  It is awesome to see that thousands of people can be affected by the same thing.  It doesn't matter what the tune is, it is music and music is powerful. 

1.  The cucumbers.  Yes, the number one reason I think the folk festival is magic are the cucumbers.  Sit next to someone who has a cucumber as a snack.  It smells intoxicating.  Your mouth begins to water.  The smell of a cucumber at the folk festival. Something you can't really describe but it smells like nothing else you have ever eaten.  Just pure delight. 

I am at home now eating a cucumber sandwich.  It's ok.  But, I don't have the same excitement that I had while at folk festival.  And, I don't even smell anything.  What is it about the folk festival that makes me drool at the smell of a cucumber?   It is just folk festival magic.