Sep 3 – Sep 7 · 2026

Shannon
Fest

Sep 3, 1980 · Indianapolis Sep 2026 · Shannon Fest

Shannon Fest

Labor Day Weekend · 2026

Yes, that is really the name.

Status update: this page has been redesigned. Gray exterior, beige interior, as it should be — just like the perfecta Freya.

Inbound · one box

Something is driving to Madison

Left the warehouse Friday, Aug 28 — UPS ground, one box, and UPS itself says Tue Sep 1 · 1:30–5:30 PM. It is not for you, exactly — it concerns Freya. It will beat us to Madison by days. No early unwrapping.

Ordered
Packed
Transit
Almost
Delivered

Last scan: North Baltimore, OH · Fri 11:42 PM · Track it live
Synced to UPS a few times a day · No, you don't get to know what's in it

The program

Subject to change. Not subject to debate.

03 Thu · Sept The actual reason for all of it
ALL DAY

Your birthday

The one fixed point. Everything else here is arranged around it, including the parts that will pretend otherwise.

04 Fri · Sept The delegation arrives
10:38 PM

Michael + Allie, wheels down at MSN

Delta 2144 in from Miami by way of Atlanta. Everything else on the calendar gets arranged around this, and not the reverse. Nobody is expected to be awake for it. The record will nonetheless show that we came to you.

05 Sat · Sept Shannon Fest opens
OPEN

The bird app

The long-promised demonstration finally happens. Bring your phone.

06 Sun · Sept Intermission
18:30 CT

Notre Dame vs. Wisconsin · Lambeau Field

Shannon Fest observes a recess of approximately four hours for a football game in Green Bay.

The recess was not proposed by Shannon, requested by Shannon, voted on by Shannon, or at any point approved by Shannon. Management regrets the intermission. Management is not Shannon. Shannon Fest resumes at the final whistle, and we are going to have a stupid amount of fun at it anyway.

07 Mon · Sept Tradition observed
TBD

Massages. Or pedis.

Whichever place will take us. Book nothing against this.

2:51 PM

Wheels up

Delta out of MSN, home by way of Minneapolis. The massages happen before this. The airport does not respect tradition; we book accordingly.

Side one

For the ’95 Accord · first half of the song only, then skip

1

One Headlight

The Wallflowers

Play
2

Everything You Want

Vertical Horizon

Play
3

Unwell

Matchbox Twenty

Play
4

Run-Around

Blues Traveler

Play
5

La Femme d’Argent

Air

Play
6

Hand Me Down

Matchbox Twenty

Play
7

Long Day

Matchbox Twenty

Play
8

Fast Car

Tracy Chapman

Play

The menu

Standing orders · no substitutions requested or expected

The #1, tomato, frosted lemonade

No notes. I could place this order for you from another state.

The hot girl salad

Respected. The pretzel-bun fried chicken sandwich remains available whenever you’re ready, and it should be fried.

The concoction

Nuggets, mac and cheese, fries, buffalo, BBQ, ranch. Not on any menu anywhere. Should be.

Taco Bell

Two chalupas, one Baja Blast, for us.

Frosted Flakes for dinner

A complete dinner for a grown adult.

The Mediterranean Joint

Your Atlanta find, still owed a visit together. When it’s Miami’s turn: Motek, Brickell. Both are happening.

The am fam

Attending in spirit · absent with regret

Stella

Sleeps like she was dropped from a great height and landed perfectly. Morale officer. Undefeated.

Dexie

Salad thief. Three a.m. town crier. She just wants to talk.

Seating

The new couch is very nice and she has no opinion on it. Her spot is you.

Standing business

Open items · to be handled in person

The department presentation

The week before all this. Nothing new to report: the expert in the room is you. It has never once been anyone else.

The new Audi

Engaged and fully briefed. Ready to discuss thoroughly, analyze at any length, and hear every development. You’re taking the lead — I’m along for the drive.

Mah jongg

Computer tiles, then real tiles. I expect to lose and intend to be a poor sport about it.

Miami

Poke and churros, still owed. The household’s standing policy on visitors named Shannon is enthusiastic, unanimous, and pointed.