Pages

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Up, Up and Away

Time does have a way of slipping so quick. While looking at photos taken the past few months, I found ones taken in September and October and never posted. This is a recap in a single post. 

If you've ever seen a multitude of hot air balloons n one location, it's really quite an amazing sight, especially when they start to ascend all around you.
Some of the balloons at the Lancaster event
These were among the nearly 40 colorful balloons we saw in mid-Sept at the Lancaster Balloon festival held in the village of Bird-in-Hand, PA. The three-day festival featured the mass launch of dozens of beautiful balloons, family entertainment, fire works, food, and Amish-made goods. This event was held in the heart of Lancaster Amish country. 
Some creative hot air balloon edits
Friends who we knew from NJ had recently relocated to this area and told us about this event. It also gave us a chance to visit with the youngest granddaughter and her parents who went with us. While we watched the mass ascensions on Saturday night, we didn't purchase a 30-60 minute ride at a cost of $350 per person. It's something to consider another time. (If anyone reading this post has ascended, please share your experience in the comments.)

Since the early 1960s, people from across the country and around the world have come to visit a very unique Strasburg, PA attraction, the Choo Choo Barn - Traintown U.S.A.®. This unique 1,700 square foot train layout features over 150 hand-built animated figures and vehicles plus 22 operating trains.

The history of this attraction dates to the end of WW II when returning veteran George Groff bought an electric train set for his 2-year old son. Over time he expanded the layout housed in the basement of their home. When the family, which included three children, moved to another home in the early 1950s, the layout moved too. It expanded and a new display was readied for the holiday season that residents and school children visited annually.
By the time, his eldest son was ready for college and funds were needed, Groff decided to make his hobby a business. The nearby Strasburg Railroad was already attracting tourists to the area, so he bought a small barn and moved the train layout. On Thanksgiving Day 1961, the Choo Choo Barn opened with six trains and animated displays. Admission fee was 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for children. Current rates are $8.50 for adults, $5 children 3 to 11 years, and $6 for veterans and active military. Grof's second son, Tom, who learned the business from age 11, took it over in 1979 and with the help of his wife has continually expanded the layout. 
It's easy to spend upwards of an hour walking around the layout, which changes from day to night time when the rom darkens and stars come out. Thousands of miniatures populate the layout with over 150 animations. Figures include firemen, skiers, circus performers, construction workers, a wedding party, Amish raising a barn. Many of the scenes depict Lancaster, PA attractions like Dutch Wonderland and the Strasburg Railroad. The layout has numerous switches, relays and timers to operate the display and scenes include actions like firefighters racing to extinguish a house a fire, skiers going up a slope, workers hammering to build a home.

A visit here has become a family tradition for many people including ourselves. The display continues to updated and restored. There's always something new to see even on repeat visits.

In early October, we were in Deerfield, NH, for our first time visit to the popular Deerfield Fair.  Like so many other events, this annual event was cancelled last year due to the pandemic. That made this year's fair very heavily attended over its four-day run. Crowd estimates were placed at over 100,000. Even local school are cancelled in Deerfield the Friday of the fair.

The fair began as an agricultural showcase and that's still the heart of the event. The barns are just about full with a lot of farm families with their animals. While agriculture is the theme, there were commercial wares for sale as well.

Deerfield was once a thriving farm community which was bypassed by the railroads. To attract visitors, the town established the Deerfield Fair in 1876. Since then, it's been called New England's Oldest Family Fair.
Two of many cows at the Deerfield Fair
This event always features many displays of farm animals, produce and crafts, amusement park rides and foods ranging from standard fare foods like fried dough to sausage sandwiches (which were very good). It's held on the huge Deerfield Fairgrounds which has permanent buildings for the farm animals. 
Antique tractors and machinery, hay baling at the Deerfield Fair
During our one-day visit we watched events that included horse and dairy shows, farm horse competition, cattle and horse pulls, woodsman’s contest, pig scramble, steer show, hay baling, antique tools, and many antique farm tractors.
Deerfield Fair horse pull
The fair dates to a time when farmers used horses and oxen to clear their fields and horse pulling remains a popular fair events that's always well attended. Draft horses were used as work animals and farmers would challenge one another to see what horse/team was stronger. Today, the sport is serious competition among some of the strongest horses. The starting pull load for a team of two horses is 1500 pounds.

The sport of horse pulling has evolved with rules and regulations and collars and harness made specifically for the sport. Competitions follow a strict set of rules designed to ensure the safety of the animals and fairness among competing teams with different weight classes. Draft horses are built for strength and endurance. Those seen at competitions may not be working the fields, but instead follow an intense workout schedule. Animal cruelty is strictly forbidden. 
This year, the performance headliners were The Flying Wallendas, an internationally known high wire and circus troupe. This was the first time we had seen these professionals perform feats definitely not to performed at home even not on a high wire. 

We've had more adventures since these outings, including a visit to PA museum where we had lots of time (a teaser).

22 comments:

Edna B said...

I'll bet the train layouts are simply gorgeous. The only part of the fair that I don't like is the horse pulls. I don't think this is fun for the horses. You have a super day, hugs, Edna B.

Bijoux said...

