Sugar Festival 2015

I think this was our 6th year at the Clewiston Sugar Festival! 

Sugar cane - peel and eat, it tasted...like sugar!

Honestly, this was the least impressive year to me.  I knew it would be hot and long and crowded, but the midway was extremely unimpressive - just smidge above a big Miami-style birthday party.  So we didn't think it was worth the cost of arm bands.  Fortunately Clewiston has recently built a fantastic new playground.  They also have a free splash park - both within walking distance on the festival. 

The most interesting thing this year was the U.S. Sugar tent.  They went out of their way to make a good impression with free orange juice and iced tea, free sticks of sugar cane, free rock candy, a free raffle, and lots and lots of information about the sugar industry.  

Irene taking in the sights:

Taking the pack and play was the best idea ever - for both of us! 

Traditional Tractor Tire Photo:

5 Years of Big Tires

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

Sugar Festival 2013

This was at least our 5th year at the Clewiston Sugar Festival. It is a cultural experience.

And actually it is a very good deal.  We got the kids wristbands to ride the rides and it doesn't get so crowded that you have to wait that long - especially if you are going to stay all day rain or shine anyway!  So they got to ride everything they wanted at least twice, some much more than twice.

Ponies.  Natalie talked about how she would ride the pony, but when she got next to them, she shrieked and cried and wouldn't go on them.

Ferris Wheel - they rode this one about 4 or 5 times

Annalise's favorite - The lightning bolt ride.

Caleb made it to the top!

Annalise turned a flip!

Natalie - with her wristband - although the only thing she would ride was my hip and the stroller.  Ah, live and learn.

You will notice in the above picture that I had my umbrella out - functioning as a parasol.  I brought it because rain was forecast (and it did rain), but it also turned out to be just what I needed while standing in the blazing sun!

So we did the whole nine yards - the gigantic caldron of boiling sugar cane, the authentic Mexican tacos with real queso blanco, the flamingo plant holders made from old tires, the enormous tractor wheels.

And we spent the night in LaBelle - here is the view from our room:

From a table full of Bahamians and Haitians to a woman wearing a rebel flag tank top.  Florida sure is a varied place to live.

Fair Fare

Repeat

I think he's sitting next to the same kid!

2012

2010

Sugar Festival 2012

Tractor Wheel Pose

Carousel addict - she kept coming back.

He got 3/4 of the way up.

Beans, mommy!

The vendor next to us was selling snow cones.  When she was breaking things down, she gave the kids the jumbo $4 cones for free :)

I like cucumbers, but a whole cucumber on a stick?  Not for me.

Sugar Festival 2011

Just some highlights! For more information, see last year's post.









I've said it before and I'll say it again: FIFTY SPF SUNSCREEN!!

America's Sweetest Town

Yesterday we attended the 2010 Sugar Festival in Clewiston. Clewiston's nickname is "America's Sweetest Town" because their main industry is growing and processing sugar cane. The sugar festival has been going on for 24 years and is always held after they process the last load of sugar cane - traditionally the 3rd week in April.

Although there is more to it, the part we attended was basically a fair. Here the kids are coloring their free coloring books - Caleb's was about not smoking and Annalise's was about voting. Lately coloring has been super appealing to both of them!

Well that and they had to wait until 10 to go on the rides! I guess traveling carnivals are a little lax on their ride restrictions. Annalise got to ride almost everything.

The rabbit ride was pretty tame.

She wasn't able to ride the swings, but I thought Caleb was kind of little for it too. Rob said that the force of the swing held him in the seat. I guess it did.

Some big tractors on display.

Farmer girl!

You'd think being the "sugar festival" that there would be an inordinate amount of sweets available, but really the food selection was pretty balanced. This is my authentic Mexican style corn on the cob. It's coated with mayo, a mild chili sauce and Parmesan cheese. Very good :) And a free shot of my 29 week belly!

One kind of fair food I'd never seen before was deep-fried double-stuffed Oreos. A station volunteer's mom bought them to share...honestly, I didn't think they were that good. But they were novel!

My little non-napper - overcome from getting up at 5:30am and playing hard in the sun.

And as a "Welcome to Miami" when we got back to town, we saw this sight: A Uhaul with the back door open and 3 guys sitting on the bumper. They were going fast enough to pass us like we were standing still. We caught up with them when we went through the Sunpass lane and they had to go through the toll lines. That's how I got my picture :)