Hoes Down, Harvest Up....

that's the way we like to FestivALL!!

Had an amazing time at the Hoes Down Festival a few weekends ago.  Diana told us about it, and we decided to go last minute.  What a great decision.  For folks that have kids... it's stupid not to go to this.  Go.  Next year.  Let's all go.

Kai found his halloween outfit at a stop in Fairfield on our way up to Full Belly Farm in Guinda.  

Our camp.  All the sites were decent as it was in a walnut orchard.  Plenty of shade, wind break, and some privacy.  

This is the "walk-in" camping area.  

On to the festival... they had a gourd painting station...

first you had to pick a gourd, wash it, then dry it...

and Kai was off to paint!

We explored the animal petting stations while waiting for the gourd to dry. 

Quite an amazing hay pile.  They had constructed it so there were caves running through the mountain.  Kids came out and asked... "can I borrow your phone so I can see in there..."

Nikko wasn't afraid of any cow... unlike Kai... who scampered off at this point.

Plenty of yummy food options...

The amazing dunk tank contraption...

That's Kai waiting his turn... I got video...

Then it was time to swim in Cache Creek. 

One of three music stages!  Quite chill... unlike Hardly Strictly...

Kimbo thinks Nikko will take a nap... I think her success rate is about 2% these days.

Piggies! Behind an electric fence. They need a sign...

Zipline!  Maybe next year Kai...

Kai starting the adventure course... first he had to milk a cow...

Take the full milk cup...

Across the bridge of doom...

Put an egg under his chin... over a hay bale... and put the egg in a basket.  

Grass Maze...

Kai liked feeding the goats.

Sheep shearing demonstration.

Kai with his gourd!

Then we saw the Vesperian Circus!  For the third time this summer!

And the Gentile 5... soon to be 6...

The high wind caused the circus to crash after the show...

Wild Chickens...

mmmm.... at night, I put the kids down while Kimbo volunteered at the Mediterranean Cafe.  And after dozens of rain dances, it RAINED!  For 30 seconds.... but it rained!!!

The next morning we signed up for the bike farm tour... 

See all that rain... .1 inches maybe?

Our farm tour guide...

Nikko was quite happy...

Checking out the botanical gardens.

At River Dog Farms.  Talking to the owner was really eye opening. 

At the Big Red Olive Oil Farm...

not so surprisingly, these kids slept pretty darn well...

Since it was so nice still, we decided to keep driving on to Crowne Beach so the kids could have a few more hours of playtime... 

Next Time:

• Invite more families for double the fun!
• Bike up to the festival?  Would be fun, but the roads don't have much of a shoulder... but you do get in for free.  

Getting stoked for ski season! These guys put out the most creative edits, I swear... Not my style, but highly entertaining.