I’ve taken two rides on the Strasburg railroad, once as a child and once when we took our children, about 20 years ago. We also visited the miniature displays and they were the best I’ve ever seen. So much detail and fascinating to watch.

I’ve only ever seen one hot air balloon at a time. I imagine it’s quite a sight to see so many at once. However, you couldn’t pay me to ride one!
I didn’t know the Flying Wallendas still existed. Looks like a great show.

mimmylynn said...

Good trip. You seem to find the most interesting places. To see the Flying Wallendas was a real treat.

Lois Evensen said...

What a fun post! Thank you for sharing. Those balloons are incredibly beautiful and the rest of the fair looks wonderful.

jp@A Green Ridge said...

WOW! You find pix like I find them...LOL!
First of all the air balloons are spectacular...great, clear shots as always!!
When I began reading/seeing about the "Choo-Choos", I just couldn't stop seeing Pat's face during it all!
As for the fair, I still LOVE going to fairs although Joe doesn't. The photos of the tractor pull, horse pull and Swiss (?) bovines are perfect reminders of the pleasantries....jp

Pamela M. Steiner said...

Oh my! what shall I talk about first? Those hot air balloons are gorgeous! Such wonderful pictures!!! It would be fun to go up in one, but I don't think I will ever do it. Now, that train display is amazing! My father collected toy Lionel trains and had a huge display at his house. All the grand kids called him "Grandpa Choo Choo". He loved to show off his trains and it delighted young and old alike. We have a small train set/village that we put up at Christmas, but it is very simple and just for fun. I love trains and grew up with them, so that display you showed would be wonderful to see! Thank you for sharing! Now, the Deerfield Fair must be a lot like the Fryeburg (Maine) Fair, that is in October. We always went up to visit our kids in Maine in October, because our grandson's birthday was the same week as the fair, and so we always went to the fair to celebrate his birthday! It was quite fair, much like the one you've shown at Deerfield. We really wanted to go this year, but my neck surgery kept us home again. Last year was the pandemic, and of course the fair was cancelled there too. One of these days we will get back up there I hope. You've inspired me to want to go again! Thank you for this wonderful post. I feel like a child again.

Marcia said...

Glad to see you finally got a chance top post about those outings. never have taken a balloon ride and never plan to. They are beautiful to see though. The train museum is a much larger version of the Christmas Train gardens that fire stations assemble each holiday season around Baltimore. we've taken the granddaughters to several of those over the last few years. Not anymore unless we discover it's also a New England tradition at fire stations.
Have a nice Thanksgiving next week. We will be in Buffalo.

William Kendall said...

There is a balloon festival held here each Labour Day weekend, but I never get to it.

DUTA said...

I like agricultural fairs, and that's because I'm genuinely interested in agriculture.
Great picture with you and hubby beside the welcome sign to Deerfield Fair1

Jeanie said...

I've never been to a hot air balloon festival but I know I would find it mesmerizing. Your photos are just beautiful. I can only imagine what it would be like to float so high!

Margaret D said...

The balloons look colourful and what a great time you would have had there..

Red said...

Very attractive balloon designs.

Rita said...

I love the rainbow colored balloons the best.
Fascinatng trip, as usual. :)

DeniseinVA said...

Great trip! Fun and enjoyable photos! I love hot air balloons. One use to float over our house regularly as they came into land nearby. We always exchanged waves with the people in the basket, all smiles from the experience.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

I'd love to see that train layout - just a child at heart!

MadSnapper said...

those balloons are gorgeous.. I have never even seen one balloon in the sky except in movies and photos like yours. if they paid me 1 million i would not even sit in one on tied to the ground.
the train town is amazing, so detailed. there is one in Sarasota similar, but it is a circus train town. great photos of the one here. love the cows and horses and all your photos today....

Eggs In My Pocket said...

The balloons are breath taking! All of the photos show so much fun! What a fun time this must have been!

L. D. said...

So many things your have shared. We have a balloon classic near us but haven't been there for a few years. Love the trains. I hope those people never take a misstep.

Linda said...

I went to a hot air balloon event in our town a few years ago. I was right down there with them as they were blowing the torches or whatever that lifts them up. I would have preferred to sseing this from a distance as all I can remember is feeling as if I were in a combat zone! I need to redeem thi experience as thet are really so beautiful. But, no, I will not be going up in one any time soon....

Coastal Ripples said...

I’d love to see a mass of hot air balloons, better still I’d love to go up in one. Beautiful photos. B x

My name is Erika. said...

It's fun to see these catch up photos. Especially before winter sets in, though it was definitely chilly this morning. You park walk looks beautiful too. I didn't realize Nashua had such a big park. That is really nice to have for walking. Do you go often? Hugs-Erika

Linda G. said...

All three of those visits look so fun. I have seen hot air balloons, lots of them at one time, a few times over the years. My favorite festival is the Red, White and Blue Festival held at the end of a May at Letchworth State Park in NY. I would enjoy the model RR and the train park. It has been a number of years, but I still recall Roadside America (I think it was called) in the Pocono Mountains area (I believe), where there was an elaborate indoor miniature RR display. We didn’t make it to our County Fair this year. We go most years. I enjoyed looking through your pictures and your description of each place.