The Crystal Lake Gala - July 3 thru July 6 2008

A few words about the Gala this year, 2008. It moved. That in itself is not all that bad a thing. You know, change can actually be a good thing.

There was always a certain ambiance about the Dole Mansion grounds that really sold that "community" aspect of what the Lakeside Fest and the Gala were all about.

In a way, the moving of the Gala to Lippold Park clinched the change-over they had been going through for a few years now anyway. I will go out on a limb and say that the Gala is no longer a "community" event. It is not being held for the community on the whole. It's an event for the region. They want people to come from as far away as possible. They want to run shuttles from the train station so people can come in from Chicago if possible. It just appears that this is now a big "corporate" event. I think that's a shame.

As far as entertainment goes, there was some great entertainment there and in many ways the committee concerning itself with that aspect should be commended. However, is Sister Hazel going to play there every year? Please please please .... stop with the Sister Hazel. Am I the only one? I can't be. Someone help me out here. Let's get a petition started.

There was some local talent included: Jiggle The Handle, Going South, Modern Day Romeos, Rob Webster and Fluffdog, etc. Thanks! It was great to see they were included. The other talent was fine as well, Maggie Speaks, Aunt Janet Band, 16 Candles, Libido Funk Circus and Blonde on Board (the old Only Sons with a girl singer). The problem is that when I was a kid, the community fests and carnivals always displayed the local talent including the kid bands and jazz bands and aspiring rock groups. The Gala appears to be losing it's grasp of this. Don't get me wrong, the locals that were given the opportunity to play were good and deserved a chance to play and the Gala should be applauded for having them all there. I just think there should be more of that. They did it in years past but apparently, not any longer.

Josh Kelly and Tyler Hilton? I guess you need something for the kids and nobody I've talked to over the age of 25 knows who these people are. I don't. Most people can't tell the difference between Sister Hazel and Blues Traveller either. However, they did pack the place and that's what it's all about, right?

The beer debacle was a bad thing. Let's just say that the price I was paying Thursday night was what you'd expect to pay at a major venue. That was a bad move. I'm glad it was straightened out but it did leave a bad taste.

OK. The Gala's getting the kinks out. You always need to when an event a huge as this is becoming is transplanted to a new place. In my opinion, you want the "community" feel in your fest? Go to the Lakeside Fest. You want to not know anybody around you, go to the Gala. They were both fun. They're just more different from each other than they've ever been now and I don't see any way they'll come back together.