PHOTOS: The Sights and Smells of the Georgetown Carnival

“Here, smell this,” Tom Fasnacht said, holding up a bright chartreuse mineral up to Susan Murphey’s nose.

“Ugh!” Murphey exclaimed, as she jerked away.

“It’s sulfur,” Fasnacht said, and they both chuckled, as he put the fragrant mineral back into its box at the mineral stall.

Fortunately for Murphey and the thousands of other people who filtered through the 14th annual Georgetown Carnival, the smells that wafted along Airport Way South on the afternoon of June 8 were that of decidedly more appetizing festival food. People feasted on spiraled, fried potatoes on sticks, savory sushi burritos, and smoked meats, washing it all down with lemonade, homemade horchata, and beer. Artists’ stalls dotted the side streets, the vendors selling everything from bone jewelry to minerals to woven art.

Near the main stage that hosted various musical performers like Willow and Bear Axe, people cut out their own silhouettes to contribute to a large table made out of the cut-outs. Further up the street, others raced homemade creations along a racetrack in “power tool races,” as spectators cheered them on.

In and amongst the usual carnival attractions, local artists showed off their pieces, all created for the Recycled Art Festival in the carnival. Artist Sherry Brown’s canine creation attracted more than one dog parent, many of them stopping at Brown’s booth to take pictures of their furry children with Brown’s metallic creation.