| “ | I don't know why anyone likes sledding in the first place. Life goes downhill enough without speeding the process along. | ” |
— Lemony Snicket, File Under: 13 Suspicious Incidents, "Twelve or Thirteen"
|
The Ethan Frome Festival was an annual winter event in Stain'd-by-the-Sea until its cancellation due to lack of attendance.
Description[]
The festival was presumably held near or on Homily Hill, as that was where the sled race would take place. Hot cider would be sold.
Auction[]
The festival was held every winter, beginning with a large auction for various items, the money from which would be donated to the library.
Race[]
Following the auction, a competitive sled race would be held to the bottom of Homily Hill, which was a difficult race due to the rocky landscape. The fastest sledder would win a medal and a very handsome fountain pen provided by Ink Inc.
The sledders would have their listed number pinned to their sweater and printed on their sled.
The Theft of Gary Dorian[]
During the economic collapse of Stain'd-by-the-Sea, the attendance of the festival sank year by year until the cancellation of the event.
On the year of the painting theft, the turnout of the festival was very low, with only twelve competitors in the sled race. During the race, the portrait of Gary Dorian, Stain'd-by-the-Sea's famed cosmetician, was stolen from the auction. The painting was later found in the race winner's attic, Chase B. Willow, during an afterparty held at his home, by the Officers Durham. The Officers arrested Mr. Willow, who protested his innocence even after his conviction.
The portrait was auctioned off the following year and the festival continued to decline.
Three years following, Moxie Mallahan and Lemony Snicket found thirteen sledders in the photograph of the race instead of the stated twelve, and deduced that Mrs. Willow had stolen the portrait and framed her husband in order to divorce him. They contacted the authorities, only to find that Mr. Willow had already escaped from prison.[1]
Noted Racers[]
- Mrs. Williams
- Dr. Carlos
- Mr. Williams
- Chase B. Willow (winner)
- Mrs. Summerover
- Dr. River
- Mr. Noleaf
- Dr. Bitten
- Mr. Crimson
- Mrs. Cling
- Mr. Paler
- Mr. Loth
- Mrs. Willow (secretly)
Trivia[]
- The Ethan Frome Festival is named after the 1911 book of the same name by Edith Wharton, which is noted to be a "framed narrative," referencing the framing of Chase B. Willow.
- The names of the noted competitors during the race with the theft of the portrait of Gary Dorian are references to "Willow Poem" by William Carlos Williams.
- Gary Dorian's portrait is a reference to The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.
Gallery[]
