We come to another musical performance in our evening and Bobby crawls up on the stage, crouching at the upright bass player's feet, clicking away. I lean back on my elbows and enjoy the music. The month is August, the place is Vermont (Waitsfield Valley to be precise) the vibes are excellent. We are visiting Lareau Farm Inn tonight, owned by my mother's dear friend, Lisabeth Magoun, another one of Vermont's courageous entrepreneurs. Lareau is buzzing tonight, hosting this FREE community music festival. I watch as kids chase each other through bonfire smoke, couples snuggle up under a blanket, fellas shoot the shit and drink Magic Hat next to the pig roast...it's a good night.

Two hours ago we were greeted, rather lazily, by the hosts. Who unfortunately, are a harsh reminder of how fresh tonight's cuisine will be. A sucker for a muddy face, I stop and spend some time with these guys, who seem much more interested in snoring than my persistent attempts to pet them. Bobby gives me a look that says, "it's time to EAT," and we move into the festival. Wow....You know how you romanticize things as a child? And one day come crashingly to the realization that it really wasn't quite that cool? You were just five...? Vermont trumps that rule. It really was that good. And it still is.

The smell of BBQ is strong, you can taste it on the smoke in the air. Localfolk Smokehouse, a tavern down the street, known for damn good BBQ and draft beers, is serving up the grub. Bobby and I get pulled pork sandwiches with spicy sauce on brioche buns. The coleslaw is fresh and peppery. Not a mayo glob to be seen. The lemonade is fresh squeezed and has just enough tang with the sweet. It is summer. The band is going for it...drummers with sweat pouring down their faces keep the audience entertained while all types of comedic dancing ensues. The "fairy godmother" of the event makes her rounds, thoroughly enjoying the music, and dropping it like it's hot all over the place. Her playfulness is infectious as more and more people join in the fun. Before long the field is filled with dancers young and old. Bobby and I boogie down and watch the people....a mother pleads for her teenage son to dance with her, and after a quick check to make sure not too may people are watching, he joins her for a spin. It's hard to resist this place.

Apart from great music, delicious food, and good times....we are privy to a bonfire extraordinaire tonight. Bobby and I lay underneath the flames as they tower over our heads...probably a littler closer than we ought to, but you do what ya gotta do for a good shot. Around us people gather like a giant family. Fifty or sixty people, chatting, snuggling, eating maple cotton candy...the music is still going strong, a 13-piece salsa band, luring most of the rowdy ones out on the dance floor. The others move in closer to the glowing embers. The nights are already getting cold here in the mountains. Before long snow will blanket the Valley for months, with a spring thaw much later than some might hope for. But tonight it is summer and the people are feeling groovy...it's like an episode of The Wonder Years.

Bobby looks up in the sky and sees a glowing paper lantern as it becomes a tiny spec on the horizon. There is a group gathered in the dark part of the field. A woman at the event has brought the contraptions to be sent off in the night sky. "If I had known there'd be so many kids, I would have brought more," she exclaims. The kids gather around as she explains how to light the candle and let the fire build up smoke and heat...they cheer and run through the pitch black grass as each one flies up into the night sky. A sight to be seen. As the last few lights float out of view I am suddenly much more aware of how cold it is...as we mosey to the car we pass groups gathered on the porch swing chatting it up, kids engrossed in an epic game of tag in the front yard, and happy customers eating pizza at Lareau's restaurant, American Flatbread. We float home with full bellies and happy hearts.

~ Kolleen Kintz

Check out Lareau: http://www.lareaufarminn.com/