Summer Lovin'

After living on the Wet Coast for years, and right in the back yard of the Pacific National Exhibition, no less, I finally decided that this was the year to brave the crowds and go to the PNE for the first time. There was something of an incentive: the fact that your <$20 gate admission includes the Summer Concert Series, and last night's offering was too fun to pass up - Joan Jett. For that, I was prepared to shelve my dislike of crowds and spend the evening eating mini-donuts. (I know, I know - quite the sacrifice!)

Some highlights of the occasionally-surreal experience...

Giant balloons...but of what? Depth charges from the Willy Wonka universe? Space cacti?

A sand sculpture at the entrance, very cool:

Farm animals! Including wascally wabits. (Mr.Q: "Look, a pile of cute!" Me: "Look! Stew!")

Very teeny and Very Large pigs. (Mr.Q: "Wook at the widdle piglets!" Me: "Mmm! Bacon makes everything better!")

Sheeps! (Mr.Q: "Sheepies!" Me: "Kebabs! And sweaters!)

(Sensing the theme here yet?)

And these oxen...I wish the photo gave any kind of real sense of their size. They were HUGE. At least 7 feet at the shoulder. There was no joking about steak, I was too unnerved. Though they were about as threatening as a sleeping cat.

Some funky art stuff:

The stage:

Is that a banana in your pocket, or are you really, really, really happy to see me?

And then after the concert (which rocked! So. Much. Fun! And I even got to stump Mr.Q with some rock trivia, something which has happened all of...well, twice ever.) We got some cotton candy & were heading toward the exit when I came across this:

The folks playing were just a couple turns into the game, and kindly invited me to join in. I think they were sorry after, though. Ahem.

And last, just before the exit:

Is it just me, or is he a leetle creepy? I was half-expecting the Ghostbusters to come running around the corner any minute...

So that was our summer fair adventure, in a nutshell. We may go back next week to see Cyndi Lauper...I'm gonna have to dig out some leg warmers if this keeps up!