By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

Over 300 artisans and vendors set up shop at the Cotton Pickin’ Fair, which takes place next weekend, October 3-4. This nationally-known fair in the Meriwether County town of Gay is one of the most popular festivals in the state.

I hadn’t been to a Cotton Pickin’ Fair in Gay, Georgia, for years when I decided to take fair director Ellen Gay McEwen up on her offer of a couple of tickets last spring. It seemed like a good time to expose Brianna to all the sights, sounds and smells of a big country fair. So, we made the drive to Meriwether County on the first Sunday in May.

The Cotton Pickin’ Fair has been in existence for 26 years. Originally held in October—“cotton pickin’ time” in the South—the fair has grown to a biannual happening the first weekend in May and October in this sleepy town of 100 people. The fair draws some 300 artisans and vendors from around the country—selling arts, crafts, antiques and Southern food—and about 30,000 visitors—making it one of the most popular reoccurring events in the state.

I can’t say Brianna was that enthusiastic about the pottery, sculpture, weaving, woodcarving, jewelry, painting and wearable art that caught my eye; but she thoroughly enjoyed the kiddie rides (particularly, the inflatable bounces, slides and moonwalk in the children’s area), the face painting, and the corn dogs and powdered sugar-sprinkled funnel cakes. (more…)

By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

Twenty-some years ago, my longtime friend Wendi Farr and I would take our young girls to The Foxx Theater in Atlanta for various plays and musical theater. As we said back then, “We’re going to give them culture and expose them to the arts, whether they like it or not.” Today, as far as I’m concerned, our old adage still holds true, but fortunately I don’t have to travel to Atlanta with Brianna to give her a bit of cultural entertainment. There are more and more regional and local theater groups that are doing a wonderful job. In my locale, The Legacy Theatre in Tyrone ranks right up there with any theatrical performances going on anywhere in the state, the region and across the country – for adults and children.

My first experience with The Legacy Theatre was last December when I went with Brianna and her pre-school class to see a performance of “The Elves and the Shoemaker.” All the acting was first-rate—not a weakness anywhere. The choreography was outstanding and, most importantly, the kids enjoyed themselves immensely. Brianna, who was four at the time, was so mesmerized that I immediately looked into the rest of children’s series to see what was offered and ended up buying tickets for the remaining season.

This summer, the regular season ended with a musical production of “The Wizard of Oz,” and Brianna and I were once again enthralled—Dorothy and the gang, singing and dancing Munchkins, poppies, trees and jitterbug ghosts—all New York City worthy. (more…)

By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

“In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.”

Remember that? It’s the opening line to one of my favorite childhood books, Ludwig Bemelmans’ “Madeline.” The series of Madeline books are ones I’ve read to my oldest daughter and now my five-year-old many times. There hasn’t been a new Madeline book for 50 years, but recently we traveled to the Decatur Book Festival in Decatur to hear Bemelmans’ grandson, author John Bemelmans Marciano, read from his new book “Madeline and the Cats of Rome.”

The Decatur Book Festival is in its third year and although you might not think of a book festival as a fun jaunt with your young one, think again! The festival holds a children’s parade at 9am on Saturday morning where children come dressed as a favorite storybook character. This year the parade theme was Madeline, of course, and we arrived early with our Madeline-bedecked Brianna, expecting about 30 to 50 kids to show up. Imagine my surprise when there were more like 500! (more…)