Old Fashioned Market Fair on Dover Green

It was a perfect day for the annual Market Fair on the Green in front of Delaware's original "Old State House" in Dover. Built in 1791, this was where the Legislature once met in the State Capital. 

We began in the State House, where a very serious performance was about to take place with costumed actors in the courtroom portraying Dr. Sykes and Dr. Tilton who shushed me into place in their "waiting room" full of patients. Dr. Tilton brought up "patients" and volunteers to portray makers and mixers of cure elixirs. Unfortunately, the drug turned out to have been stretched out with lead, and the patient got even sicker. 

Outside there was a rosier scene on the sun-dappled green.  A musical duo serenaded with tunes from the British Isles.  A bit of cacophony ensued when a dulcimer played right in back of our group of benches. And then there was the woman who sat beside me and asked if I knew what you are supposed to say when you sit next to a stranger. I answered in the negative, and she shot back, "Have you got the money?"  Saw her walking around later. Don't think she was part of the performance. 

We did stop for homemade soup at the Dover Century Club, where several women sat at our communal table and we had a delightful chat about where they were originally from and where in Delaware they live.

Among other performers, Signora Bella (first photo above and with ball) drew a crowd with her call for young audience members to help her with juggling, balancing on a large ball, and then balancing on a slack line before finally tossing lighted torches (maybe not such a good idea with all the dry leaves on the ground causing a bit of excitement when one of the torches caught them on fire).  All in all, a nice afternoon, a little history, and a pleasant drive.