To call it a "Blueberry Festival" is really a stretch

[MrChip72]

Went to this today in Brownwood. I would be surprised if more than 2% of the vendors were selling anything even remotely blueberry related. It was basically the regular farmers market with extra vendors. Some booths were selling insurance, burial plots, lawn care services.

Very disappointed. They might as well have a pineapple festival next month to draw crowds and add two booths selling pineapple daiquiris.

[Taltarzac725]

They could do a fruit of the month.



Went to this today in Brownwood. I would be surprised if more than 2% of the vendors were selling anything even remotely blueberry related. It was basically the regular farmers market with extra vendors. Some booths were selling insurance, burial plots, lawn care services.

Very disappointed. They might as well have a pineapple festival next month to draw crowds and add two booths selling pineapple daiquiris.

[Pairadocs]

Went to this today in Brownwood. I would be surprised if more than 2% of the vendors were selling anything even remotely blueberry related. It was basically the regular farmers market with extra vendors. Some booths were selling insurance, burial plots, lawn care services.

Very disappointed. They might as well have a pineapple festival next month to draw crowds and add two booths selling pineapple daiquiris.

Have you lived here long ? If not, you might enjoy some of the area's more "robust" should we say, LOL, blueberry festivals. There are several worth attending that are not a long drive at all, and we've always been able to buy wonderful locally grown berries at the same price we pay to pick them ourselves. Brooksville festival is next weekend, don't know for sure, but I've never noticed an abundance of pineapple there...been going for years. Also do a search, there are several new ones (if you are new to the area).

[tophcfa]

Just another reason to have a festival, it’s not about the fruit or whatever else is supposed to actually be being celebrated. I was excited with anticipation for the big annual St. Patrick’s day festival so I could get some corned beef and cabbage and a Guinness, neither were available. Maybe it’s just me, but that’s what I associate St. Patrick’s with, not stilt walkers and baton twirlers?

[Garywt]

Have been to one blueberry festival and a couple strawberry festivals and yes you should be able to buy the fruit. The blueberry festival I went to had a number of people selling blueberries, even if they were all from Chile. Also it is nice if you can get a blueberry shortcake and the like. Sorry to hear it wasn’t what it should have been.

[jimbomaybe]

Have been to one blueberry festival and a couple strawberry festivals and yes you should be able to buy the fruit. The blueberry festival I went to had a number of people selling blueberries, even if they were all from Chile. Also it is nice if you can get a blueberry shortcake and the like. Sorry to hear it wasn’t what it should have been.

You came
You saw
You spent
SUCCESS

[buster21]

I wish I could find a decent you pick fruit farm. Went to Blue Bayou blueberry farm last week. The young girl gave us two buckets for picking and told us the direction to pick and to watch out for the fire ants. We walked out there and found nada, zilch and the patch looked sad. This has happened to us twice before in other you pick farms. I thought that Florida would be the best place for fresh clean fruit.

[FromDC]

I wish I could find a decent you pick fruit farm. Went to Blue Bayou blueberry farm last week. The young girl gave us two buckets for picking and told us the direction to pick and to watch out for the fire ants. We walked out there and found nada, zilch and the patch looked sad. This has happened to us twice before in other you pick farms. I thought that Florida would be the best place for fresh clean fruit. We always pick at Back Road Berries in Oxford. They start the year with strawberries. They are now into blueberries. Soon they will start blackberry season. You can get on their email list so you'll know what is available. You can pick your own and (sometimes) they have already picked for sale. Give them a try!

[collie1228]

Were the cheerleaders there? No self-respecting "festival" in The Villages would be complete without them.

[C4Boston]

I am in for the pineapple daiquiris.

[buster21]

Thanks for info! Appreciate it!

[paulat585]

This is why I don't go.

[dewilson58]

There were plenty of blueberries for everyone to purchase.

How much more than "plenty of blueberries for everyone to purchase" is needed??

:mornincoffee:

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Just another reason to have a festival, it’s not about the fruit or whatever else is supposed to actually be being celebrated. I was excited with anticipation for the big annual St. Patrick’s day festival so I could get some corned beef and cabbage and a Guinness, neither were available. Maybe it’s just me, but that’s what I associate St. Patrick’s with, not stilt walkers and baton twirlers? well along with the corn beef , cabbage and Guinness, I used to look forward to a few good fights in some South Boston Irish bar on that day

[coralway]

False Advertising - sue em. Sue em all

[New Englander]

well along with the corn beef , cabbage and Guinness, I used to look forward to a few good fights in some South Boston Irish bar on that day

You from Southie?

