Every year for more years than I can remember, we have gone to Coon Creek Days in Hampshire, IL. Usually the first weekend in August, its basically a carnival plus fireworks. What makes it great is the party that my Uncle Fred & Aunt Carol put on each year.
They just have a great location, you sit in the driveway an have a perfect view of the fireworks, far enough away to be away from the crowds, close enough the the fireworks seem to be exploding in your backyard.
The party starts at their house, appetizers are devoured (oh so delicious shrimp scampi), and drinks are had. Part of the charm is that we get to see friends and family that we don’t normally see on a regular basis.
There is Gary (Shrek look alike) and Ilene, Charlie, Cliff and an assortment of other people who will have no meaning to anyone reading this but me. After socializing, watching the kids play and a lot of laughing we move onto dinner.
Fresh home made Italian sausages made by Uncle Fred were amazing, best sausage I have ever had, and not a surprise given my Uncle’s family history (they owned a Butcher shop). All the food was great, terrible for my diet but hell, Coon Creek Days is worth it!
After dinner its time for the kids to go to the carnival, cheesy rides and scary carnies that smell like cabbage, salty popcorn and cotton candy, but still fun to go to if for just the people watching. The kids loved the rides and Karin and Gigi even went on a stomach plummeting ride that I refused to go on.
Getting back to the house we sit down and enjoy the fireworks, they are fourth of July quality, ground show and grand finale. The kids sit in quiet amazement, the silence only broken by the occasional “Oooh!” and “Ahhhh.” When its over we say our goodbye’s and head home.
What I love is that this isn’t a formal holiday, it doesn’t have the stress and rushed nature that seems to accompany every other holiday. There are no stores to shop in with hundreds of other people fighting for the latest knick-knack that their kids really don’t need.
There is no traffic or mass of humanity to brave in order to find a 8×8 spot of grass to sit on. Its basically stress-free. Its quickly becoming one of my favorite events of the year. I don’t even think I would dare to call it a holiday for fear that it might gain some sort of holiday stress by such a branding.
What started out as a fun idea by my Uncle and Aunt has turned into the best family event of the year. Pretty cool if you ask me. Check out some photos from Coon Creek Days here.
Tags: Amazement, Appetizers, Aunt Carol, Butcher Shop, Carnies, coon creek, Cotton Candy, Delicious Shrimp, family, Fireworks, Fourth Of July, Gigi, Grand Finale, holiday, Holiday Holiday, Italian Sausages, Kids Play, Knick Knack, Oooh, Perfect View, Salty Popcorn, Shrimp Scampi, Uncle FredYou must be logged in to post a comment.
