Good day, with Spring only a few days away, it's time to start thinking about fellowshipping and talking in person about figs, aka a Fig festival!  The weather in my climate is trying to get warmer.  Soon we all will be face down playing in the dirt again!  Well, I don't know about you but---- I will!  So, let's get together and talk about figs!  Let's eat figs!  Let's play some games and have some fun!  Let's have a fig fess!!!!!!

There are 3 weekends that are on my radar for the fig fess.  August 15th, August 22nd, or August 29th.  One of these dates will be chosen.   I have not decided yet which date.  Why?  There are a few special guest that I'd like to attend and I have to reach out to them first and see which weekend is best for them.  I don't want to tell you who this person is yet.  But I will soon.

I know it's early but I just wanted to...."throw it out there" and get those interested to start thinking about it.  I would love to see each and every one of you!  I will announce the date later and post my contact information later.  So.........for now......here is what we have: 

What:  2015 Southeastern Fig Festival

Where:  My place -- Charlotte, NC

When:  TBD (one Saturday in August--no date yet)

Cost:  Just a positive altitude and a warm spirit

What to bring?  If you can, bring cuttings or trees to sell or trade and 1 fig tree for the white elephant game.

.......Events, games, and speakers will come later-----more to come!

Dennis, what a wonderful idea. Very generous of you to open your place up for the festival. Looking forward to it. Any food envolved? I d love to cook up a couple of Greek dishes to bring over.Let me know! Thanks very much for the invitation.

Woo Hoo!  Can't wait!

Man, I might need to pretend I'm Southern and come on down!  Would love to meet a lot of y'all

Chris, feel free to bring what ever you want.  I plan on having a whole smoked turkey, some BBQ, potato salad, rolls, salad, pie, cake, and lots more etc.

Danny, Ed, come on down!

Will do . Sounds like a party Dennis. Let the count down begin!

This will be my first fig gathering. It will be really neat to meet the people behind the keyboard lol

I will bring a good fig plant for game. Cant wait.

Let the party begin.  Now I know what I will do with those extra plants!

Looking forward to it and certainly would encourage others to attend if they can.  I Attended the Fig Gig last year and it was nice to meet and put faces with some of the people I have met online or whose postings I have followed. We had time to chat and get to know each other a bit, to compare notes on various topics and a chance to see some varieties in the flesh so to speak. We raised a bit of money and I was fortunate enough to come home with two new figs, one of the figs on my wish list, and another which I did not know much about. Now that I have researched it I am even more pleased with it. Its a great opportunity to meet people and we are fortunate to have members willing to undertake the work to make it happen.

Just checked only 9 hours away !!!!

Count me in for the SE Fig Festival!  This sounds like fun!

Alan,
You know I will give you a ride and help you with the trees.

Sharon

I think we can make fairly short work of it with the van.

I'm looking forward to it!

That sounds fun!  Wish I wasn't so far away.

Looking forward to it..

For those who are thinking about coming to this event, there is so much to do while here in Charlotte.  Here are a few places I like to visit:

1.  Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden:  
http://www.dsbg.org/
This place is absolutely gorgeous!  It's located in Belmont, about 30 mins from my place in Charlotte.  Parking is free!   It is kid friendly-- just make sure to stop by KFC or your favorite food place and bring food with you!  This place is a one huge garden of Eden!  Which means, you will be walking a lot.  You will get hungry and thristy!  They have a huge tropical greenhouse that is out of this world beautiful!  But I can't stress enough to bring a picnic basket with you!  We visited a few years back and brought a KFC dinner bucket and sides and left it in the car.  They have several patio tables with tables and chairs but no restaurant.  When we were there, folks kept stopping by asking us where we got the food.  They were shocked to learn there were no restaurants at of near the garden.  Plus this place is way out in the boonies!  We felt sorry for one family with kids and shared our food because the kids really wanted something to eat.  But the garden is truly an amazing place to visit!  They do have a few large fig trees and offer classes on how to care for fruit trees.  But if you go, remember ---bring food with you or will be eating candy at their general store!

2.  Discovery Place
http://www.discoveryplace.org/
This place is located downtown Charlotte.  You will have to pay for parking.  It is super kid friendly!  They have a lot of play things that allow kids to walk up to and try.  It's very nice museum!

3.  NASCAR Hall of Fame
http://www.nascarhall.com/
Located downtown just a few block from Discovery Place.  There is also an ice skating rink next door.  If you're a racing fan, you gotta see it!

4.  Historic Latta Plantation
http://www.lattaplantation.org/latta/index.php?page=home
This is a great place for history buffs.  It's located north of Charlotte about 15 from my house.  My wife and I do the horseback riding every time we go!  We love horses!  However, you have to make reservations in advance so plan according.  Horseback riding is with a small group of about 10.  the ride last 45 mins.  It is a nice relaxing thing to do.  All of the trails are covered by trees.

5.  Bank of America Stadium - Home of the Carolina Panthers!
http://www.panthers.com/stadium/
There isn't much here except a football stadium and a general store to buy authentic Panther gear.  But folks come and take pictures outside the stadium.  You have to pay for parking unless visiting the store, then its free.  I work right next door to the stadium.

6.  McGuire Nuclear power plant
http://www.duke-energy.com/visitor-centers/ee-about-the-energyexplorium.asp
Charlotte is home to the largest energy company in the USA, Duke Energy Inc.  Duke is also my employer.  One of our power plant has a mini museum that's pretty nice to visit.  Folks come from all around and visit and learn about how energy is produced.  It is located north west of the city, about 30 minutes from my place.

These are just a few places I've visited and really enjoyed.  There are so many other things to do!  
Here is a link on additional things to do:  http://www.charlottesgotalot.com/101-fun-things-to-do-in-charlotte

no date chosen yet for the festival------more to come......

wow Dennis cool I wish I were about 1000 miles closer ha .

Austin

Austin.....man come on over! A few years ago, I drive to Houston and back to pickup some fig trees. It's only 17 hours. Ha!

I still haven't chosen a date yet. I got too many other things to plan before this event! Vacation in Panama City Florida in April......a business trip to San Deigo in June (Jon, I'll call you when I get there)......family reunion in June too. It's gonna be a busy year!!!!!!!!!

ONLY 17 HOURS

IF you Have Astronaut Pants ..! ha ha

Austin

August 22 is look good!   Hmmm, need to check one more thing before I decide on the date.

Ah wish I could come back home and visit with all of you, but not going to be possible this year.   I could ship some cuttings from "Mr. Nasty" my fig tree for the white elephant sale, but I suspect people would pay not to have them available.  LOL   Don't forget Price's Chicken Coop   home of the best fried chicken on white bread sammich.    Also the drive to Lexington for some Carolina 'Cue  not to be missed.    Oh you guys are going to have such fun.   Joyce

Richie, I'm leaning towards the 22nd.  But that's not definite.