[tophcfa]

Can’t wait for the Kumquat festival.

[PugMom]

we went, & enjoyed our time. there were a few fruit selections, but i really had to sort through because some of it wasn't very 'fresh.' we enjoyed the other activities, had lunch & listened to a bit of the band. fruit or not, it was a good way to spend the afternoon

[PugMom]

Can’t wait for the Kumquat festival.

make sure you go to the 1 near dade-city, the whole town gets involved!

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

well along with the corn beef , cabbage and Guinness, I used to look forward to a few good fights in some South Boston Irish bar on that day

St. Pat's in Boston was ALWAYS a blast. A rite of passage for all college frat boys. The consequences of the drunken revelry along Beacon Street by Mass Ave (where the B.U. and MIT frat houses were located) lasted days. Some frats also have a fun ritual of doing pushups at certain smoots markings on the Mass Ave bridge, on St. Pat's Day.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

You from Southie? no born in the South End , which now is very gentrified, then to the West End until they tore down all the tenements and put up luxury building ,then moved on up to the projects in Charlestown and now on the waterfront, life is good, and plan on having my ashes spread over Revere Beach where I’ve had so much fun as a kid and as an adult sitting on the wall watching everyone go by , ( Revere Beach , the first public beach n America )

[44Apple]

Kinda like the recent "Golf Festivals"?

[Pairadocs]

I wish I could find a decent you pick fruit farm. Went to Blue Bayou blueberry farm last week. The young girl gave us two buckets for picking and told us the direction to pick and to watch out for the fire ants. We walked out there and found nada, zilch and the patch looked sad. This has happened to us twice before in other you pick farms. I thought that Florida would be the best place for fresh clean fruit.

As a native, I can tell you there ARE great years. This is a tough one for all types of berries. You can try of the others, but I repeat, it's a tough, dry, year and the area you were directed to was obviously well picked already. Don't give up, we have some great years...sometimes:shrug:

[jamorela]

no born in the South End , which now is very gentrified, then to the West End until they tore down all the tenements and put up luxury building ,then moved on up to the projects in Charlestown and now on the waterfront, life is good, and plan on having my ashes spread over Revere Beach where I’ve had so much fun as a kid and as an adult sitting on the wall watching everyone go by , ( Revere Beach , the first public beach n America )

My daughter-in-law is from revere beach. Her parents still live there.

[sandymars]

Whispering Oaks winery great blueberry picking.

[Beyond The Wall]

This is why I don't go.

As Yogi said “ Nobody goes there anymore, It’s too crowed”!
It was packed and steamy hot.
Somebody went, parking was difficult.

[GaryKoca]

I agree. It was more of an arts and crafts fair with a couple of blueberry vendors. No cheerleaders but a few clowns. The only thing I bought was a chocolate croissant from Morikas bakery, which I can do any Saturday in Brownwood. But it was fine.

[FredTheHead]

The festival was a good reason to get out of the house and go on a nice walk. Us Villages dwellers will go play golf on the same course each week and we find it fun and exciting. Same with the festivals, they each are given a different name and the drink booth can make us a fruity drink to memorialize our attendance. Each day the only thing completely different is that we are a day older.

[Pam Heck]

Just another reason to have a festival, it’s not about the fruit or whatever else is supposed to actually be being celebrated. I was excited with anticipation for the big annual St. Patrick’s day festival so I could get some corned beef and cabbage and a Guinness, neither were available. Maybe it’s just me, but that’s what I associate St. Patrick’s with, not stilt walkers and baton twirlers?

As a proud member of The Village Twirlers and Drum Corp, we are honored to be chosen to perform on the squares for The Village festivals. We love being part of the festivities and performing for the crowds

[Pres1939]

Have you lived here long ? If not, you might enjoy some of the area's more "robust" should we say, LOL, blueberry festivals. There are several worth attending that are not a long drive at all, and we've always been able to buy wonderful locally grown berries at the same price we pay to pick them ourselves. Brooksville festival is next weekend, don't know for sure, but I've never noticed an abundance of pineapple there...been going for years. Also do a search, there are several new ones (if you are new to the area).
4/29 & 4/30 at Donnelly Park in Mt. Dora. Blueberry pancake breakfast 0900-1100.

