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Crowds sauntered through the downtown
area taking in the art fair, children’s Adventure Zone, soap box
derby, flea market, antiques, collectibles and crafts, and new this
year, the Lincoln Historic Homes Tour. Sunday’s car cruise-in and
doll show on the square drew their own crowds.
Downtown, nearly everywhere you went
someone was eating something, and it smelled so good. Local clubs
and associations prepared everything from brats to
chicken-and-noodle plate dinners. Energized children could be found
winding through a cardboard maze or sitting in a soap box car,
leaning forward, head ducked and speeding down the crowd-lined
Kickapoo Street hill. Quieter children could be seen and not heard
in the reading corner and other activities.
Comments of praise could be heard
anywhere you went. First-place 2-D winner at the art fair Connie
Glowacki, who has been doing shows for 20 years and has been a
returning artist here the last five years, said, "It is an honor to
be selected from so many other quality artists." She appreciates the
job the fair committee has done keeping standards high by jurying
artists. Glowacki looks forward to renewing friendships and sharing
her art philosophies and techniques.
Joan Fike of Bloomington was at the art
fair on Saturday afternoon looking for her favorite jewelry artist
who makes lightweight clay earrings. She and husband Bill had
witnessed Friday evening’s glorious mass balloon ascension. She said
that if you missed the evening sun on the balloons, you really
missed something special.
Whether it was stringing beads at the
children’s art tent, watching balloons, eating snow cones or looking
at extraordinary dolls, families could be observed everywhere
enjoying the leisurely weekend. Lincoln College professor Dan
Hemenway took a few minutes to simply swing his 3½-year-old daughter
Gracey, saying, "I’m having a great time!" It was a perfect
opportunity for parents and grandparents to enjoy special time with
kids.
On Saturday, Postville Courthouse at
914 Fifth St. hosted re-enactors, demonstrations and special honors
for our Korean War veterans. Sunday activities moved back in time to
the 1800s. Craftspeople dressed in authentic clothing demonstrated
skills in a number of areas, from blacksmithing to broom making.
Musicians added a relaxed atmosphere while other skit performers
humored the crowds in a throwback to simpler times.
Lincoln/Logan County Chamber Director
Bobbi Abbott had one word to summarize how well everything went:
"Ecstasy!"
"I am so happy for the pilots, artists,
craftsmen and all those who come from so far away," she said. "They
have gone through a lot of work and expense to be here. And of
course our local people look forward to this all year.
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"Being an outdoor festival, we are
totally at the mercy of the weather. Conditions have to be just
right for balloon flights and glows. And that’s the real crowd draw
at the fairgrounds. After all the work and preparation it is a great
delight to see everyone out enjoying themselves."
A personal word to Bobbi: Bob Graue
says you owe him for the nice weather he ordered. Graue, who has
been a little under the weather recently, made the commitment and
spent a lot of time praying for just the right weather for the
festival. It must have worked. Despite earlier forecasts of an
entire weekend of storms, the weather was amazingly cooperative at
all the right times.
Connie Dehner, assistant director from
the chamber office, praised everyone for all their hard work,
saying, "Our volunteers are wonderful. The city of Lincoln should be
praised for putting their best foot forward. Everyone cleaned up.
People mowed and spruced up their yards and they hung out their
[decorative] balloons to give their best impression."
In the midst of the activities she
said, "We’re thrilled to get the balloons up (launched), and glowing
Friday night. Especially since it was raining at noon and we had 2½
inches of rain Thursday night. Everyone is having a great time in
the entertainment area and the food vendors are very happy."
Elkhart Mayor Dayle Eldredge also
expressed appreciation for how hard everyone here works. Eldredge
reflected, "We’re really lucky to have so much to do here in Logan
County. We have lots of people who volunteer. We have the Logan
County Fair, Art & Balloon Festival, Railsplitter and the Festival
of Trees."
Eldredge began helping three years ago.
She explained, "I called the chamber three years ago and asked them,
‘How are you guys doing? Do you need any help?’" She’s been doing
whatever they needed her to do since then.
She said she worked the gates a couple
years, but after she nearly got run down one time she decided a
younger person needed that job.
This year they were surprised when she
said "yes" to helping park cars. "I guess nobody likes to do that
[job]. I don’t mind it," she said with a chuckle.
Whether it is the art, balloons,
downhill soap box races, tour of historic homes, re-enactments,
crafts, food, carnival or one of many other activities, the festival
is a time for renewing old friendships and bringing families
together for great memories. This past weekend Lincoln looked to be
the smilingest place on earth.
Thanks to
all who make it happen.
[Jan
Youngquist]
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