I just returned from a week in Ohio, visiting the in-laws. The weather was sunny and warm, and the hardwood trees were maybe a week past their peak color. If you're like me, you might have been wondering what there is to do in southern Ohio in late October. But unless you're from around those parts, you probably don't know the answer is: The Circleville Pumpkin Show.
Circleville, Ohio, is a small city located about 25 miles due south of Columbus. Founded in 1810, it's home to about 13,500 residents. Located along the Scioto River, it's the county seat of Pickaway County. To get there from Zanesville, Ohio, we drove through some country roads past countless acres of corn and soybeans.
As a visitor from Alaska, I was really impressed by the Circleville Pumpkin Show. Although the city is relatively small, it's bigger than most in Alaska. And the Pumpkin Show is a big event that has been going on for over 100 years. In area, the Pumpkin Show rivals or exceeds the Alaska State Fair. Here it was, a Thursday afternoon, and they had the entire downtown area streets blocked off, and it was packed with people. Folks were eating greasy food, enjoying carnival rides, and listening to live music. There was a parade with several marching bands, floats, and wave after wave of babies.
Initially, I had to wonder how so many people could have been there. Did they take time off from work to go? How many of them had lost their jobs and had nothing but time on their hands? I saw quite a few people in wheelchairs - did they have affordable, quality health care? And what about all those babies?
I started off with a lot of questions about Circleville, the Pumpkin Show, and the people who were there. But by the time we were tucking into a slice of pumpkin cheesecake, it was just people. Lots and lots of people. And lots and lots of pumpkins. And that was enough for me.
So, take a break from the FOX news feud. And the health care reform public option/trigger/opt-out debate. Dick Cheney and the neocons. Birthers, tenthers, and other nutjobs.
And just enjoy some pumpkins.