One of the key reasons for us attending was to enjoy contests for best costumes. We put together an impromptu elf costume for Jasmine but she declined to enter the contest.
One kid stole the show, he approached the commentator meekly in a rather average dinosaur costume – the MC asked him what character he was – the kid roared SMAUGGGGGG! – it was so loud and unexpected the audience cheered. Here are a few more kids being cute in their costumes.
After finishing the 3+ hr Fellowship of the Ring and lunch we decided to skip the other two movies (especially since they are scarier). But the Tolkien festival had lots going on.
We went to the ballroom to catch some of the Hobbit performances. They had a great sound effects section. Listen to some of the videos. Really amazing.
A local restaurant chain called McMenamins turns existing buildings into restaurants and where possible adds movie theaters. The Kennedy school was at one time a grade school now converted into a pretty cool place to go. In honor of JRR Tolkien’s birthday (he wrote the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings), McMenamins had a festival showing all three movies. Emily had other things planned so it was father daughter day.
We barely got there in time to get tickets; so we had to sit in the front row; but it’s a non-traditional theater with loveseats couches and fluffy chairs. We sat on a comfy two person loveseat which worked well as Jasmine did lots of hiding during the more intense scenes of the Fellowship of the Ring. But one scene in particular stood out and when we got home she did a little enactment for Emily – “None shall pass!”
After so much walking in the cold at Zoo Lights, we had worked up quite an appetite. Brian and Pattie took us to one of their favorite pizza places. The pizza hit the spot and the girls had fun clowning around with Jeff and the camera.
Once again the annual holiday light extravaganza at the zoo did not disappoint. Although grandma was sick and did not brave the cold, Destiny and her mom and dad (Patty and Brian) joined us. The pictures don’t do it justice, but we took a lot trying to capture it all.
