I miss interactive demonstrations at the stores during the kids fest. It wasn't called that 25 years ago, but here is how it went. Instead of Spongebob, and the similar modern "pop" image additions to the summer months, Kids could take part in the crafts. As a child I threw 2 pots on a pottery wheel on the porch of the Hillside Pottery shop (with assistance cenering the clay from the potter himself), made a butter churn out of barrel staves and hoops (which we were told would be sold the net day...later I found out that they were quickly dismantled for the next kid to put together), my sister StlPhotogal spun a jump rope, we pressed (minted) coins, tooled leather cuffs/ bracelets and keychains. There were no beanie babies or battery powered toys, we would buy marbles, or dolls (in Stl's case-not mine). Buy cap guns and pop/ cork guns, and enjoy every minute of it. We didn't need to bring in Smurfs or Sesame Street or any characters to make our trip worthwhile.
The attractions I miss are the Gandy Dancer, the rope maze/ , the treehouse, Rube's diving bell, Walking behind the waterfall to the land of forgotten crafts (I guess those have been forgotten again huh?). Cabin/ R/R tie making was always a favorite of mine to watch.
I miss my childhood SDC as you can tell!
HOWEVER...I can come to the park and still...
hear the ping of the hammer on the anvil, become disoriented in the Grandfather's mansion, see a fire thats been burning a town for almost 40 years , see prisoners that haven't stopped a leak in 42 years, I could go on and on.