Last Saturday, Lucas, Clover, and I headed to the nearby town of Petaluma to check out their first annual Rivertown Revival, a free-to-the-public arts-based community festival intended to celebrate local artists and the historical significance of Petaluma as a river town.
A “turn-of-the-century nautical theme, with a playful carnival kind of feel” was the aesthetic du jour, and the event took place on the McNear Peninsula, home to the 100-year-old Ghirardelli barn with views of the surrounding industrial area.
In addition to local art, live music, food and drink, as well as various sideshow type entertainment, the highlight of the event was to be a man-powered art-boat race and parade. However, not realizing that the boat stuff was only going on for an hour and a half of the all-day festival, we unfortunately totally missed it, arriving just after it had finished. Bummer.
As for some of the sights we did see…
Caught a glimpse of a few of the boats still cruising around, including the one above.
Vintage garb and parasols a’plenty.
Strange metallic creatures. I recalled this guy riding his mechanical scarab(?) at last year’s Handcar Regatta.
A wonderfully witchy woman with flasks for sale.
Gorgeous gals in gingham.
The sun-kissed river and a rainbow of ribbons floating in the breeze.
Folks kickin’ up some dust on the dance floor. These two tore it up, they were AMAZING to watch.
On this sunny day with little shade to be found, parasols were as much about function as fashion.
Little girls in vintage frocks with straw hats.
Big girls in vintage frocks with straw hats. A couple of familiar Santa Rosa faces, Theresa and Sally, looking super lovely and stylish, as per usual :)
Lucas chatting it up with Brian and Sally. By this time, my poor guy was really wishing he had worn a hat like everyone else, or at least remembered to bring his parasol ;)
I think Sally’s white dress with the beautiful red embroidery might just be one of the most perfect vintage dresses ever to exist! I swoon.
And what better way to end than with one of Clover’s radiant smiles, right? I tell ya, if we could find a way to harness the energy of a happy Clover smile, a small village could probably be powered in the process. The kid’s got quite a grin :DGranted it was a first attempt at a festival that I’d say has huge potential to turn into something pretty awesome, I’ve gotta admit that it felt a lot like a watered-down (pun intended) version our own town’s upcoming Handcar Regatta, with man-powered boats on the river rather than man-powered railcars on the tracks.
I thought they could have gone a little further than “less steam punk, more Tom Sawyer” as an aesthetic to distinguish themselves. Just my two cents. Now, having said that, it was indeed a lovely day! (We just finished watching Season 7 of Curb Your Enthusiasm, most hilarious season ever, but I digress…)
The whole thing did however, get me pretty, pretty, pretty,...pretty excited (ok, enough with the Curb references) for Sunday September 26th. If you’re anywhere in the vicinity, I highly recommend a trip to Santa Rosa to witness and take part in the raucous free-to-the-public spectacle that is The Great West End & Railroad Square Handcar Regatta & Exposition of Mechanical and Artistic Wonders.
I’ve got a super fun little old timey, circus-y, vintage dress that has been very patiently sitting in my closet SINCE FALL just waiting for said occasion to ROLL around!
24 comments:
what wonderful pictures of the event! Those vintage dresses the little girls and older girls are wearing are superb! Wish there was something like that where I live. You look adorable too with that little sailor shirt and hat!kromisrh
really great pictures, especially the dance ones! i love movement photography, especially dance, and it's so tricky to catch the right shot. those are really perfectly timed. and now i need a parasol.
oh, and you look fabulous! are you not just the picture of a long, leggy, california blond
fantastic! I wish i could have been there too. I wonder if such festivities take place around these parts...
aw geez: parasols, bloomers, suspenders, tophats, gingham and stripes oh my! these circussy styles are driving me wild and reeallly making me want to consider a trip out to santa rosa on sept 26th! you all looked amazing and the day seemed fabulous...i wonder if your enchantment might have been fuller if you'd seen the boats? the one boat you show here looks pretty damn rad. i love that west sonoma county has embraced this steam punk aestetic...where was this when i was there? all i remember is reggae and hip hop....
I love your outfit! So relaxed but stylishly chic at the same time.
Looks like a really fun event. I love how everyone's wearing cute straw hats :)
Hmm, a fun circusy vintage dress you say? I for one, cannot wait to see you wear it!
Oh my I adore that aqua colored lacey parasol - so lovely :)
Missa - What a WONDERFUL day!!
I am a long-time 'lurker' (and admirer) of your blog, and just wanted to say thank you for helping to give me the courage to FINALLY post a vintage outfit on my own blog - so 'THANKS'.
Would love to have you stop by my blog and give me an honest critique if you get a chance!!
S-
Your outfit in the first picture is perfection, Missa!!!
That festival looks like a ton of fun, I wish we had something similar to this here.
This festival looks amazing! Vintage dresses and straw hats, what could be better?
Looks like a great day out :) Makes me really look forward to summer seeing all those pictures!
wow, you look fantastic and all those vintage dresses are way outta control! will definitely consider packing the fam in the car and heading up to sr sept 26! thanks for the tip! (and i support your use of curb yr enth. quotes!)
That dancing couple looks so adorable!!! Love their outfits, actually I love the dresses of so many in these shots.
I can not believe there are not one but TWO of such amazing festivities in your immediate vicinity! The whole thing looks so very fun, parasols and walking scarabes oh my!
How I want to visit Petaluma. A friend of mine just sent me a fabulous care package from the Lavender Bee Farm there. And now I'm puttin on my straw hat!
WOW, I wish i would have known about this, it looks like a perfect place to be. I miss hippy festivals so much, I spent much of my younger years exploring and enjoying them! Everyone looks so beautiful, especially you and the darling Clover
i. want. to. go. these photos are quite delightful. i swoon.
You seriously do the coolest things. I'd love to go to something like this. Although I think Orange County is a bit uptight for anything steampunk :P
oh my gosh, those dresses, those parasols. so amazing. and i can't wait for your hometown festival post - i remember your pictures from last year, i would be there in a heartbeat if i was still in california! bet your dress will be the best! clover's gingham and hearts get up is pretty perfect.
whoa, wish i could have joined in on these festivities! you and the little ladies are all very festive!!
your hat RULES by the way, should come out to play more often :))
jess s//
seems that you had such an enjoyable time! you took amazing photos as well - thanks for sharing!
River town Revivial looks like a real hoot! and thanks for the comment on my blog; it gave me the opportunity to check out your lovely blog. You look darling and your little gal is such a doll!
I am excited to look through your blog some more.
oh, and the Great West End and Square Handcar Regatta ...looks really fun too; I’ll have to look into that.
Ciao for now.
ooooh i wish i could go to something like this! it looks absolutely wonderful and your outfit is to die for, perfect, perfect.
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