What's Up Downtown Elgin: Cinco de Mayo

Let's hope the weather's on our side this weekend

I am writing this column at 11:30 Monday night. You are probably reading it on Saturday, perhaps over your morning coffee.

When I wrote this, I had no idea what the weather would be like outside your window today.

And it's driving me crazy.

As you are reading this, there is a festival going on in downtown Elgin in the former Gail Borden Public Library parking lot. It is the Downtown Neighborhood Association's first festival of the year -- the Cinco de Mayo Festival -- and it is my first festival as the executive director of DNA.

We recruited the right people for the volunteer committee. We raised an impressive amount of sponsorship. We put together a full schedule of quality entertainment. We did some major marketing and promotions. We have vendor booths and carnival rides galore.

But will the event be a success? Will all our hard work and well-laid plans pay off?

Only Mother Nature knows. And that really frosts my Type-A personality.

Unfortunately, weather is the one item you can't check off the to-do list when planning a special event. Take last December at the DNA's Window Wonderland event. Who knew we would get the season's worst pelting hail, biting wind, sleet, freezing rain storm? Not even Tom Skilling, and he's an expert.

And, who knew people would still brave the elements to come out and enjoy the event? They did. Not as many as we may have had without the flying icicle storm, but a good amount.

So, whether or not the weather decides to cooperate with us this weekend, we are not going to let it rain on our parade (even if it is literally raining on our parade). But people will still come out and have a good time. And that makes my Type-A personality rest a little easier.

The ever-poignant Mark Twain said, "In the spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours." At this late hour on Monday night with a frost advisory in effect, I am hoping the weather improves by this weekend.

Lookin' for Lincoln

Did you spot Abe in downtown Elgin last week? He was hanging out with Gloria and Herminda at Elgin Books on East Chicago Street. Perhaps he will make his way to the second Elgin Authors Fair from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Elgin Public House.

Look for the next Lookin' for Lincoln clue in mid-May.