Unbridled Enthusiasm!

Werd,
Yesterday, Ben drove down from Wes to go on an adventure... Phoenix Phall Phunfest!(Phest?), or "PPP" as they say in rollercoaster fanatic land. Basically, this insanely amazing park that me, Ben, and Aerob went to last May throws a big party at the end of the season in honor of its prized wooden rollercoaster, Phoenix. Lots of rollercoaster dorks (I mean that in the nicest way, seriously) descend on Knoebels Amusement Park in Pennsylvania to dazzle each other with esoteric costumes, talk face to face with friends from internet newsgroups, and make fun of Six Flags. Oh, and ride the rollercoasters a bazillion times! =D
In my opinion, this sweet little park is the epitome of all things good and right in the world. It's like, fresh apple pie baking in an oven with stickball being played in the street. It's perfect, for a few reasons.
a) It only costs $15!!!
b) Funnel cakes.
c) Vaguely sketchy in a fun way older rides.
d) Brass ring at the carousel!
e) You can camp out under the other wooden rollercoaster.
f) People slapping your hand on the way up the lift hill.
g) PICKLES ON A STICK!!!!!!
So, yeah, I pretty much had decided that this was a valley of goodness and plenty and pickles and that nothing in the world could possibly be as wholesome and fun......... Until I came for its big day! There was a costume parade with prizes! Every kid in the park who wore a costume won a toy! Free pizza and soda with admission! Detailed jack-o-lanterns at every ride entrance! Zombies! Buckets of candy while waiting on line for the old train ride! As if this wasn't perfect enough, at the end of the night, after everyone had ridden the Phoenix way past official closing time, everyone gathered in the picnic area to hear a speech from the park's owner who was fabulously awful at public speaking, gave toys to children, thanked everyone for coming, and awarded the best costume-wearers with "the *STAFF* shirt from *last year's* PPP!!!" (crowd: "oooooh....") He was like if Willy Wonka was not a creepy hallucination but was in fact a kindly middle-aged man. Following the speeches and clapping, he invited everyone to the campgrounds where a massive bonfire was lit AND...... HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF FREE HOTDOGS AND MARSHMALLOWS!!!! were passed out along with STICKS TO ROAST THEM ON!!! Food on a stick! For free! Unreal! So everyone cooked hotdogs, stuffed their faces with marshmallows, discussed the merits and drawbacks of the new giant rollercoaster being built at Six Flags Great Adventure, and promised to meet again soon at the next rollercoaster event. What an insanely cool day.