[sowtime444]

Mt. Dora Blueberry Festival April 29-30:

Mount Dora Major Events and Festivals - Mount Dora Area Chamber of Commerce, FL (https://www.mountdora.com/mountdoramajoreventsandfestivals)

If you haven't been, Mt. Dora is a waterfront town to the east of The Villages with lots of boutiques and restaurants.

[DrHitch]

The one comment I'd make about all Villages festivals and craft shows is for the organizers to get some new vendors. Each event is the same golf cart accessory, leather belt, scarf, Celtic goods vendors....it may be expensive for a vendor to setup, etc...how about some more true art vendors?

[coconutmama]

As a proud member of The Village Twirlers and Drum Corp, we are honored to be chosen to perform on the squares for The Village festivals. We love being part of the festivities and performing for the crowds

Love you guys (and gals)!

[coconutmama]

My daughter-in-law is from revere beach. Her parents still live there.

Would you please have them send down some clams and roast beef sandwiches from Kelly’s? The best!

[Two Bills]

This is how a fruit festival should be!

98051

Click on Pic to enlarge.

[jimkerr]

Went to this today in Brownwood. I would be surprised if more than 2% of the vendors were selling anything even remotely blueberry related. It was basically the regular farmers market with extra vendors. Some booths were selling insurance, burial plots, lawn care services.

Very disappointed. They might as well have a pineapple festival next month to draw crowds and add two booths selling pineapple daiquiris.

Lol, you’re right on. It’s the same vendors as always. People complain about no parking or it being too crowded. They have women in tacky dresses spinning and doing some kind of silly dance.

They really need a good event planning team because you’re right. It’s like they switch the name from strawberry to blueberry and have the same old stuff. :(

[Madisond]

[QUOTE=FromDC;2210021]We always pick at Back Road Berries in Oxford. They start the year with strawberries. They are now into blueberries. Soon they will start blackberry season. You can get on their email list so you'll know what is available. You can pick your own and (sometimes) they have already picked for sale. Give them a try![/QUOTE

Thanks for the tip!!

[Laker]

When I turned 60 about 10 years ago my son said that now I was eligible to be a "GPS", ie: "Grumpy Person over Sixty".

After reading the complainers remarks on here I will put forth another acronym: "GOF".
Standing for Grumpy Old ####,

Some people wake up every morning just looking for something to complain about. What a sad way to live....

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

My daughter-in-law is from revere beach. Her parents still live there.
Just to be clear for all my Revere friends who get very uptight , there are different sections of Revere and there very tribal , her parents when asked where there from would say they are from Revere ,but if they live on Revere Beach they could say that they live on Revere Beach lol

[Chi-Town]

The Blueberry Festival was a fun event. We are lucky to have a variety of entertainment options year round. Looking forward to Cinco de Mayo.

[Gator_Girl]

Any festival is just a drinking event.

[Jayhawk]

Went to this today in Brownwood. I would be surprised if more than 2% of the vendors were selling anything even remotely blueberry related. It was basically the regular farmers market with extra vendors. Some booths were selling insurance, burial plots, lawn care services.

Very disappointed. They might as well have a pineapple festival next month to draw crowds and add two booths selling pineapple daiquiris.

Did you buy from the 2% who did sell blueberries? If you did, what else would you need? If you didn't why would you need more? Just trying to understand the scope of your disappointment.

[richdell]

I enjoyed the Blueberry Festival. Now if they would just have a Banana Festival so I can get a banana daiquiri. ;)

[Karmanng]

We always pick at Back Road Berries in Oxford. They start the year with strawberries. They are now into blueberries. Soon they will start blackberry season. You can get on their email list so you'll know what is available. You can pick your own and (sometimes) they have already picked for sale. Give them a try!

OH I like the already picked idea so I will surely sign up!!! Thanks

[NavyVet]

Went to this today in Brownwood. I would be surprised if more than 2% of the vendors were selling anything even remotely blueberry related. It was basically the regular farmers market with extra vendors. Some booths were selling insurance, burial plots, lawn care services.

Very disappointed. They might as well have a pineapple festival next month to draw crowds and add two booths selling pineapple daiquiris.

