South Carolina - Blue Crab Festival

Today we went to Little River in SC to attend the Blue Crab Festival.  This is an annual event here that attracts up to 40,000 visitors each year.  The weather wasn't promising, the forecast called for storms in some areas and the sky looked like they may be right.  We lucked out and the whole time we were there it was hot and humid.  There was a nice breeze down by the water but between the crowds and sun I wasn't very comfortable.  We stayed about three hours taking in the sights.  I only managed to get a few photos, it was just too crowded to get anything decent.  There was plenty of good food but no place to eat it.  You actually had to walk around and eat at the same time.  We bought some crabs and brought them home, you can't eat crabs while walking around.  We are used to Maryland crabs and crab cakes.  If  you've ever been there you'll know what I mean.  I had a crab cake while I was there since we were there at lunch time and I have to eat, being diabetic.  It wasn't any where near as good as a Maryland crab cake and way too expensive.  Oh well, live and learn. 

There were plenty of arts and crafts vendors and lots of pretty stuff to look at.  I'm at the age where I mostly just look.  I don't need any more do-dads, but I did find two cute additions for my guest bathroom.  Not the best photo, but for less than $10.00 I thought it was a good buy.

These were really cute items found at a store called Pirates Cove right at the entrance after going through the pay booth.  Yes, there was a charge to attend of $4.00 each.

A little further along there was an area for people to take a camel ride.  Now this space was so small, it couldn't have been much of a ride!  I didn't see anyone interested and the camel decided to enjoy eating the leaves that were providing some shade for him.

Maybe the smell of this area kept everyone away.

Next there was someone walking around with a boa constrictor.  We just finished having a conversation about all the people who brought their dogs to this crowded event and how it must be torture for the dogs.  It was hot and crowded and most had to carry the dogs to keep them from being trampled on.  We turn around and here is this guy.  He said I could take a photo.

I purposely kept his face out of the photo.

This was a welcome sighting.  We didn't buy any, I can't eat much between breakfast and lunch, don't want to mess up my sugar counts, but boy I was tempted.

Homemade ice cream sure would be perfect on a hot day like today.

This next area cracked me up.  There was a guy that was a dead ringer for Barney Fife.  He walked away before I could get a picture.  Al and DH decided to fill in.

Many of the arts and crafts were way over priced, but this booth was unique and interesting.  Look what you can do with those soda and beer cans.  So many talented people here on Gather, I'm sure one of you can figure out how to make these.

I'm pretty much into nature photos, so I wandered off to see if I could find anything more suitable to my taste.  I walked down to the river but didn't find much. 

That's how I spent most of my day.  It was interesting.  DH wants to go back tomorrow but after tasting the crabs, I'm not sure he will.  It was a nice day out and twenty years ago I would have spent all day there and bought a lot of things.  I'm not big on crowds and spending money on things I can live without.