The Wizard of Oz Festival

Julianna and I met Grandmama and Granddaddy in the mountains this weekend. The highlight was the Wizard of Oz festival that they have up on Beech Mountain every year. Thousands (Like 7000) of people descend (I guess they actually ascend) upon Beech Mountain each year to walk through the now defunct Oz theme park which now opens just one weekend a year. It really is like a mini Land of Oz. Grandmama and Granddaddy have been talking about taking Julianna since she was born. We decided that she was ready this year. We were still a little nervous that the "actors" dressed as the flying monkeys and wicked witch would be too scary for her. She did GREAT!!! The Monkeys and Witch were a little scary to her but not so much that she didn't brush it right off. She also found another "best friend". She and Maddi were inseparable the whole day. The held hands and danced together. At one point Maddi, who is almost the exact same age as Julianna and is a REAL Oz fan, got quite upset about one of the scary characters. Julianna put her hand on her should and said in her most soothing voice, "Everything is going to be just fine." It was precious. Anyway, we had the absolute best time! As a matter of fact, when we were in the parking lot leaving after spending close to 4 hours in Oz, Jules was already wanting to turn around and go back in. Oh I would be remiss if I did not mention that part of the "fun" is taking either a wagon or bus ride up the very narrow and winding roads to the top of the mountain. Really the road is only wide enough to accomodate ONE vehicle. So both the bus and the wagons are pulling off the side of the road often in order to avoid last minute head on collisions! We rode the tractor-pulled wagon up and the bus down. For me those rides were far scarier than the Wicked Witch of the West! Julianna counts both the rides among her favorite parts :)


Little Dorothy!




The parking lot when we got there at a little after 10. By the time we left it was completely full!




Waiting in line to ride the wagon up the mountain.






Julianna and Maddi found each other very early on (while waiting in line to go up the mountain) and it was love at first sight!


Comparing Totos!


With "the real" Dorothy.




Julianna and Grandmama enjoying the amazing views! It was the loveliest of days. It started off a bit chilly but we all shed out jackets by the afternoon.


A little dark, but SO cute!




I think that this scarecrow was my favorite of the day. He was really in character.




With Auntie Em before the tornado hit!


The tornado! This was one of Julianna's favorite parts. It was just a dark staircase that leads to a basement. The had black lights and the sound of wind blowing.




We landed on the Wicked Witch of the East!


Glinda the GOOD WITCH. This was Julianna's favorite character.


Follow the yellow brick road!




In Munchkin Land.




My little munchkin with some munchkins!


With another, not as good but very nice, scarecrow.






Oil Can!


This lion was actually pretty good too.


Another of the killer views.






Jules patently refused to have her pic taken with the monkeys! They were kinda creepy. Though one of the boys was nice enough to lift up his mask to show the girls that he was just in costume. It was pretty sweet and Jules felt a little better after that.




She needed Mama for this one!


Julianna and Grandmama with the impressive stone castle in the background.








It tricky to get into the Emerald City! First the sign tells you to ring the bell, then you get yelled at for ringing the bell! The drill goes a little something like:

Julianna: rings bell
Emerald City Guard: Can't you read?! (Even though the sign clearly says "Please Ring Bell")
Julianna: No.
ECG: The bell is out of order! (Turns sign over. Sign now reads "Bell Out of Order. Please Knock".
Juliannna: (knocks)
ECG: That's more like it! State your buisness.
Julianna: I'm here to see The Wizard.
ECG: NOBODY sees the Wizard!
Julianna: I'm Dorothy.
ECG: Well why didn't you say so!

Julianna did great and was SOOO cute!






With the Wizard.


A horse of a different color.