Gala-goers enjoy parade, fireworks

From the Sunday, July 6, 2008 edition of the Northwest Herald:

Gala-goers enjoy parade, fireworks
By DIANA SROKA - dsroka@nwherald.com

CRYSTAL LAKE – Kristin Weeks, 34, asked her daughter Olivia what her favorite part of the Crystal Lake parade was.

“Everything!” the 5-year-old said loudly. Her mother probes a bit – suggesting different groups and performances from the parade.

So Olivia changes her answer, but only slightly: “Everything, Mommy! Getting candy!”

Olivia certainly isn’t alone in her opinion. The Crystal Lake parade route was flooded Saturday as residents watched for almost two hours as a wide variety of personalities, organizations and performances passed by.

When the parade ended, many crowd members made their way to the Crystal Lake Gala at Lippold Park.

Louise Steinbach, president of the Gala board, said the new festival location had worked out “fabulously” so far.

“Everybody was talking about how wonderful the new space was. It’s all been coming together just so great,” she said. “It’s what we hoped for.”

Festival-goers seem to have enjoyed the new space, as well.

“It’s real good,” said Jean Wehling of Cary. “It’s different, but good.”

Steinbach said after Thursday night, festival organizers decided to increase the space between booths at the galeria, but there had been no other snags or problems since.

She also said the shuttle service from five locations around Crystal Lake had proven popular.

“People come in, they get dropped off right at the front door, [and] when they want to leave they get picked up right at the front door,” she said. “It’s really a wonderful option.”

After Sister Hazel’s performance today, about 12 chairs decorated by local service and charity organizations will be raffled. Raffle tickets are $1 each.

“They’re just beautiful art,” Steinbach said. “We really want to raise as much money as we can.”