My family and I were in the City on Friday and Saturday. Both were less-than-perfect weather days. The new pumpkin decorations throughout the park we really nice, and I feel like they really added to the atmosphere in a positive manner.
Our food was great as usual. Over the course of two days, our family enjoyed a family feud succotash skillet, a molasses cookie, cinnamon bread, cheese danish, hot pumpkin cider, coffee, and an apple dumplin' with cinnamon ice cream. My wife and I are big coffee drinkers, and we both agree that SDC has upped its coffee game. The coffee used to taste instant, and now it tastes brewed. It is much better.
The rides were in great shape. We rode nearly everything. We rode the train on Saturday, and the gentleman who is normally a train conductor was one of the Bolin brothers. The parts were said slowly, clearly and with a great deal of enthusiasm. It was the best train robbery I have seen in years!
Yes, it seemed as though there were fewer crafters. After talking to some of the vendors, it seems as though some of the vendors feel that they have been wronged by SDC. I hope that this feeling can be resolved. Crafts continue to be a life-blood of SDC for a very large segment of the population, including my family and me. I hope that some extra attention will be paid to the "Craft Days" portion of this festival. It was great to see Violet Hensly still at it!
As far as the Pumpkin Nights are concerned...meh. The pumpkins are nice, but not enough to merit a special trip to see. We walked through the trail because we were there already, but I wouldn't make a special trip to see it. For some awful reason, the bluegrass music stops and 5:00 PM, and modern music starts. I really don't understand this decision, but what do I know? Sometimes I feel like the PTB feel trapped by the 1880's theme and look for any opportunity they can to dump it. It seems to me that they are diluting their own brand, but I digress.
The Pumpkin Plaza is the stuff of nightmares for me. It doesn't belong at Pumpkin Nights, and it doesn't belong at SDC. One minute you are walking through a pretty lane with nice illuminated pumpkins. Then, you round the corner and you are in a cheap carnival in a back-of-house parking lot with inflatables, gaudy lights, and a DJ. It seems like a real disconnect.
If the folks in charge at SDC are reading this...please do me a favor. If you insist on using this parking lot for the Pumpkin Dance Party, please hold the Moonlight Madness street dances here as well. At least it is away from Main Street where those of us who want to avoid it can avoid it (except for the thumping bass music that can be heard throughout the park). We like the "great past ahead of us".
All-in-all, it was another great trip to my favorite place on the planet. I only critique because I care. We look forward to going back for Christmas!