Paying 20 bucks just to witness someone with a pair of electric clippers shear a sheep is kind of expensive...just saying.

Doing the math...5 X $30 = $150 for a family of four to watch life on a farm. Then figure in at least $15 a person for the food truck & you are well over $200.

We've got a friend in Pescadero who does some of these activities as regular projects on his farm. No charge to watch & lunch is free!

Are people so far removed from the agrarian world that it has now become an entertainment outlet?

No wonder some outsiders question modern life on the SF peninsula.

Suggestion...Palo Alto should consider holding a unique historical faire of its own. It could be called 'Ohlone Days' with volunteer actors dressed up as Native California Indians & Spanish explorers. The only questionable drawback would be seeing them using Iphones & Androids to take pictures of El Palo Alto for the closing ceremonies.

Uhhhh..... it's called a donation?

People who don't realize / value how much work events take to put on, are people who don't put on events.

Hidden Villa does say it doesn't want anyone to stay away due to funds - so contact them.

> Suggestion...Palo Alto should consider holding a unique historical faire of its own. It could be called 'Ohlone Days' with volunteer actors dressed up as Native California Indians & Spanish explorers. The only questionable drawback would be seeing them using Iphones & Androids to take pictures of El Palo Alto for the closing ceremonies.

^^^ This event would have to be held near the Baylands or Foothill Expressway@Page Mill Road for it to have any semblance of authenticity or realism.

Downtown Palo Alto would be unacceptable as would Stanford Shopping Center...way too surrealistic & absurd.

Acorn mush could be served by the concessionaires but most people probably wouldn't care for it while oysters & clams from the SF Bay are probably still polluted somewhat.

The best bet would probably be to have a professional event planner coordinate the efforts. 'Ohlone Days' has a nice ring to it.

"Palo Alto should consider holding a unique historical faire of its own. It could be called 'Ohlone Days' with volunteer actors dressed up as Native California Indians & Spanish explorers."

Would this be like a Renaissance Fair except with a Palo Alto historical theme to it?

I would suggest that attendees dress up as well and car usage be banned in Palo Alto for the festivity.

After all, the Ohlones & Spaniards did not drive internal combustion automobiles or EVs.

Horses are OK from the standpoint of period authenticity.

Back to topic...I'm going to check out the sheep-shearing demo at Hidden Villa. I've actually done it when I lived in New Zealand. They even have contests (kind of like a rodeo) where competitors who shear the largest number in sheep in a given time frame win money.

I can strip a sheep of its fleece in 35 seconds...we'll see how good these shearers are when it comes to speed as first you gotta (1) catch the sheep, (2) hold it in place, and (3) then shear it. Ain't easy.

> I'm going to check out the sheep-shearing demo at Hidden Villa. I've actually done it when I lived in New Zealand.

And you probably reeked of sheep afterwards.

One of the reasons cattlemen of the 19th century despised shepherds & sheep + sheep pull out the entire grass plant when grazing....roots & all. This ends up destroying open range.

Incredibly stupid animals as well.

Laura, your reply was _almost_ perfect but you forgot the "D". I fixed it below:
"Duhhhh..... it's called a donation?"

Oh My. The people afraid to go outside are being critical of things going on outside. Those countless days of Doritos, Mountain Dew and Fortnight might not be as satisfying as they thought they would be.