Music Lesson #3: Summerfest, The World’s Largest Music Festival

 If you love music and want to share the love, take your family to Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  This festival features a wide variety of music and spans generations.  You will see fans of all ages. 

This festival offers such a memorable experience that author Patricia Schultz include Summerfest in 1,000 Places to See Before You Die book.  She describes the history: “It all began in 1961 with Summerfest, an 11-day celebration of music and food that gets bigger and better every year.  Yesterday’s tents have been replaced by a dozen permanent stages…”

I’m old enough to reflect on attending concerts as a child and bringing my kids to the festival.  When I was a kid, we spent most of our time at one big stage.  We had one concert to target.  I still remember fondly the excitement of seeing Tina Turner singing and dancing at high energy, Janet Jackson’s showmanship, and my mom’s excitement over hearing Julio Iglesias sing live.  Now you don’t even need to visit the biggest stage; you can hop from one stage to another.

With concerts overlapping at multiple stages, deciding which concert to attend can be a challenge.  You’ll want to check out the Summerfest website and map out the concerts you want to see.  Map out the timing and stage locations.  We walked quickly walked from one stage to another to see four concerts in one night.  We danced and sang with the Village People, KC and The Sunshine Band, The Commodores, and Third Eye Blind, all in one night.  Even our kids had spelled out YMCA at so many wedding receptions that it felt surreal to do it with the band.  We had great conversations about early decades, especially the 1970s.

Single day tickets cost $26, 3-day pass $62 (any 3 days), or 9-day pass ($130).  None of these entry tickets include concerts at the American Family Amphitheater.  You can enter with a purse, tote, or cinch bag 9”x 10” x 12” or smaller.  Don’t try to enter with a backpack or cooler.

Music Lesson #2: 3 Free Military Concerts in Washington D.C.

When you think of Washington D.C., you likely think of touring government buildings and museums.  Take a moment to enjoy the music.  If you have the fortune of visiting Washington D.C., I especially encourage you to attend a military band concert.  I am biased as my father, father-in-law, uncles, sister-in-law, brother-in-laws, and cousins served in the military.

My kids enjoyed the pageantry of the U.S. Marine Band at Historic Fort Myer in Arlington, VA.  It includes an hour of military pageant featuring the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, the U.S. Army Drill Team, U.S. Army Blues, and members of the U.S. Army Band Downrange.  Look online for Wed. evening dates and times for this special performance.

Our family enjoyed the U.S. navy Band at the Navy Memorial.  If you attend at this location, you will see all of the units of the Navy Band including the Sea Canters, Commodores, Country Current, and Cruisers.  Both the flag ceremony and the voices were impressive.  The emcee also took a nice break to recognize all the military members in the audience.

Here's three free military concerts in Washington D.C. and area:

1.  U.S. Navy Band June-Aug.
a) Mon. evenings at the Capitol
b) Select Tue. evenings at the Navy Memorial

2.  U.S. Air Force Band
a) Tue. evenings at the Capitol
b) occasional Fri. evenings at the Air Force Memorial
c) occasional Sat. evenings at National Harbor along the waterfront

3.  U.S. Marine Band
a) Wed. and Thur. evenings at the Capitol 8PM
b) Wed. evenings at Historic Fort Myer in Arlington, VA

Here's additional free concerts in Washington D.C. and area:
4.  Local Bands
a) Wed. evening Washington Harbour Georgetown on the plaza along the Potamac River

5.  Jazz Concerts
a) Sat. 6PM Fort Dupont Summer Theatre

6.  The Live! Concert Series July-Sept.
a) lunchtime weekdays, Woodrow Wilson Plaza, Ronald Reagan International Trade Building

Gym Class #9: Horses, Cowboys, & 7 Rodeos

 

Photo by Krenda

Rodeo, a challenging sport, grew from the cattle industry and had influence from the Spanish ranchers.  Some claim Spanish rode focuses on style while American rodeo values speed.  Bull wrestling had conducted in Europe including Spain many years before America.  However, Bill Pickett of the United States has fame as the inventor of bulldogging.  William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) created the first major rodeo and the first Wild West show.  

 

Today the PRCA states that a sanctioned rodeo must include five events:  

1) calf roping:  top professional calf ropers with rope and tie a calf in seven seconds.  Time stops when the cowboy throws up his or her hand.  After putting slack in his rope, the timer waits for six seconds during which the calf must stay tied prior to recording.

2) barrelback riding:  cowboys hold on with only hand and judged upon control during the eight second ride

3) saddle bronc riding:  judging considers how hard the horse bucks, cowboys disqualify if either foot slips out of a stirrup

4) bull riding:  cowboys must remain seated, cowboys disqualify for touching the animal, himself, or his equipment with his free hand

5) steer wrestling:  steer wrestler on horseback starts behind a barrier and if he leaves too soon i.e. "breaking the barrier", the judges give a ten second penalty 

At a rodeo, you may also see team roping (two cowboys work together to rope back feet and if rope only one herd foot then judges give five second penalty) and barrel racing (cowboys ride a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels and incur a five second penalty for each barrel overturned).  

At junior events, you may see mutton busting in which young children attempt to ride sheep for six seconds.

We attended the Jacob Hamblin Days festival in Kanab Utah, a celebration of pioneer and western heritage, which included a rodeo.  I really enjoyed watching the rodeo outdoors, surrounded by beautiful scenery and watching the sunset.  During junior events, the fathers did a lot of helping.  The encouragement was visible.  The announcer would get excited and the whole crowd would cheer whether or not the child held onto the sheep for six seconds.

