Colorful, Tuneful, "Best-ever" Creekfest

​I've been to reunions. I've been to festivals. I've even, in my day, been to a fair number of hippie love-ins, be-ins and other gatherings of the tribes. But nothing quite compares to Creekfest, an annual event hosted by our friends Paul and Valerie.

Saturday evening at Creekfest

​​Now in its 25th year, Creekfest is a reunion of "kin," who may or may not be related in a strict genetic sense, but who all share genes for enjoyment of good music, good food and good times.

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Imaginative art work adorns even the camping areas

​​Held on Paul and Valerie's wooded property on Coolbough Creek, the event goes on for a full weekend, with many of the 150-200 or so attendees camping on the premises. 

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This year's Creekfest schedule

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​Things get rolling Friday evening, when local chef Tracy Murrell offers Thai specialties. Music and merriment typically follow. 

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Creekfest's got talent!

​Saturday is activity-packed, with a kids' craft and painting party, tie-dye for anyone who wants to get colorful, and a rubber ducky race on the creek. This year, Ray and I arrived just in time for the tail-end of the pre-dinner talent show, an impressive display of musicality by youngsters and not-so-youngsters. 

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Emcee James Lutke keeps the talent show on track

Young performers take the stage

Eldon and Tonya enjoy the show

The setting is part of the appeal

​​Part of the fun is just taking in the setting. The "cabin," its additions and outbuildings have been constructed over the years with the help of friends. And everywhere you look are Paul and Valerie's creative touches, from Paul's metal sculptures to Valerie's moss gardens, to various intriguing objets d'art placed here and there. You could wander around for days and still not see everything. 

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Imaginative things wherever you look

. . . like this lady

. . . and this rakish fellow

Paul's fish swims through Valerie's moss garden

​After Saturday's talent show came a potluck to top all potlucks. I swear the spread was half a block long. Well, maybe not quite, but it just kept on going. All the dishes got rave reviews, especially one beet salad with goat cheese and walnuts. (Did you make that, Erin? We all want the recipe!)

The potluck to top all potlucks

A little of this, a little of that

The beat goes on

​​Still more music followed, and went on until the early morning hours, long after we'd gone home to bed. We would've stayed longer, but Ray had another festive event to attend the next day—a car show in New Hudson—and he wanted to be up by 4 a.m., about the time things wound down at Creekfest.

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​Once the weekend was over, I asked Valerie (who twenty years ago declared herself Creekfest Queen) for her thoughts about this year and all the years leading up to it.

The many faces of Creekfest Queen Valerie . . .

Feeling the love

Telling it like it is

Long may she reign!

A best-ever moment

​​​"For one reason or another, each Creekfest is the best ever," she says. "Sometimes I've had to stretch a bit to say that, but each year has its best-ever moments, this year included."

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​Every year also has its share of "oh, s**t" moments, this year included. Like when Valerie lost her birthday kazoo at the ducky race and dropped her iPad into the creek. But by last Tuesday, when I touched base with her, The Queen was chipper as ever and recalling the best-ever moments as well. 

Dogs and kids add to the fun

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​"The music, the kids, our kinship and love, the camaraderie. Even the dogs keep things fun and lively."  

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At Creekfest or anywhere, all you need

Although money also helps

​Another highlight: Creekfest's first-ever silent auction, which helped defray expenses—higher this year due to some necessary repairs and replacements. "We were ravaged by rodents last year," says Valerie. "They took down our inverter for the solar, the generator that pumps our water, the golf cart. They got into the wiring and trashed things."

Until next year, Peace Out!

​​All things considered, though, this year was the best ever. And next year? Better still. 

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​Do you have an annual event with its share of best-ever moments? What makes you look forward to it?

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More scenes from Creekfest . . .