October 16, 2012 
Goleta Valley Lemon Festival
What do you do when life gives you lemons? A whole, lotta lemons? You go to a Lemon Festival, of course. The annual, citrus-soaked Lemon Festival staged at Goleta’s Girsch Park, to be specific. Now, no groaning, chickens. I know I’ve already featured plenty of Santa Barbara festivals at CHARRON’s CHATTER, but this event is too refreshing not to * squeeze * in, too.
And just to keep it lemon-fresh, we’ll wend our way through in an all-consuming, gustatory fashion—something we haven’t yet done at these rolling food fests, but since I adore all things lemon other than cars, it’s time to suck it up.
Lemon Floss is boss!
All hot months are fire prevention months, and with temps in the 80’s, October is no exception. Our tart festivities start by chatting with a kiosk-full of National Forest Folk set up at the park’s entrance, and it’s yesteryear touching to note that Smokey the Bear is still among the fire prevention representatives—though not the least bit lemony.
Listen to Smokey!
He isn’t the only environmentally aware spokes-bear on hand. Right away, I see the booths set up at this festival feature more substantial wares than gauzy fairy wings. There’s a heavy green and political contingent, including stands encouraging affirmative votes for Prop # 37 (advocating labeling of GMO’s), and measures A & B (for the good of our schools) and “Goleta Valley Beautiful” booths, too—the Johnny Appleseed of the Goleta and Santa Barbara areas.
Measure A & B 2012
To borrow some literature from the GVB website, Goleta Valley Beautiful is a non-profit environmental, educational & community service organization that emphasizes urban forestry for public areas, serving the Goleta Valley and Santa Barbara County since 1974. (A bit more involved than Johnny Appleseed, and in conjunction with the California Urban Forests Council) Currently underway is a grant project from the California Resources Agency to plant 1888 trees along the Los Carneros and Glen Annie/Storke interchanges.
Knowledgeable UCSB students comprise their volunteer staff.
Plenty of detailed information about the “how-to” of it…
Yes, these celebrators of citrus have get up and go! Just look at these lemon lovers getting jiggy with the bungee-ride attraction. Elastic fantastic or what! Especially with the popular, cover band: Voice of Reason onstage providing rockin’, background jams, but since neither bungee or band appears to be topped with meringue, and the line to bounce is awfully long, we cut our losses & continue the quest for albumin.
The bouncy—without the house!
“The Voice of Reason”. Lead singer: Brandi Lentini can belt ’em out!
www.facebook.com/1thevoiceofreason
The Fifth Element gives us pause, however. After foregoing the miniature golf option and pony rides en route to “food alley”, Jim and I are taken in by a vending table strewn with an elaborate display of Himalayan Rock Salt. Giganter rock salt, chickens. Big enough to style as a lamp that, when lit, removes negative ions from the surrounding air. And it’s pretty, besides! Just look:
Proprietor: Bilu keeps a tidy table.
This is what it looks like at night. Such a warm glow!
Hmm. Lemons, salt…can anyone say tequila? No? How about Limoncello…Salt in hand, we follow our nose to the circle of food vendors, bypassing the usual BBQ stands and food-on-a-stick booths, though we do pause to grab a lemon Italian ice.
Just the thing to keep cool as we join the line for pie—the length of which is only paralleled by the bungee jump line, but since the reward is incredibly edible instead of vertigo disconcerting, we’re good to wait. You can’t beat the ten-dollar price tag Anna’s Bakery puts on their delicious pastries, and you simply can’t go to a Lemon Festival without picking up a lemon meringue.
Anna’s Bakery at the Marketplace makes these edible gems.
Have a piece?
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Charron's Chatter 
There is another adventure to add/enjoy before the final bell.
I know it, Bill. I am actually setting aside this week to go through all my submission records, and see where Spirited Remix is in query stage (how many months where–then inquire about query, if sufficient time has passed) Also, to check (untapped) potential houses for specific calls for urban fantasy–then to figure out exactly WTF before the end of the year. If necessary I will go indie, I suppose, but would prefer the label. I stand by my decision not to go with the one offer I had, though. It was just the right thing (for me) to do. Thank you for coming by. I miss your remarks. 🙂
You are a BIG tease! I’m going to the Pumpkin Festival in Circleville, Ohio this weekend, but I’m going to wishing for lemons.
You are a BIG tease! I’m going to the Pumpkin Festival in Circleville, Ohio this weekend, but I’m going to be wishing for lemons.
That sounds like a rompin’ good time. Very seasonally suited. If you do a write-up, shoot me a link! 🙂 Thank you for coming by…
ahhh you saved my fav to the last…but I have yet to find anyone to make a lemon meringue pie like my mom’s! Umm fresh lemonade since I have been ill most of last and this month I have been trying all the recipes for different ways to make lemonade so far I have mad 14 and all I can say is I am quite tart about now! ly soul sister xx
Ahh. The elusive meringue recipe. To brulee or to bake…that is the question. I make lime meringue regularly at my PT chef job; my boss has a very successful lime tree, so I am always working with them. I’d love any and ALL recipes for improving on lemonade–or just shaking it up–as lime-ade is obviously the beverage of choice at work. And doesn’t it sound perfect for a cold. So refreshing. I hope you are well on the mend, and “scurvy-free”, LW’s. TY for drive by!
I shall send you recipes is email ???? I lost it sorry I have terrible time with organization even on these new fangled machines!
Great post – love those lemons. Reminds me of a card a friend once sent me: “When life handed her lemons, she asked for ice, vodka and a sippy straw.
Are you there vodka…? It’s me, Chelsea..hehe…that brings back some fond bar-tending memories. The lemon drop—fresh squeezed, natch—was my specialty! The sippy straw is a wonderful addition.
This looks like a fun festival…too bad we don’t have lemon festivals in Indiana…we do have a persimmon festival though.
Don’t be persnickety! Persimmons are…that is to say–persimmons can be….um…it’s safe to assume that–er…what’s a persimmon again? (lol) Thank you running4joy, for stopping over!
This post combined my love of lemons (now I want to try lemon cotton candy!) and we have a Himalyan Rock Salt light crystal. My husband is just so-so about it, but I really feel better when I’m reading or writing in the same room with the light.
I am ready to have one of those crystals in every room! Such a soothing, warm light–and the properties aren’t bad, either. Thank you for stopping by, and yes…you DO want some lemon cotton candy. It was faboo. 🙂
oh I never have tasted lemon floss, its a beautiful flavor I think, mouth watering