Attending the National Finals Rodeo by PRCA ProRodeo in Las Vegas, NV may give you a challenge considering tickets have sold out for past 26 years.  You can get on a waitlist for a balcony seat.  Here's x rodeo event with available tickets:

1) Cheyenne Frontier Days (Cheyenne, WY, July):  began in 1897 and now attracts nearly 200,000 fans, besides rodeo events, it includes the USAF Thunderbirds air show, chuckwagon cookoff, and serving of nearly 100,000 free pancakes; concerts such as Toby Keith ($47-71), rodeo ($7-30 each), championship bullriding ($31-41), carnival armband ($30); consider the Frontier four pack ($99) which includes rodeo tickets for four and hot dog dinner.

2) Pendleton Round Up (Pendleton, OR):  began in 1910 and now one of the top ten largest rodeos in the world with crowd of approximately 50,000, visit the tipi village, Happy Canyon pageant, Indian Pow-Wow, dress-up parade, wild cow milking, and relay racing, rodeo ($20-30 each)

3) The Reno Rodeo (Reno, NV, June);  nearly 100 years old and claims 140K fans over 10 days, giving over $2million in prize money, the slogan is "wildest, richest rodeo in the west", steer decorating, cattle drive, cowboy church, X-treme bull ($19-26), rodeo ($21-23)

3) Ellensburg Rodeo (Ellensburg, WA, Labor Day weekend):  Over 600 contestants and four nights of rodeo ($17-37 each), Xtreme Bulls ($15-43), pancake breakfast ($6), Hall of Fame banquet (limited $40 tickets), dance in dirt, and cowboy church

4) World's Oldest Rodeo Prescott (Prescott, AZ, June/July):  began in 1888 as "cowboy tournament" with cash prizes, now eight performances ($16-20), Kiwanis kiddie parade, arts & crafts show, and cowboy church

5) Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo (Fort Worth, TX, Jan./Feb.);  world's original indoor rodeo, adult ($10), child age 6-16 ($5) includes livestock events and educational programs, Moo-seum experience, over 400,000 people attend

6) National Western Stock Show & Rodeo (Denver, CO, Jan.):  admission ($10-20) or family 4-pack ($89 includes hot dog dinner), Colorado vs. champions of the world rodeo, Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza includes trick roping, PBR bull riding, draft horse show and pull, petting farm, pony rides for children

7) Weekley Brothers Davie Pro Rodeo (Davie, FL):  rodeo ($22 adult, $10 child age 3-12), championship buckle presentation, pancake breakfast

All pricing subject to change.  Please visit their websites.

Agriculture Lesson #6: From Turkey to US, Cherry Picking Farms & 7 Festivals

Cherry Picking, Photo by Krenda

One of my favorite memories about spending time on my grandparent's farm was picking cherries with grandpa.  Peering from the farm house lace curtain decorated windows, I could see the cherry trees.  If I saw too many birds, I might jump up and run out to scare them away.  Grandpa's nets worked better, but I could help too.  Fresh, sweet, tart cherries meant cherry pie.  What a treat!

Turkey wins the title of the world's largest cherry producing country.  However, you don't need to travel to Turkey to experience cherry picking.  The United States ranks as the second highest producer with Washington, California, Oregon, Wisconsin, and Michigan as top sweet cherry producing states.  We chose to find a u-pick cherry farm in Wisconsin.  We visited Hyline Orchards in Fish Creek, Wisconsin (Door County).  Nothing too fancy.  You enter the shop, pay for an empty bucket, and begin picking.

Turkey celebrates cherry agriculture with festivals.  The traditional and well known Polonezkoy festival includes concerts and folk dancing in June.  In the US, many festivals also occur in June and your family can celebrate the harvest and try cherry food items.  I'll list a few options, beginning with Traverse City, Michigan because the city calls itself the "Cherry Capital of the World":

1.  National Cherry Festival; Traverse City, Michigan, June/July
Many competitions including turtle race, cherry pie eating contest, diaper derby, cherry pit contest, sand sculpture contest, art competition, and shuffleboard tournament.  Kids may like the cherry teddy bear tea and chalk art.  Everyone will learn at the orchard tour.

2.  Jacksonport Historical Society Annual Cherry Fest; Jacksonport, WI
Kids will enjoy the penny hunt on the beach, face painting, and horse drawn wagon rides.  Indulge your sweet tooth by purchasing cherry kolaches at the bakery booth.

3.  Leona Valley Cherry Parade and Festival; Leona, CA; June
Many choices because over 20 u-pick cherry orchards within driving distance.  Plus enjoy live music, pie eating contest, and crafts.

4.  Whitehouse Cherry Fest; Whitehouse, OH, June
Entertain friends and family at the carnival rides and 5 min. helicopter rides for $35

5.  Emmett Cherry Festival; Emmett, Idaho, June
Active event including fireman hose competition, softball tourney, and run/walk.  Also visit the train show and parade.  Free admission and free contest entry.

6.  Polson Main Street Flathead Cherry Festival; Polson, Montana
Buy from Montana Made Item vendors and listen to the steel drum band.  Traditional events including pit-spitting and pie eating contests.

7.  Paonia Cherry Days Festival; Paonia, CO
Interesting contests including coal shoveling contest and hula contest.  Get moving at the American Legion dance and Zumba event.  Treat yourself at the ice cream social.  Event also includes Church in the Park and Library Book Sale.