Slow Travel. Authentic Experiences. In my reading on the internet, these buzzwords appear in almost every article that dissects boomer travel habits. Where do you find these authentic adventures? Throughout the spring, summer and fall (and sometimes winter), there’s a festival or celebration happening across small town America. How do you find them? Before Alan and I leave home, we click on the visitor’s bureau website (or the chamber of commerce) of the towns we’ll be passing through to check out their event calendar.
In Stevensville, Montana the Creamery Picnic Parade is about to begin.
While I’m not suggesting that you plan your trip specifically around a small town festival, weaving one or two into your itinerary will introduce boomers to the vibrant rural communities that still thrive in America. Come along with me on a photo essay of the 99th Annual Creamery Picnic Parade in Stevensville, Montana to see what I mean:
In 1907, the co-op creamery in Stevensville, Montana burned to the ground. Manager John How told the community that if they helped rebuild the creamery within 30 days, he would host the biggest celebration that they had ever seen. Today, the Creamery Picnic is a two-day event. The festivities include athletic events, entertainment, craft and vendor booths, barbecue championship and a parade down Main Street honoring outstanding citizens of the year.
Rodeo queens wave to the crowd
Stevensville is a ranching and farming community in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley. From young riders to rodeo queens, the parade hosts a large horse contingent.
Youngsters swap high-fives with a Shriner
Children line the streets to catch the candy thrown from the floats and by parade participants. One business handed out ice cream bars, a crowd favorite on a hot summer day.
Historic car rides down Main Street
Boomer car buffs will find plenty to oogle as historic cars, muscle cars and everything in between parade down Main Street. Vintage car shows are a popular element of festivals in the Bitterroot Valley.
Now it's time for the tractor brigade
When Lewis and Clark passed through Stevensville on their way to the Pacific, I doubt that they saw any tractors. But you’ll find plenty of them in the Creamery Picnic Parade. And the sweet smell of hay permeates the valley air as the crop is cut and baled.
A firetruck wails down Main Street
Sirens blasting, firetrucks and emergency vehicles from throughout the area bring the 99th Annual Creamery Picnic Parade to a rousing conclusion.
Do you have a favorite small town festival? Post a comment to share it with our boomer readers. Alan and I are making a list.
Visit the My Itchy Travel Feet page on Facebook to see more photos from the Creamery Picnic Parade. Hope you’ll like us while you’re there.
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Nothing like a John Deere in a parade to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Looks fun. Would you please fax me a chocolate ice cream cone?
The Roaming Boomers recently posted..Alaska’s Inside Passage Aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pearl
Twitter: DonnaLHull
August 8, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Now David, you know that chocolate ice cream cone would splatter all over your computer screen. How about an ice cream sandwich instead?
Glad to see you spreading the small town, slow travel love! In our village of Guysborough, Nova Scotia, not only do we have the street parade during Guysborough Come Home Week, but a boat parade the following day. Twice the enjoyment! After all, isn’t life just a parade?
Twitter: DonnaLHull
August 8, 2011 at 12:00 pm
I’d love to ride in a boat parade! Your Nova Scotia small town celebration sounds like fun.
Twitter: ottsworld
August 15, 2011 at 7:47 am
This is one of my favorite ways to travel! I love to dig into small towns – they are as culturally diverse as Nepal at times to me!
If you ever get around Nebraska or South Dakota – let me know and I can give you some of my favorite small towns to explore!
Sherry Ott recently posted..Good Luck at the Kazakhstan Border – Mongol Rally
Twitter: DonnaLHull
August 15, 2011 at 2:57 pm
Sherry, you’re on! Exploring the small towns of the Dakotas sounds like fun to us!
Twitter: pen4hire
August 22, 2011 at 3:51 pm
How smart to look at the sites of towns you’ll pass through, and not just your destination! When my sister and I were in Nova Scotia yesterday, we lucked out and were in Digby when the Scallop Festival was starting, and in Lunenberg for their Folk (music) Festival. We also saw a flyer at a convenience market on the road to Baddeck, which led us to a Ceilidh (Celtic music “jam”).
My father used to travel around Ohio for his job, and he swore by Church suppers for the best food in town. Always looked for a church supper or bazaar to get those home made casseroles and pies!!
Vera Marie Badertscher recently posted..Food, Glorious Food
Twitter: DonnaLHull
August 23, 2011 at 8:31 am
Vera, I agree about your father’s opinion that church suppers are the best food in town. I have fond memories of many church suppers in my hometown of Atlanta, Ga. I’m glad you found local festivals on your trip to Nova Scotia. Those flyers taped to windows or bulletin boards offer many off-the-beaten-path experiences that you wouldn’t know about otherwise. I can’t wait to read your posts about Nova Scotia.
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