Isn’t spring wonderful? I love the warm nights and mornings, the smell of flowers as you walk along the streets, the pollen on your car (okay, maybe not that one so much…), golf season, bright colored clothing, local spring festivals…

Speaking of festivals, we went to a local Shrimp Festival in Fernandina Beach last weekend. My family has very fair skin, so we slathered on the sunscreen and donned the wide brimmed hats. It was the hottest day of the year (so far) with temps ranging in the 90′s!  I’m always excited to participate in local activities that bring the community together. I especially love it when they are free! 

As we neared the downtown area, we noticed that parking was going to cost us $10-$20. I have never enjoyed having to pay to park!  This popular event happens every year. The streets were packed from one side to another with pedestrians and vendors, many displays of local artwork and crafts. It was lunchtime and I was incredibly hungry. I couldn’t focus on the art, or the live music…  so I followed the pleasant smell of fried shrimp to the end of the lane. Many booths were selling shrimp, mainly the same dishes, but different charities were being sponsored at each booth. Overwhelmed by the sight of long waiting lines, I sought shelter from the blazing sun, and graciously asked my husband to get me a basket of fried shrimp. The small baskets ended up costing us $11 per person!

When we finished eating, we began to wander through the streets, looking at the displays, and trying to dodge the sweltering sun. I was starting to get very thirsty. I price checked many booths, and they were all the same. $3 for a lemonade. ::sigh:: I’m such a sucker for a cold glass of lemonade on a hot day! $3 it is… 

A little irritated that everything was so overpriced and also becoming easily tired from the heat, I was ready to go home. The free festival ended up being not so free after all… Isn’t that how the story usually goes? Though parts of the adventure were not as we had planned, being together with our little family was nice. Another memory in our books.

-Courtney