Event of the Month

The sky over the San Francisco Peaks is building great castles of cumulus clouds threatening rain by the time I stop at a store in Flagstaff to ask directions. A cashier sends me south on U.S. Route 89A. "It will look as if you're heading for the middle of nowhere," he tells me cheerfully, "but then you'll see the fairgrounds signs. That's where it's at." He's right. And when I get there, hundreds of cars are already lined up to get into the Coconino County Fairgrounds. The attraction is the Festival in the Pines, a sort of fair and shopping adventure combined with a variety of good food. For desert dwellers, it's also a fine way to escape the August heat. I park along a dirt road shaded by tall ponderosa pines. Just past the entrance, a clever mind laid out food booths with a variety of tempting goodies. And if the crowds are any indication, the refreshment center is a big hit. The delightful smell of Indian fry bread wafts in the mountain air, and I'm suddenly determined to give in to a taste for a Navajo taco. That's fry bread stuffed with beans or whatever your appetite desires. When my chance to order comes, I ask the young waitress how many she's served today. "Who knows?" she says. "Next."

With stomach appeased, it's time to see the sights and enjoy the strolling entertainers, like the man with the cockatoo. "Is he friendly?" one of the onlookers asks. "Sure," says the guy with the bird, as he and the cockatoo exchange a few kisses. Then he points his finger at

WHEN YOU GO

The 10th annual Festival in the Pines will be held Friday through Sunday, July 31 and August 1-2, at the Coconino County Fairgrounds near Flagstaff. Admission is $5 for adults, free for children 12 and under. Hours vary: Friday, 11:00 Α.Μ. to 8:00 Ρ.Μ.; Saturday, 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.; and Sunday, 9:00 Α.Μ. to 6:00 P.M. A kennel for pets is available at the gate. To reach the festival, take U.S. Route 89A south from Flagstaff about three miles to the well-marked county fairgrounds entrance. Or take Interstate 17 to the fairgrounds exit (Exit 337) about two miles south of the Interstate 40 interchange in Flagstaff. Head west from the exit and follow signs to the fairgrounds. For more information, call the Mill Avenue Merchants Association at (602) 967-4877, or the Flagstaff Visitors Center at (602) 774-9541.

the bird and says "bang," and the bird flops over and plays dead. At the "Kidzone" there are plenty of attractions to keep the youngsters excited. That's where Shawn the Conjurer accosts me. "You look like a skeptic, sir," he says to me over the heads of his young audience. In unison, a circle of small faces turns to examine me. "Please, tie some good strong knots in these silk scarves," he says. When I'm done, Shawn retrieves the scarves, waves his hand over them, and-poof! the knots disappear to the delight of the mystified kids. Ah, so much for skeptics. Among the attractions here is the miniature train, operated by a very large engineer. He has a full load of serious-looking little ones. One tiny passenger suddenly starts to bawl. The engineer raises an eyebrow, but the tot's mother waves him on. "Keep going," she urges. I mosey past jugglers, karate experts, clowns, and musicians while bands play on three separate stages. Before I know it, three hours are gone, and I haven't yet gotten to the "important" part of the fair: the craft booths. The happy, smiling crowds of fairgoers seem to be going in the right direction, so I stroll along. The craft booths are the big attraction for many of the folks here, and I'm ready for them. Pottery, pistachios, and puppets I buy them all. Later a giant, green sculpted lizard catches my eye as does a beautiful wooden bowl that feels silky smooth and light to the touch. There are Virgil Stephens drawings here, too, and bonsai creations by Sen Jung Chen, and the wild dresses of Jack Maguire who creates vivid scenes on cloth of a land called The Aurora International Wilderness. That's a mystical place where, Jack vows, "nothing bad ever happens." Suddenly it's past 6:00 P.M., and I make my third trip to the car to unload purchases. Those earlier storm clouds have evaporated by the time I return, but, over at the main stage, something is brewing. The Groove Merchants, a high-intensity brass group, has pumped up the crowd with rhythm and blues. Everybody dances even a guy on crutches. Sometime after dark, I'm sated with food and fairgoing. I order a coffee and shuffle off toward the parking area. The car is stuffed; the wallet is empty. It's a long drive home, but it's been gotten my money's worth.

A 'KIDZONE', CRAFT BOOTHS, FOOD, DRAW THOUSANDS TO FLAGSTAFF FESTIVAL