Allardt Pumpkin Festival

This past Saturday, we attended the 19th Annual Allardt Pumpkin Festival in Allardt, TN. It's an annual festival the first weekend in October celebrating giant pumpkins. The event features a weigh-off, craft and food vendors, entertainment, a  car show, a parade, and fireworks. 

This was our second year attending the festival. Last year, we put the kids in the stroller and pushed it all around the festival, which proved to be a bit difficult, since there aren't really any sidewalks and it can get a bit crowded, especially around the craft tents and food vendors (which, of course, is where we spend the most time).

So, this year, we decided to let the kids walk. It was a good idea in theory, and it actually worked out pretty well for the first 30 mins or so. Sarah Kate had some difficulty walking over the rougher terrain (gravel paths, uneven surfaces, hills) and Dakoda started getting restless whenever Mommy and Daddy wanted to linger at some of the craft booths. 

But I was on a mission, so we forged on. Last year, I took a picture of the kids in a particular spot, near the car show, with a really cute fall decor setup. I was determined to find that exact spot and take a picture again this year. Of course, we parked on the opposite side of where we did last year, and wouldn't you know that picture spot was closer to last year's spot. But we made it! 

Dakoda wasn't interested in having his picture taken until we promised to find him a ball afterward (I prefer to think of it as an incentive as opposed to bribery, haha!). Sarah Kate was even less cooperative. She was having so much fun walking that she did not want to sit or stand still for a photo session. We tried our best anyway.

Take 1

  Take 12

Take 18 - oh, look! Dakoda is stealing a mum!

Take 22

Here are the two best shots we got. Sarah Kate wouldn't give us her big, beautiful smile for anything in this world! But these are still pretty good, I guess. I mean, with kids that cute, how could they not be? ;)

And here is the picture from last year, for comparison. I always love to look back and see how big they've gotten in a year!