Glencoe Days - Our view: Worth the effort
Congratulations, Glencoe. You stepped up and supported your summertime community festival in impressive fashion. Community members showed up in impressive numbers, letting the planning committee members and dozens of volunteers know that if they put on a festival worth attending, you’d reward the effort with your attendance.
There was plenty of reasons to participate in Glencoe Days this year. Celebrating its 50th year, the planning committee made good on creating an event worthy of the occasion. Live music all day Saturday. Three marching bands in the parade. New events and old favorites. They created a community festival that drew people to Oak Leaf Park.
And lest we not forget to thank Mother Nature. The weather was good for most of the weekend. Any inclement conditions arrived in small batches and at rather opportune times. People didn’t have to deal with blazing heat or stifling humidity.
To their credit, members of the organizing committee recognize the weekend went well but was not perfect. They know there were a few snafus along the way, a few times when announcements for a certain event wasn’t made when it should have been. They heard the grumbling about the length of the grass in the park and the lack of competitive judging for the marching bands.
Guess what? The issues within the committee’s control were addressed. The grass wasn’t cut because of rain earlier in the week and concern the high foot traffic would be detrimental to the park. Announcements weren’t made in a few circumstances to avoid conflict with performing musicians. The marching bands were in town to entertain, not compete.
The committee was determined to create a family-friendly event that appealed to a broad audience. Mission accomplished.
Perhaps the best part of the weekend is that a handful of people who want to see Glencoe Days improved are seemingly on board to give their time for the 2020 festival. We hope they are able to make good on the interest to keep Glencoe Days a fine, family-friendly event.
They are, we hope, willing to be part of the solution and not the problem.
-jm
