Fallbrook, CA    Most communities have a fair to display the talents of their neighbors, but Fallbrook has one where the setting alone will take you back several decades. Ask any five people if they have heard of “The Farmer and Adele” or the Craft Fair near the northern end of Willow Glen Road and odds are at least one will stop what they are doing, look you in the eyes and say, “You gotta go!”

This family tradition was always the weekend before Thanksgiving. Many local residents have requested the fair be open after Thanksgiving so visiting relatives may experience nostalgic Fallbrook. Thus the two days immediately after Thanksgiving were an option.

Traditions rule the Farmer and Adele Craft fair and the traditions are: you and at least one friend drive the 2.3 miles from Fast Mission to the end of Willow Glen Road with mounting anticipation, read the old time signs along the way (including Burma Shave), get chauffeur driven to the top of the hill, walk along a man made river and thru a gorgeous arched gate that takes you into another world, continue past an outdoor waterfall and pond, thru the old pulley and weight driven front door, over an interior wooden bridge which spans a river/waterfall/pond, and then try deciding which of the several thousand hand crafted items you wish to check out from the myriad of special displays throughout the “I feel like I’m home” country setting. (If you can’t find the miniature replica of Fallbrook's train station, ask The Farmer, he’ll be glad to show you.)

Thousands of hours of effort translate into amazing artwork, dolls, bears, ornaments, bird houses, quilts, games, wreathes, candies, gifts, soaps and other ingenious handmade articles crafted by the best local artists, including a musician who performed downstairs, composing songs from the musical notes in a person's name.