It doesn't matter how it all got started. It might have been someone on the city council remembering their first prom when they had a Cheese Burger as their big dinner afterwards. It could have been the fact that many of the food establishments took more than a small amount of pride in the cheese-burgers they served. The point is everyone has had a good memory tied to these two words, “cheese” “burger.” It is this good time feeling that seems to permeate the atmosphere at this festival. I say this after two nights of exploring this event, and looking to find a few good memories to take with me.  The nice thing about this event is that it provides many options for the person wanting to do just that. After all when it comes time to pack up and head home or back to the real world isn’t that what everyone is looking for? 
     For this trip we did a Thursday and Friday night and I can say that I would have liked to have been able to stay longer, as both nights were fun and also very different. This is a week-long celebration and encompasses a lot of events. A visitor might pick a day when they can take part in a sand-sculpture competition, or just watch the participants trying to mould a very uncooperative medium. There is a cardboard boat race, volleyball on the beach and more, depending on the day and the time. Of course the whole event is held together by the mighty cheese burger, good music and more than a few beer tents.
     On Thursday the atmosphere was more reserved, as the big parade was the day before. The people that were there for a little more intense time had expended their energy on parade night. This fact left the streets a little more subdued. The smaller number of people on the streets allowed for more interaction with the people we met. An old hippy, yes I did say hippy, decided that I should be made aware of the fact that “it was not like it use to be.” “A few years ago this was like Mardi Gras, man. You would pass out beads to see the best the girls had to show you, and man it sucks that they made us stop. It was just having fun you know what I mean, man?”
     I did know, and well I must admit that I was a little sorry for that as I looked around the crowd. Remember, I am a single man and an artist both of which seem to instill in me a deep appreciation for the female form. Still, there was a fun quality to the people even without the passing out of beads. It is just as well I told Josh. He would have spent a lot of money on beads if things had not changed.
     Me I would have simply hung out with people that were passing them out. It’s an artist thing, and I’ll stick with that. I only point this out because it seems that so often we as people try to go back to what was, and miss out on what is.
      As I looked around all I could think was I’m happy I’m not missing any of this. The teen age girls were dressed like they're in their twenties so they can meet a guy in his twenties, and teen age boys trying to be just a little more for the same reasons. I watched an old couple walking together and talking. I noticed how they stopped to linger for a moment remembering a past time that they had shared. However, for me it was the single Dad with his two children that made me think that perhaps change is sometimes a good thing. His intent was to make sure his kids were having the best time, as he tried to get as many good memories out of his limited time with his children. 
     A walk through the arts & crafts area yielded a new perspective on bead making. Another conversation provided me with a smile as I was enlightened as to what my 13 year old daughter would like to have to accessorize her school attire. In this I know the way selling works but I could see that the vendors were having fun even though I personally know how much work is involved in doing an event.  An event's quality is often reflected in its vendors. It is after all the reason it is all happening. It might be a little hard to have a cheeseburger without someone selling cheeseburgers.
     Now, I have to admit that I’m not a fan of artificially colored orange, cheese flavored, food products, but damn it was a long drive. The smell of burgers on an open flame is the best. Even the smoke from the open fires hung across the street, like a burger scented fog, as we walked toward the park. The smells,the activity, the drive now it was time to decide. What kind of cheese-burger should I try?
     With a vendor every few feet selling a different incarnation of this American icon, I would have to stay for a week just to try them all. I can see the addition of many ingredients, such as bacon, onion, the usual things. I do question, pineapple, pepperoni, and avocado as to their place as toppings on a cheese burger. At some point it is no longer a cheese burger.
     I have the same attitude when it comes to martinis. Just because you serve a drink in a martini glass does not make it a martini. I feel some things are best at their most basic. I decided to go with that. I could try something different later. With all the walking regaining my appetite would be no problem. It is always good when you make a decision and you win.
     I stood and watched the grill master flip and sear burgers. A hibachi chef? Well not quite, but fun, and what more do you need? I watched the cook work the grill while Josh chatted up the young woman taking our orders. In this Josh is the master, as beautiful women seem to leave me at a loss for words.
