Floating back from Michigan Wizard of Oz Festival

I had a great time as a special guest author who was billed as a celebrity guest at the Michigan Wizard of Oz Festival in Ionia, Michigan this past weekend.

I was not far from my friends, authorial colleagues, and special guests James and Amanda Wallace III. They are fine Oz authors who write great books for children. I was unable to get a photograph with Munchkin by marriage and celebrity guest Mary Ellen St. Aubin this year, but she has always been very sweet when I have spoken with her in past years.

Just as we were going in the door of the Armory (where we special guests and main vendors were) there was something that appeared to be the Book of Records with a wonderful O and Z insignia. It was a book for people to sign in on. There was also a map off to the side where people could put stars showing where they came from. Here is what the book-stand and general set-up appeared like:

Within the Armory, Oz-zy decorations and sets had been placed here and there:

Within the Armory, many Oz fans stopped by my table to purchase copies of my fantasy Corgi graphic novel, _Ziggy Zig-zags the Light and Dark Fantastic_ and my Southern literature meets Oz fantasy, _O.Z. Diggs Himself Out_ (both published by YBR Publishing of Beaufort, S.C.):

Outside the Armory, there were vendors as well going all the way down to the historic Ionia Cinema:

 Above: This vendor has a rescue dog support organization, an organization which is dear to my heart.

Looking at those vendor tents and going down to the cinema, also allowed one to gaze upon some amazing Victorian architecture in Ionia, Michigan's downtown:

Upon arrival at the Ionia Cinema one evening, after the day of meet and greets and book sales were over, I had the pleasure of seeing James Wallace III's presentation on the myths related to the 1939 M.G.M. film "The Wizard of Oz." By the way, one of the major draws for the annual festival in Ionia is that they show "The Wizard of Oz" for the original price of a quarter apiece. (It helps that the cinema is owned by the Downtown Development Association if I am not mistaken, and they also show modern films there. I almost went to see "Toy Story 4" but was just so busy there in a good wayand was tired at the end of each day.) James' presentation was incredible, and I learned some new things about some of the directors of the film, etc. (also shown are some exquisite details of the Art Deco meets Native American style of the interior of the cinema):

Like in many Oz festivals, families and individual adults dress up like the characters from the M.G.M. Oz film and sometimes even the L. Frank Baum books:

What is also very nice about the Michigan Wizard of Oz Festival is that their own official characters act out scenes from the film throughout the day and meet and greet people through the downtown area as their characters:

 (Above) Don't back "Witchy" into a corner.

 (Above) Has anybody seen my bubble?

 (Above) Professor Marvel seems a bit "too sad" and Miss Gulch is just way "too happy." ;)

 (Above) Someone looks very happy that he got his heart! I am happy for you, Tinman / Tin Woodman!

 Above: Dorothy is trying to fend off that wind from a TWISTA!

Above: What's this?! O.Z. Diggs / the Wizard of Oz standing right beside the Wicked Witch of the West? I smell a conspiracy!

 Above: Put 'em up! Put 'em up, Cowardly Lion!

Above: The whole cast is shown toward the end of the festival.