Sunday, August 7, 2022

SpiedieFest Memories of 2018

It's Spiedie Fest time, celebrating hot air balloons, music, and our regional specialty, spiedies.  

What's a spiedie, you ask?  It's marinated meat (there are also vegetarian options), cooked on the grill, and there are endless variations.

For a while, our festival, which is held the first weekend in August in Otsiningo Park in Binghamton, New York, had gotten away from the original intent of the festival, which was to celebrate spiedies with a cooking contest.  The festival last year, due to the pandemic, was moved to October and downsized.  This year, it's back in full, with a bit more emphasis on the spiedie aspect.

We made the reluctant decision (because I was offered free tickets) not to attend this year.  The heat was the major factor.  The balloon launches, which normally add to the fun but, this year, are my major part of the enjoyment (as I wasn't keen on any of the musical acts).  The organizers allow you to get close up with the launches, launchers and launchees. 

So, instead, I am celebrating with some photos from 2018.

Let's not forget what started this off - the marinating sauce.  This company is local.

There's other food, too.
Sadly, this wine, infused with hemp and manufactured locally, was a victim of (as I've read) the federal regulations (although it is not infused with cannabis) that have never been updated despite a number of states (including New York, the festival location) having legalized recreational use of cannabis.  The company closed in February, 2020.
Oh yes, the balloon launches.  These balloonists, I believe, are still local.

Like I said, you can get quite close.

Inflation, the good kind.

Did I mention you can get close?
Up, up and away, 2018 style.

I've never been in a hot air balloon. Riding in one is not cheap, although that wouldn't keep me away if I was truly motivated.

Some of the launches are cancelled due to weather (too much wind, threat of thunderstorms).  Safety first, always! This year, I believe all the launches went up as scheduled, which is rare, but our drought may have had something to do with that. Of course, there are interesting moments. I understand that one of the balloons this year landed on top of a movie theater close to Otsiningo Park.

Next year?  Let's make it a definite maybe.  And hope the weather is a touch cooler.

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6 comments:

  1. TomAugust 7, 2022 at 11:05 AM

    ...spiedies are a special treat.

    ReplyDelete
  2. LisaAugust 7, 2022 at 1:01 PM

    I don't blame you, festivals and fairs in the heat are no fun. They are always scheduled right in the hottest parts of summer. I wouldn't go up in a hot air balloon if it were waiting in front of me and free! Nope. Never! I used to get them Saturday mornings flying over the house, but not in the past few years. They launched (if that's what a balloon does) from the nearby fair grounds. Where it's often too hot to attend the fair!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Liz A.August 7, 2022 at 1:58 PM

    Yeah, I understand not wanting to go out in the heat. You have to have that happy medium of not too hot, not too cold.

    ReplyDelete
  4. songbird's crazy worldAugust 7, 2022 at 3:05 PM

    I hope the weather will be better next year, it sounds like a great festival

    ReplyDelete
  5. peppylady (Dora)August 7, 2022 at 6:40 PM

    I have always want to go up in hot air balloon
    Coffee is on and stay safe

    ReplyDelete
  6. carol l mckennaAugust 8, 2022 at 12:29 PM

    Looks like fun and delicious ~ Xo


    (Have been ill will.catch up with comments)


    Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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