JUBILEE DAY

And yes...all these building are still standing! 

Today is the day that the fair little hamlet of Mechanicsburg has its day. Dubbed by promoters as the largest one-day street fair in the East Coast and now possibly country has been an annual tradition in the small town here since its inception in 1922. It has become such an industry unto itself that the name Jubilee Day even has its own trademark. In fact, the town's population swells to ten times its normal size during the event. Thank heavens we don't live near Main Street!!!  Shirley from over at Boots and Braids asked me what it was about. Besides eating!!! And I didn't know it's origin. Apparently, the event got its start in nearby Gettysburg, when some Mechanicsburg businessmen attended a similar celebration and brought it up to town. It was dubbed Farmers and Merchants Day to thank customers of downtown businesses and to attract lots of new customers to the downtown and town in general. By holding it in June, the local merchants were sure of attracting the local farming community which had just got its crop in the ground and didn't have much else to do. The town quickly embraced the idea and it continued to grow. In changed its name in 1930. During the second world war the event was not held at all, otherwise ran uninterrupted every year except for the two years of the pandemic and one year due to very heavy rains. At first, the livestock judging was considered one of the main highlights of the event. But it has now grown from these humble beginnings to become the mammoth street fair of today which closes the main street and several side streets down for the day, and it starts from dawn till sunset to accommodate over 70,000 visitors!

And if offers every food one can think of. While walking, one can hear the hardening of the blood vessels and arteries, and the seams of many a persons outfit crying for help. All types of fair foods ..but the funnel cakes, candied apples and greasy foods seem to be the most popular, while there are also many healthy options too...in addition to live music and bands, there are rides, and many artisans and crafts people selling their wares and handy craft. It's been since I originally moved to the Philadelphia area in 2000 since I have been, except once five years ago on a visit home. But when I was young, it was a tradition we'd go every year...we even called it Jubilee month. We'd go and eat, and run into everyone we knew, stuffing our faces! And they still even have a Jubilee Queen, but I didn't throw my hat in the arena for that. But wouldn't that be funny? Last time I was there, I did however run into Harrisburg queen Ito, who was in full drag. She is stunning...and the crowd had no idea that it was even a man I suspect. Will we go tonight?  HELL YES!  but the Mistress has a plan. We go, park, walk the sidewalk along the main street, scope out the Camp Curtain Pulled Pork Sammich stand, and the funnel cake stand, split up, divide and conquer and meet back up on the sidewalk, head to the car, and bring it home to eat it in peace and quiet. Hey.!!!..we have more style and clothe than to let everyone else see us eat like fieldhands and gobble like hogs!!!!