Richmond Dale is an unincorporated community southeast of Chillicothe that you can find right off of US Route 35. And when you get off the exit during their Salt Creek Valley Festival, you can find a huge “Road Closed” sign keeping you from entering town.
Fortunately, I was able to turn down a narrow road…
The festival takes place at the intersection of Main Street and Vigo Road…
This didn’t concern me much because I didn’t really expect the festival to be all that exciting. Like festivals that celebrate the town or area (as opposed to a crop or idea), I had been disappointed so many times that I didn’t want to get my hopes up.
But it was early on…
…that I remembered how it was the people that make festivals special. And as I chatted with the owner of that booth about festivals and the area, I started to see more potential in the Salt Creek Valley Festival and the community.
I looked over the food with a refreshed spirit…
But that’s not all I noticed.
…I noticed a lone vendor sitting off in the distance.
This wouldn’t have grabbed my attention so much…
…a good distance beyond the rides and games.
Whether these booths were out there to avoid a vendor’s booth fee…
And the people of Richmond Dale seemed to be a proud community…
I even saw some celebrities my nephew and niece would have appreciated…
….but I finally got him to smile (at someone else).
j