A gigantic snowman is fun for any age to see. And this huge snowman, Faribo Frosty, appears each winter in Faribault, MN. It is an annual tradition for this Faribault family to create an enormous snowman with a hat and mittens and scarf, and all other snowman trimmings, including a bucket for his pipe.
We thought it might have melted a little before we got to take the grandchildren to see it this week because of the unusually warm temperatures, but if it did melt any we couldn’t tell…it was still huge, and a big hit with the kids.
The family encourages people to stop by to see FariboFrosty, and to take pictures, and to enjoy their wonderful gift to their community. We are joyful recipients of their labor of love and are thankful for it.
I learned from a friend who was working the registration table that no one was turned away from the event. People who were on the waiting list were notified that they could come down and eat, and others who “just showed up” could also get a purple wristband and look for empty seats (no-shows) and sit down to eat. Many people commented on how welcoming that felt…not to be turned away.
All in all, Northfield Shares a Dinner shared dinner with about 1,200 people, and there were a few leftovers. It’s likened to the Bible story of the loaves and fishes in Matthew 14: 13-21.
About six years ago, I was at Kew Gardens in London and there was an outdoor art installment that I have thought about many times over the years. As I remember it…it was a long rectangle table, with sturdy, straight back chairs around it. The table was set with china, bolted down, and edible plants were growing from the teapots and cups and serving bowls. As I stood on one end of the table and looked out beyond it, there was a grassy area lined with tall, leafy trees on each side. Later, as I walked up that grassy area towards the table and between the tree canopy, I was enthralled with the whole scene and it felt very inviting.
That scene came to mind when I first heard of Northfield Shares A Dinner. A dinner: outside, along our town’s main street, with continuous tables set for 1,000 neighbors and friends… wow! The idea was fascinating to me, and I was excited.
The tables were full all along Division Street.
And it happened last weekend…with the help of hundreds of volunteers through Northfield Shares, a non-profit organization in Northfield that promotes volunteerism.
Registration area to pick up your wristband.
I reserved tickets right away. Reserving a spot early was crucial because the 1,000 tickets were quickly dispersed. A wait list began…people wanted to participate. At the registration table a wristband was your ticket and indicated your seat assignment.
Volunteers setting the tables.
The weather during the week prior to the event was almost perfect…cool temperatures, dry air, still days. The day of the event turned cloudy and threatened rain, but only a few drops fell, until after the meal was finished. We were all grateful.
When I arrived downtown the tables and chairs were set up and the tablecloths were on.
I went downtown to Bridge Square on Division Street a few hours before the 5:30 p.m. serve time to help get things ready.
I helped set the tables. Photo by DG.
The tables were covered in colored plastic table clothes with a white runner down the middle. Two tables were pushed together and eight chairs were set on each side.
The brown paper bag containing the eating utensils.
A brown paper bag was placed at one end, which contained paper plates, cups, flatware, napkins and name tags, enough for sixteen.
On each table were two tri-fold cards that were menus…one in English and one in Spanish. These had to be taped down due to the slight wind that afternoon.
Beautiful flower bouquets.
Beautiful flowers, grown and donated by the local garden club, adorned each table…and not just a few flowers in a vase but a beautiful bouquet in mason jars.
Water pitchers were filled and placed on each table too. The organizers thought of every detail.
Flowers, menus, BBQ sauce, salt, water and tongs on each table.
The food was donated. A cook was hired to smoke turkeys from Ferndale Market and pork from Holden farms. Corn on the cob, donated by Grisms, was grilled and salad greens from local CSA farms in the area were tossed together by Bon Appetit, the food service used by both colleges. There were dinner rolls from the Brick Oven, BBQ sauce from Kahlo restaurant and Johnny Pops was our sweet treat after the meal. It was all served family style by youth in our community. Everything was delicious.
Musician groups at each end of the street.
As I write about this I’m in awe of what a wonderful event this turned out to be.
Colorful dancers.
It was intended to bring community together and it did. Every table was full and everyone seemed to be having a jolly good time. There were music groups playing before dinner and costumed Hispanic dancers on the main stage on Bridge Square. Piped-in dinner music played in the background as we ate.
Another view of the full tables. Photo by TA.
What a great idea. What a great community event. What a great get-together.
The Defeat of Jesse James Days (DJJD) is Northfield’s community celebration, and is always the weekend after Labor Day. This year the weather was ideal; bright sunny skies, low humidity with temperatures in the 70’s. Perfect.
Over the weekend there are several re-enactments of the bank raid that happened in 1876. This failed attempt at robbing the First National Bank in Northfield is credited for the demise of the James-Younger Gang. Three of their gang members were killed (and two Northfield citizens) that day in the shoot-out, while the other gang members separated which put an end to their criminal careers.
A “de-feet” of Jesse James donut, made each year at Northfield’s downtown bakery. I chose this over the mini-donuts I usually buy.
DJJD offers carnival rides, a lot of food trucks, craft fairs, organized runs, walks and bicycle rides, a community parade, and a rodeo comes to town. This year I decided to go to the rodeo. It had been several years since I attended the rodeo and it was fun.
Very interesting watching the riders on the bucking bulls.
The emcee, with a southern drawl, was engaging (and opened the rodeo with a prayer). He bantered with the clown who was so much more than a clown. This “clown” danced to several (25?) different, consecutive music clips. I was exhausted just watching him move. He had the footwork down and he could dance! He was amazing to watch.
In addition there was bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, calf tying, barrel racing, and mutton busting – where children sit on the back of a sheep and hang on as long as they can, which is usually a second or maybe two. One sheep, with a child on it’s back, came out of the gate, plopped down on the ground and wouldn’t get up. It was funny and we laughed. Poor kiddo.
Sheep used for Mutton Busting. Notice the field used for the boot race…kids running in their socks.
Another event involved kids, ages eight and under, who were wearing cowboy boots. They were invited out to the middle of the arena and asked to take off one boot, put it in a pile then walk to the other end of the field. When all the kids were all down at one end a signal went off, they raced to the pile of boots, found their own boot, put it on, and ran back. It was comical.
