Shakespeare Festival

From California we drove straight to Cedar City where we met my family at the Utah Shakespeare Festival.  Everything was just as I have always remembered it.  The lemon tarts, the green show, the pleasant summer evenings - perfect for outdoor theater.  The nice people who run the childcare place were even the same!  I love the Shakespeare Festival.  We saw The Tempest, Love's Labour's Lost, and Peter and the Starcatcher. All fabulous.

The kids had fun racing and climbing while waiting for the green show to begin.

Isaac got a real treat when they performed a scene from his long-time favorite film, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"

Everyone adored baby Ellie.

Isaac and Eliza are entertaining themselves with leaf-hats.

The kids loved going to the "play" (a.k.a. childcare).  Eliza was happy to even have her own ticket.  The festival really does have an awesome set up across the street for the kids. 

Do we look haggard from our long days of driving and late nights at Disneyland then straight on to the festival?  We're such party animals.

Lydia found a copy of King Lear in the gift shop.  She plopped down first thing and began reading.  And screamed anytime anyone tried to put the book back.  She left the store kicking and screaming.  Not even kidding.  She's so stubborn like that!  It's King Lear, for heaven's sake!

We stayed at a hotel right next to this gourmet shaved ice stand.

Oh my. . . these were so good.  Heaven in a cup.

The kids (as always) had a blast being crazy in the pool.

And we all enjoyed eating at our usual favorite restaurants.

Best sandwiches ever. . .

We also walked over to visit the famous Cedar City "rock church".  Believe it or not, even though it looks Shakespearean, this church was built long before the Utah Shakespeare Festival even existed.

One of the locals was nice enough to give us a tour of the church and told us some fascinating pioneer stories about the building.

Even the parts of the interior that have been remodeled were still beautiful and unique.

But the most amazing part is the baptismal font.  I loved all the artwork.  The whole building is just beautiful.

Goodbye Shakespeare Festival. 

Hopefully we'll be back again another year!