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Here we are together again, folks. Ain’t it nice!

Hope last week’s annual Summer Festival went well. Much was made of it being the 40^th annual. Now, that’s impressive, for sure.

Let me, however, slip something in that you might find a bit interesting.

You see, in the mid-sixties we initiated the Pamlico Festival. I even have commemorative patches from ’65 and ’66.

The person most responsible for beginning this was Leo Miller of Texas Gulf. Dr. Miller was a special man, very smart, and with a vision of what a festival could mean to this area.

The distinctive feature was it involved participation. Activities on the river, ten-man teams in the Aurora-to-Washington relay with the anchor leg running down Main Street enroute to the finish at Kugler Field. Plus, a field day for youth at Kugler Field. Good fun. Good memories.

When we lived in Dare County “Dare Days” was initiated. It was not on the scope of our Summer Festival, but pleasant, and held, in the main, alongside the bay in Manteo. Right across from where the Elizabeth II is berthed, plus other facilities related to the Elizabethan period’s history.

Now, it seems festivals have proliferated almost everywhere. Events take place in Bath, Greenville, Ayden, Farmville, New Bern and other places just here in eastern Carolina.

Lest I forget, let me mention “Smoke on the Water ” If you like barbecue, then that’s one event you don’t want to miss. Plus, there’s also chili if that is to one’s liking. It’s held, of course, by the water downtown.

Whereas these festivals bring out a lot of people, they aren’t money-makers for most businesses. Folks just aren’t inclined to do much shopping.

One of the first festivals held here in our Little Washington was the Tulip Festival. It was, well, very festive, bringing attention to those lovely flowers and to Terra Ceia. World War II caused it to be stopped.

Enough about festivals.

It will please me if we meet here again next weekend.

Unless you are somewhere else attending a festival.