Evidence of the festivities marked the trail that led from the road to the southern glen. Triple swirls of chunky crystalline lightbulbs were woven in strands through the trees and on ornately carved metal poles. Each light began as purest white, but briefly morphed through every color in the rainbow (and perhaps a few not usually seen!), giving a gentle pulsating effect to the illumination and casting rainbow-tinged shadows down onto the path; and more, the pattern of the pulsating colors seemed to beckon the way forward, illuminating the way to the celebration. When the well-lit path widened, it opened first onto an arrangement of prize-heavy penny carnival stands. Booth attendants entreated partygoers toward dart throw boards covered with brilliant balloons, raised bottle-filled ring toss tables, precarious arrangements of china plates and cups for the copper toss, and milk bottle pyramids for the baseball throw. Their exuberant calls mingled with the lively folk music that drifted around the glen.
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As merrymakers explored the springtime glen they would find along the southern edge activity booths and tables. Upon several tables rested a wide assortment of spring vines, flowers, rowan twigs, and fruit filled boxes for garland or May basket making. They were accompanied by paper cones, baskets, ribbons, feathers, floral wire, and glitter to decorate or hold each citizen's creation. After topping a head with a pretty crown"or giving a special someone a handmade nosegay or May basket"came the canopy for the face and body painters. Several persons manned this station ready to create painted masks and temporary tattoos, each artist able to transform parts of the body (or the whole thing!) with their skill.
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