Photos of a midway at a fair are usually of the bright colored lights, cotton candy and starry eyed teens holding hands...waiting for a chance to be alone with each other for maybe the first time. Today however is for the workers...the traveling minstrels who bring back our traditions from year to year without fail.

I stood beside the Twister ride watching and listening. I wondered where else in this world I could watch kids boarding a ride...parents let them out for a day on their own...while hearts pumping to 200 decibels of AC/DC singing "Highway to Hell"?

I made it a point this year to talk to the Carnies...a name even they call themselves. I came to understand that theirs is a job taken for the same motivations that makes us leave for work each morning. Support of family, scrape enough together for health insurance and put food on the table. For many of them...it was a path freely chosen years ago. I spoke to 3 different workers who had been doing this gig for over 20 years and still enjoy the chance to work outside and travel the country. They told me they enjoyed the excitement on the faces of the children as they picked up that Ducky to see the word "Winner"...and walk away with a goldfish. They enjoyed the macho of the teenager trying his best to win the Jumbo Tiger for his admiring friend.

I spoke to the woman under the quilt. Her's was the last photo I took...at the end of the evening of the last day. Physically and mentally spent, her job was to clean the toilets and keep the necessities replenished in each portable privy. She remained until the last visitor left Franklin street. I asked her what her job was and she told me her story...with a sense of pride she shrugged and said "Hey, someone has to do it".

I spoke to an older woman with years of lines on her face...the result of years and years of exposure to the winds of October, the dog days of August after August and too many cigarettes. This was going to be her last year on the road. Years ago, she got her B/S in nursing. The summer after graduating, for a break she joined the traveling show. Almost 30 years later, she will end the journey...return home to Oklahoma City and begin a job a senior care center next month.

The police are always at the street festival. A few years ago, there was trouble with biker gangs...thankfully that time has passed and for the last few years...other than the occasional tussle, they saw it as a chance to connect with the public...almost a public relations role.

To all the workers...thank you so much for allowing generation after generation in Evansville to visit and enjoy the Festival. You may pack up tomorrow and move to the next venue...but part of you remains behind with us and we are forever grateful.

Tomorrow...I will post some "fun and interesting facts" about the 2nd largest street festival in the nation held in Evansville, the first week in October each year.

Dan