A picnic with lots of happy hobbits, pie and ale aplenty, a spectacular run, bonfires and a Strollers concert. That's how yer celebrate Midsummer in the Shire!
It was the second Lithe day, and The Hill was full of hobbits and a few good dwarven friends. Them tables were soon filled with sausages, pies and various ales, and just as soon emptied as them picnic-goers started eating. Them first fireworks were set off, and a band started playing a song praising the summer in the Shire.
Yes, it was the Grand Summer Picnic, and much fun was to follow.
The Brandy Badgers welcome the guests with "Summerdays in the Shire"
Pietry in motion
Imagine near thirty hobbits rushing down a steep hill ter celebrate a six-pound heavy rolling pie? If yer were at the picnic last night yer wouldn't have ter imagine it, because that is exactly what happened! And a marvellous sight it was indeed.
Them hobbits had different approaches to the run. Some went fast, others enjoyed them sights. Some jumped straight off the steepest cliff, others took a more careful approach. Hopefully, most of them had fun, though!
Lining up for Lobelia's Hill Pie Rolling Run
In the end, three persons lead the pack and were the first ones over the finish line: Miss Snobelia, Master Smeric and Master Potty. Miss Snobelia admitted to having used a speed-enhancing energy tea during the run, which lead to some amusement. Which means that the prizes after the race were as follows:
- Smeric: Being the fastest runner, he surely spent a lot of energy. So he won some cook's trappings filled with lovely foods ter recover after the run.
- Pennyroyal: Accepted "Lobelia's Special Prize for Cheating" on behalf of miss Snobelia. A rolling pin will surely set her straight!
- Penina: Won the "Backwards Prize " for running backwards part of the way. And what more backwards during midsummer than a yule sparkler?
- Hanie: Won the special prize of "Most Spectacular Leap off the Cliff". Some yellow dye should help her cover up them blue bruises.
- Chadwick: Stumbled already on the starting line, and won an autumnal apple tree for the symbolic "Don't Run Into a Tree Prize".
- Blubele and Merriacar: Were the last to finish the run, and won some fireworks each to provide some more sparks during the next run.
- Hooh: Took the time to set off fireworks during the run. A well-deserved winner of a straw hat for the special "Prize of Extravagance".
The prize ceremony was interspersed with some grand and lovely poetry by Simbo. Have a look at his special poem for this year's summer picnic!
Smeric was the fastest runner who had not tasted the special speed-enhancing tea!
Sparks and Strollers
After all the poetry, prizes and pies, it was getting dark, and them hobbits brought stacks of wood ter start midsummer bonfires. Accompanied by lots and lots of fireworks. Some of them guests even lay down in the grass to marvel at the lights bursting in the sky.
Time for boom!
During all them fireworks, four green-clad hobbits snuck up on the table and readied their instruments. The Songburrow Strollers soon started a set of old favourite tunes and new possible future favourites. This was the first concert on their picnic tour, and the audience were eager to dance the night away.
Many of the songs played touched upon perennial favourite subjects such as food, drink and pies. The new tune "Brandy by the Barrel", dedicated to miss Rowana, led to much cheering, not least from a dashing gentlehobbit dressed in a rather dapper pink outfit.
The Songburrow Strollers are playing today
Almost thirty official Strollers hats were passed around to the audience, and The Hill soon looked like a bobbing sea of pointy green. Night gave way to morning, and the band brought on special guest Strollers for the concert, miss Nimelia and miss Tibba, as they launched into the final set of lively songs. The crowd, bouncing and singing at this stage, didn't want the band to leave.
In the end, though, it was time for the party-goers to head home. The sun shone on the group of merry, tired, full and slightly drunk hobbits wandering slowly homewards. Some singing, some yawning, everyone looking forward to more picnics in the future.
Thank yer all for coming! We'll have more fun in The Shire soon!
The sun rising, marking the end of the picnic.
Pictures
Keep looking fer pictures in the Grand Order picnic thread.
Here are more pictures from the evening!
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