Probably the biggest shock of the Dogwood festival each year comes when you walk past the rows of carnival games. All the typical games are there: darts at balloons, pellet guns at paper targets, balls at milk bottles, and the (in)famous basketball shoot where you shoot a standard sized ball at a half-sized hoop three feet higher than a regulation basket. No shock there, until the carney manning the booth reveals the price: $2 for a single shot, 3 shots for $5. Two Dollars a shot!

Shock or not, the festival only comes around once a year, so we have to play a few games. We handed over two bucks and the carney handed Michelle the ball.

"Stand here?" Michelle asked, pointing to the back edge of the impromptu foul line. The carney nodded.

Michelle took a few quick bounces, set herself for the shot, sprung and released. The ball flew in a beautiful arc, straight towards the basket and fell a good foot short of the extra height basket. WHIF! You could almost hear the ball completely miss the basket as the carney confidently folded my two dollars into his change pocket.

It was all just part of the evening, however, after a big bucket of fresh cut french fries, a funnel cake, and a stroll past the plethora of rides circling the park. We even managed to get E on the carousel for an early evening six-ticket ride. (25 tickets for $20 makes the basketball shoot look like a bargain). Unfortunately, the ride operator hadn't quite figured out the bugs in the audio system, so we were forced to ride amid the silence of the ride groaning beneath the weight of two dozen toddlers and their parents.

But how can you beat a complete festival just two blocks from your front door. There are rides and junk food and carnival games and concerts and who can forget the people watching? Tonight was just the start of it all. We've got a whole week of this left.