Monday, September 19, 2011

The Applachian on Saturday


By: Britteny Collins
ENGLISH 336.001

Walking up to Frostburg State University’s campus there was music that could be heard on the street. It was a beautiful fall day partly cloudy. A very happy atmosphere was felt as soon as you arrived all the commotion. Saturday was the second day of the sixth annual Appalachian Festival. This festival happens every fall, many venders and entertainers come to Frostburg to celebrate this festival. Many interesting things could be found on campus during Saturday in the upper quad. There were goats that children could pet, food that people could eat, and music, and other entertainment to be found.

One interesting thing that stood out to me was this man dressed in practically rags and was standing in front of a tent full of old looking artifacts. This man’s name was David Zaladonis. He presented the Hunters Camp. Zaladonis explained “I go hunting with just these items in my tent for two to three days”. The things in his tent consisted of different types of guns, animal skins, and silver coins. When the group of people who reenact and go out to camp in the woods, they use guns used to hunt and provide the hunters with food, and a blanket. Everything in his tent was real artifacts from the guns, to the animal skins, to the silver coins on the table. He was very passionate about his Hunters Camp. Zaladonis is one of the many people who reenact hunters back in the 1750’s. Frostburg has invited him twice to the Appalachian Festival.

In front of the Hunters tent there was Irish music being played and there were girls performing clogging. They were from The New Century American Irish-Arts Company. There were five dancers that had participated in dancing during this act. There were a group of musicians on the other side of the stage that played the music for the dancers. The dancers had come from all over Maryland to perform at the Appalachian Festival. This was their first year performing at the Appalachian Festival. Many people crowded the tent. There was a upbeat atmosphere it felt like you were at an Irish bar watching people dance. Standing on the side of the tent Emily Ritchie observed the dancers and after being there for 5 minutes she said “I just want to start dancing”.

The atmosphere stayed the same and many people came and went. On the way out of the festival there was a crowd of people around this puppet show called Horn’s Punch and Judy Show. The man who was in charge of the puppet show name is Mark Walker. Even before he started the show he had stated “This is unlike any puppet show, the puppets talk to you and want you to talk back”, as he pulled out a magic trick. He made all the children laugh constantly. The puppets were a great show, young and old enjoyed it. This puppet show was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1897. The tradition has kept alive, and stayed a very interesting show. The Appalachian Festival is a different kind of festival it is defiantly worth experiencing in your life time.

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