Fredericton — Barbara, 54, from HR is letting everyone in the office know that this weekend she’s going to party like it’s 1999 in downtown Fredericton.
“Are you going to any Harvest shows?” she’s asking your coworkers in the break room at this very minute. “I went to Winners last night and bought a fun scarf to wear — it’s purple and has treble clefs on it! I think it’ll really suit the Harvest vibe.”
Barb explains that she’s had her Harvest outfit planned for months, down to the fanny pack where she’ll store her cash to prevent pickpocketing.
“It’ll also give me easy access to my water — wine goes straight to my head, after all — and a baggie of trail mix in case I need a healthy snack after a lot of dancing! I keep my phone there too, so I can call my husband at 10 and let him know he can leave to pick me up. He’ll already be asleep but I set his alarm for 9:50 p.m.
“Oh, and I keep two sets of earplugs in there so I don’t damage my hearing. One is just a backup because you never know!”
Barb is not normally one to let loose, but all bets are off during Harvest: you might find her a safe distance away from the speaker tapping one foot while sipping the same glass of pinot grigio from six hours earlier.
“Oh I like to get out and have some fun — it’s only once a year,” says a visibly excited Barb. “The city’s just so lively! I bet I won’t be in bed until 10:30, maybe 11! Talk about wild!”
Barb explains that she enjoys any and all live music — but it’s really the entire atmosphere of Harvest that she likes to take in.
“Last year a busker invited me off the sidewalk to help him perform a magic trick!” she exclaims, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes. “Now that’s a story I’ll be telling for years!”
At press time, Barb, who’s on Weight Watchers, said she plans to indulge in a “shawarma” or some other exotic food from the many street vendors downtown.
“I figure I can be a little bad,” she says with a coy wink. “You only live once. I’ll probably be awake all night with indigestion from all the spices. Call me crazy, but I think it’s worth it!”