Chautauqua

We went to Kate's to help paint her living-room and dining-room. To get all "primed" for a great afternoon, we attended the Chautauqua Parade first. The kids had their goodies bag all ready to gather candies from all of the generous community members in the parade.
There were garage bands


and Elvis sightings

Dueling Elvis'

Vigilant traffic cops

Firetrucks, new....

and old.

Lots of friendly faces.

Upon arrival at home, there were decisions to make, pouring over their spoils.....which "ONE?"

Chautauqua, ( sha-taw-kwa ), was a educational movement in the late 1800's til the mid 1920's. Particularly popular in rural areas, in the summer, people would go to campgrounds, pitch tents, and listen to musicians, preachers, speakers, teachers, entertainers, etc. There are numerous references to our family's participation, as I study old family letters and history. This is an old photo of some of our family at the Chautauqua festival in 1917. (Something tells me, there weren't any Elvis sightings at that one!) Theodore Roosevelt supposedly said that Chautauqua was "the most American thing in America."