Good to know. So glad I didn't waste my time. :-)

[JWGifford]

St. Pat's in Boston was ALWAYS a blast. A rite of passage for all college frat boys. The consequences of the drunken revelry along Beacon Street by Mass Ave (where the B.U. and MIT frat houses were located) lasted days. Some frats also have a fun ritual of doing pushups at certain smoots markings on the Mass Ave bridge, on St. Pat's Day.
Was just in Boston to cheer a buddy on who ran the marathon. Such a great city; cool bars, nice people, great food, interesting history. Had an absolute blast.

[VickiF]

🤣🤣🤣

[Pairadocs]

When I turned 60 about 10 years ago my son said that now I was eligible to be a "GPS", ie: "Grumpy Person over Sixty".

After reading the complainers remarks on here I will put forth another acronym: "GOF".
Standing for Grumpy Old ####,

Some people wake up every morning just looking for something to complain about. What a sad way to live....

You're right. In a similar community in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, some years ago before our own retirement, I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to observe the residents, including my parents, over a long time period. It was clear that some residents made a deliberate decision every day to NOT allow their personalities to deteriorate into resentment, anger, and all the other negative expressions of self discontent and disappointment. Others clearly realized the dangers of slipping into such an unfulfilling life, and took measures so it "would not happen to them". By that I mean, if we (a young family then) arrived with our sons, they would be excited to have an opportunity to engage the boys in conversation, show them things on the beach, talk to them around the pool, and so on. Those folks knew, as I do NOW, that one has to be alert to guard against slipping into a negative state of mind, especially in communities segregated by age. While there are many benefits, it also comes with some "dangers" of negative perceptions, or as some say, "crabbiness". Have you ever seen an individual intentionally go to a family pool, then become obviously upset that their hair, or book got splashed from children playing ? So, at the same community in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea where we would visit my folks often since it was a very short drive away, others would retreat to their homes and, using binoculars (true!) would spend the afternoons watching the pool area, recreation complex, etc. in anticipation of seeing ours, or the children of others, unaccompanied on the grounds (a restriction, much like all dogs must be on a leash, all children of ANY AGE under 18, were to be accompanied at all times by an adult) and being able to call the manager and make a complaint. I didn't realize at the time, but I was taking in all the psychological aspects of this, not the rules...no unaccompanied children seemed a logical rule to me, but I was storing information for MY future that would help me avoid becoming the opinionated, negative, angry, soul I did not want to become. It is a given of course, that in some cases there are actual changes in brain structure that result in personality changes. We've experienced that too in our family, but I am only referencing those for whom it is a deliberate choice to be "difficult".

[Pairadocs]

Just another reason to have a festival, it’s not about the fruit or whatever else is supposed to actually be being celebrated. I was excited with anticipation for the big annual St. Patrick’s day festival so I could get some corned beef and cabbage and a Guinness, neither were available. Maybe it’s just me, but that’s what I associate St. Patrick’s with, not stilt walkers and baton twirlers?

Over the years we've noticed the various "festivals" have lost most, if not all, of their unique characteristics. The German, Irish, Italian are all fine get togethers, but the UNIQUE features, like the corn beef and cabbage you mention, has faded into an almost boiler plate like format. Now, I'm not sure how "The Villages" can insist particular vendors, or new vendors, participate, so they would have to concentrate on how to make each festival special, unique, interesting. Many do not like the "old days", of residents sitting in groups, often from the same street or neighborhood, along the parade routes anticipating the Christmas parade. The parade was never the same after moving to the polo field, and having parades in all squares is just too overwhelming (apparently). The horses in the Christmas parade and some other parades, messed the village's streets and angered many, it contained a float or two (sometimes) with a Church or Christian theme, but most were bands from local schools, and just floats of joy and happiness, elves and Santa, just fun, not "making a statement". Then the "cultural thing" became a concern, the Irish might claim superiority over the Germans, or Italians, and then there was the problem of no Norwegian festival, so of course the "lines" that distinguished the various festivals needed to be "toned down" a bit, blended into kind of "oneness" that reflected a new era. Again, no problem, but we just gradually found them boring, and skipped most. But, the numbers of new residents pouring in each day, really makes it unnecessary to add any "new pizazz" to the festivals.

[mamamia54]

The twirlers did a great job!
All the performers did a fabulous job. We are lucky to have such talented people right here in the Villages.

As a proud member of The Village Twirlers and Drum Corp, we are honored to be chosen to perform on the squares for The Village festivals. We love being part of the festivities and performing for the crowds