     "Just getting information" was his reply when I inquired about his conversation. “She knows what is on the events list tonight,” right I thought, but I still need to learn how to talk to beautiful women. Maybe after I have eaten, everything is better after a good meal.
     I have heard it said, that for many things the first time is the best. My first burger at the festival was just that. The cost was $3.00! Now that alone is impressive when you consider what most vendors charge for food at events like this. It was however a damn good burger. The toppings and condiments were fresh. Not only fresh, but had the flavor of something grown locally, and not pulled out of a hot-house. A fair price, good atmosphere, and people willing to be a part of an event, added to the sum total of a great night. It is this kind of event that brings me a smile. 
     There is a common ground when the cost of going to a festival is within reach of everyone. It becomes apparent when you step back and listen to the conversations as people pass, or watch the faces of the families as they take in the night. Well fed, and a young night ahead of us it was time to hit the streets. Our destination was the county park, a lot to see and hear.
     The first thing caught my attention as we walked was the music a few blocks up. A smooth clear voice, a clean guitar, and a harmonica filtered through the crowd, our next stop. Josh was already heading for the music. Again there was no disappointment in what we found. A father and son doing what they love. The slowness of the night provided us with the opportunity to talk as well as listen. In moments you can tell if you are on the same page as the people you meet.
     Not all of us have been blessed with a daytime job. In the arts we pay a different kind of dues. It might be the places we live, the choices we make to earn money, but there is always a cost. I had a moment to joke and laugh about our life choices and realize we could not live another way. It is always more the good to know that you are not alone in the lifestyle you have chosen, but maybe it chose us.
     Not everything is free. We found that out when we finally got to the park. A $7.00 charge was required for the evening concert. Not a problem as there was ample room to sit in the grass on the outside of the concert. This worked well as I have a problem with paying to listen to a band that plays nothing but covers. In this case a Raggae band that didn’t get tight until the last 20 minutes of the show.
     It was Thursday and the drive was not a trip across town. The drive home was no less. A decision was made next year we would bring Mary-Jane, and yes we would be back.
     On Friday, my bike flashed across Josh’s yard just as he was getting home from Port Huron. I had not even gotten out my leather when I heard the words “let’s go”. It looked like someone was on a mission tonight. That worked for me. The voice in my head screamed “this is going to be a long weekend”. 
     The plan was simple, festival to night grab a few hours sleep and be in Kentucky by noon on Saturday. I could do this after all it was my Miata that was in Kentucky. Suck it up Tin-Man you can do this. Right?
     Friday was a whole different feel on the streets of Caseville. The streets were full, not to the point of being overly crowed. The beer tents were filling up and the lines were forming outside the bars. It was still an easy night, the lack of fall down drunks a plus.
     We walked through the arts &crafts area and then headed for one of the beer tents. This one had a bull riding machine, and you could hurt yourself for free. Yes; you already know where I was headed with this on. Josh could ride the bull I would take pictures. After all somebody had to ride the bull. “I don’t know Don it has been a long time since I did any riding” Josh related to me. My response was “Josh it is like riding a bike, right?”
     What I did not say was that the only thing a person really remembers is how to fall off. Not only did he get on the damn thing, he did it twice. I don’t know for sure but it might have been the fact that the woman (a mother of four) stayed on the thing for the full ride, and looked good while she did it. I find my laughter when and where I can. If that makes me a bit puckish, I’m good with that. I also knew that I would pay for my fun. We still had a drive to Kentucky on the agenda. I was going to hear about the bull more then once. 
     As I have tried to point out this festival has many great things to offer, music, food, and organization. I would be doing you a disservice however if I did not also remind you of the setting. Caseville has beautiful beaches, trails, public access. As you move through the festival there is more than a few places that will give you a reprieve from the crowds. The beach also provides the perfect place for conversation with friends. It is also a beautiful place to watch the fireworks. 

Don Morey