The Strange Magnetism of Small-Town Festivals

There is something about small town festivals that defies logic. Perhaps it's the smell of fried foods wafting through the (very fragrant) air, permeating every breath you take. Perhaps it's the promise of watching strangers compete to see who can eat the most eponymous of American foods (hot dogs, pie, you-name-it) without incident, or the various tractor-pulls, pageants, races, and competitive sports going on at any given time. Or maybe it's that unspoken agreement we've all signed that says, yes, we will all gather in the middle of the park and pretend this is the center of the universe for one long weekend.

And honestly? We wouldn't have it any other way.

Because nestled among the vendors selling those wooden "croaking" frogs, autumnal decor, soup mixes, goat soaps, and the suspiciously large lemonade shake-ups, you'll find something a little more....curious. Our Curioaks booth.

But we are not simply a booth. We are a threshold of wonder and whimsy, where the curious can gather and trade their coins for a peculiar treasure or two (or three). Here is where we tell you about our Festival Promo: Get a free tote with purchase of any 3+ curios from our booth! And trust us, it won't be hard to find three things to nab.

What you'll find when you step inside

• The Festival Relic Jar Collection.

  Each year, festivals leave behind artifacts. Bottle caps. Buttons. Shiny things lost to the grass and gravel. The festival-goers carry with them in their satchels, purse, wallets, and pockets a myriad of little things. Ticket stubs. Beads. Reciepts. Candy wrappers. Crayons. Hair ties. We will be curating, with the help of all who wish to contribute, a trinket jar of all the little curios that people carry along with them at the festival. You may call it, "junk in a glass," but we call it "mementos of memories at a small-town festival." What trace will YOU leave behind? Follow us on Facebook or Instagram to find out what we've collected over this one long weekend!

  
  

• The Curioaks Photo Wall

When you step into our little corner of wonder and whimsy, you'll find a most peculiar sight! Our photo wall is your chance to document that yes, you were here, and yes, you stumbled across (or were, perhaps, LED by your curiosity) the most peculiar booth at the Blueberry Festival. Take a photo in front of our moth and post it online (make sure to tag us @curioaks when you do). We'll be watching and waiting...

• The Most Curious Collection of Peculiar Treasures You've Ever Seen

Wearable whimsy in the form of novel book wallets, descriptive socks, enamel pins, and distinctive apparel and accessories. Pocket-sized peculiarities like pun-derful lip balms, flippable decision-making coins, and trinkets that beg to be gifted to a friend. Mystery and Mischief abound with our magical orbs, future-predicting infant tees, and mystical mood rings! Bookish treasures that you've only dreamed of in the form of novel wallets, Novelteas, brass bookmarks, and...well, we won't spoil all the surprises for you. You'll just have to stop by and see our Cabinet of Curiosities for yourself!

Why You Shouldn't Miss Us

Festivals are fleeting. The carnival packs up and moves on to other locales, the fried Oreos are a regret you'll carry in your soul for days, but Curioaks? We deal in things that linger. Mystery. Whimsy. Objects that feel as if they've been waiting for you longer than you've been looking for them.

If you walk past us, you may feel the pull anyway. A strange compulsion to double back. A Moth to a Lightbulb, you might say?

So, if you're wandering the food-scented streets this weekend, look for the booth that doesn't look like the others. The one that feels like it shouldn't exist, but does. That's us.

And we'll be waiting.

~Stay Curious