Washboard Festival

68°f/20°C, overcast, humid, showers, yucky.

Finally, after 12 years, we made our way back to the Logan (Ohio) Washboard Festival! I have been wanting to go every year, but something usually prevents us---most often, it was the WV Writers Conference which happens this same weekend. Much as I enjoy that conference and seeing my writing friends, this year we chose to go to Logan. 

Would you believe there is still a washboard company making new washboard every day? Columbus Washboard Company is located in the heart of town and is as much a tourist destination as a factory. They even have an ice cream shop right in the building that serves great coffee and other food too.

So this was our very first stop. One of those silly bucket list things for me, you know. 

First things to greet us on the street: a line of washing, and a little train for children's rides that blew bubbles. One little girl waved to everyone as she rode, like a little princess. Just precious.

Inside the washboard company:

Just past the ice cream shop and souvenirs we found many historical artifacts of the company's past and the old world of laundering. I have seen these kinds of washers before, but not yet owned one. 

And here we have the makings of the washboard, at a worker's desk.

Even her current schedule.

Another workstation for making the larger washboard.

It's a pretty basic procedure really, simply pressing the pieces together and securing with tiny nails.

This is Linda, the washboard maker, demonstrating how to play the small washboard, if one chose to do that rather than scrub clothes with it!

Washboard displays everywhere.

And washboard parts, too. All the wood is bought locally from a nearby sawmill.

This is like my old washer, which I used for several years when we had no electricity.  I sold it, finally, just a few years ago.

Washboard musician extraordinaire Bill Bailey was on hand to entertain.

Mr. Bailey also made these washboard fountains.

Of course, we had to have ice cream before we left the store. And coffee for me, because I do enjoy black coffee after ice cream. Is that a thing for others, or just me? Mine was raspberry truffle, large chunks of chocolate mixed in. Sinful.

Back outside, I bought a new hat and was happily wearing it when I stopped in a restroom. And discovered I was doing a Minnie Pearl---my new hat still had the tags attached! I never wear hats, but decided I needed one as the sun was pretty intense. 

(Ms. Minnie Pearl, if you don't know was a country comedian featured on the Grand Ole Opry for years. Image from the web.)

But I digress. 

The Logan county courthouse, built in 1925 so celebrating 100 years this month.

The master if bubbles, surely!

The kids loved trying to pop them.

Washboard musicians abounded, not as many as when we last attended, but still plenty.

Ah, and a welcome break inside the Irish pub, where they had Guinness on tap, to Larry's delight. I had a cooling lime spritzer, perfect for a hot day.

Music, music, music. Again, not like the last time we were here, but a change in the date and then the funding cuts have hurt this festival, like so many others.

These guys called themselves Wheezin' and Squeezin' Polka. They were great fun, keeping even young children entertained. Here they are playing tunes from Disney and having people guess the movie.

 

This young group of bluegrass musicians was going through sound checks. A tedious process! We at least got to hear a bit of their music but they must have been one of the evening acts.

We were a bit disappointed that there was no parade. Apparently there was a lack of entries this year, probably another result of the change in dates. We left around 4, before the evening events kicked off, and I am sure the more stellar musicians were lined up for the evening concerts, but we were content and ready to be home on the porch. It was a fun day, and after seeing what the town had to offer, we will be back just to browse. And to attend the festival again, I hope,  if it continues after this year.