In a decision that was somewhat expected, the Moonlight Chase and Eldridge Summer Festival have been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The announcement came Monday morning after a meeting of the Moonlight Chase committee, and less than two weeks after the Long Grove Civic League decided to cancel that community’s popular Strawberry Festival.
For the first time in 60 years, folks won’t be flocking to Long Grove on the second Sunday of June, and the streets of Eldridge will be silent on Saturday, July 11.
This year’s event would have marked the 36th year for the popular road race that features a course lighted by luminaries, and one that attracted more than 1,200 participants last year.
Shortly after the race was canceled, Summer Festival organizers followed suit.
“The decision has been on our radar for a while,” said Tabitha Kramer, director of the Eldridge Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the race. “Obviously, the No. 1 factor was the public’s safety.
“We also considered our sponsors. A lot of them are small businesses, and it just doesn’t seem right to request money from them right now.”
Kramer said that race organizers were keeping tabs on what was happening with the Firecracker Run in East Moline, which is held the week before the Chase, and also the Bix, which is held later in July.
Both of those races announced last week that they were going virtual.
“Once we heard their decisions, we decided to hold a meeting and discuss it,” said Kramer. “We also opted not to go virtual. I think all along we knew that it was going to be canceled, but it was with a heavy heart that we made the final decision.”
Kramer also said it will be difficult in November when the chamber typically sends out applications for Moonlight Chase grants.
“I feel like those grants do a lot of good in the community,” she said. “Last year, we put out about $9,000 in grants, and we just won’t be able to do that this year. It’s just very sad.”
Strawberry Festival takes year off
In what was an equally tough and painful decision, members of the Long Grove Civic League have also canceled their community’s event. The festival, which typically kicks off a string of rural Scott County community summer events, had been scheduled for June 14.
“You just can’t encourage a thousand people to come to your town when this is going on,” said Joni Schneider, president of the Civic League, and the event’s organizer since 2003. “I had hoped that when we first went into quarantine, it would be fine and clear by then, and we’d just have our little event and move on.
“As time went on, it just got dimmer and dimmer looking, and I know it was just the wise decision to make. All it takes is one person who is infected, walking around, serving food or doing something, then instead of the Strawberry Festival it’s the Corona Festival. We didn’t want that.”
Schneider said that she and treasurer Kristy Looney had been pondering the decision for weeks, but that their choice was made easy when the governor decided that schools would be closed until at least June 4.
“If school is not in session until June 4, there’s no way that we should be having a festival 10 days later,” she said.
The decision was complicated, however, because the festival is the Civic League’s main fundraiser — netting over $7,000 each year — and not having it will put the organization in a financial bind.
“It won’t be hard for me to have a year off, because it’s a lot of work,” said Schneider, “but it will be tough on us financially, because that’s what keeps our building (Long Grove Civic Center) open.
“Between that and our normal rentals, we usually do OK and have been able to sock some money away and get that roof on and everything.”
Unfortunately, repairing the building’s roof two years ago totally drained the organization’s coffers, as CDs had to be cashed in, and its savings account was depleted.
“We’re just kind of hanging by a thread, and this is a pretty hard hit,” said Schneider. “The festival is a lot of work for $7,000, but it’s more about providing an event that brings a community together.”
Now, Schneider is hoping that community will still rally around the organization and provide some financial support.
Long Grove residents were notified by letter last week that the festival had been canceled, and the Civic League put out a plea for any donations people would be willing to make.
The organization will still hold a 50/50 button raffle, although no buttons will actually be distributed. The cost is $10, and the winner will receive half of the funds collected. Payment (no cash) may be sent to:
Long Grove Civic League, Attn: Treasurer,
PO Box 156, Long Grove, IA 52756.
Payments can also be dropped off in the night drop box at the drive-thru window at Long Grove City Hall.
Once payment has been received, their button number will be entered in the drawing. That drawing will be held on Sunday, June 14 at 3 p.m., and can be viewed on Facebook Live.
Anyone with questions can contact Schneider at 563-285-5829.
“We already have our gambling license, because we ordered that back in February,” said Schneider. “The raffle is something we’ve been doing every year, so we decided to continue it virtually as a way to bring in some revenue.
“We talked about a virtual basket raffle, where we could post pictures and people could bid, but the enthusiasm just wasn’t there, so it went by the wayside.”
This was supposed to be the event’s 60th anniversary, but that “celebration” will not be put on hold until next year.
“We’re just taking a year off,” said Schneider. “It was a really tough decision to make, but we have to keep our community safe.”
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Town festival updates
Park View July 4
The annual July 4 celebration and fireworks remain scheduled, and Lions Club president Mike Wright expects organizers to know for sure within two weeks.
“We’re still talking. We’ve always had it on the fourth and would like to keep that, since people always count on it,” he said.
Vendors, pony rides and fireworks are all set up. Wright is hopeful fireworks can go off as scheduled.
“Maybe people can spread out enough to enjoy those and continue the tradition,” he said.
He’s looking at infection rates and the governor’s orders. “Maybe it will be OK by then. If she did it too quickly and it flares back up, we’ll have to step back. So we’re still waiting.”
Trucker Jamboree: July 9-11
Iowa 80 Truckstop marketing vice president Heather DeBaillie said organizers will soon decide how the event will proceed for its 41st year. The Jamboree already had announced performers Casey Muessigmann for Thursday, July 9, Lonestar for Friday, July 10 and Mo’s Garage for Saturday, July 11.
Princeton summer fest, July 17-18
Princeton still has its summer festival scheduled July 17 and 18. Mayor Kevin Kernan said committees remain working on the car show, parade and other riverfront events and will be monitoring health department reports before making any further decisions.
Walcott Day, July 18
Committee members will determine by Thursday, June 18, whether to proceed with the annual festival always held on the third Saturday in July.
Committee member and past chairman Kirk Koberg said organizers began planning last September, so vendors, activities and volunteers are all set. So organizers committed to a decision a full month ahead of the event.
“I think we either have it or don’t. I don’t know about postponing. You start jumping on other people’s days,” he said.
“We’re one of the largest parades in Scott County in terms of attendance. If we still have to be six feet apart, that won’t be conducive to watching a parade,” he said.
Donahue Frontier Days Aug. 29-30
The Donahue Sportsmen’s Club board has not decided on ballgames for this year’s Frontier Days.
Mayor Ken Schoenthaler said he doesn’t expect any decision this month on the festival and parade.
“We’re trying to get a handle on baseball and softball activity, first,” he said. Girls softball has shut down, and league organizers are discussing delays for boys.
He’s watching infection rates continue to climb, even as Iowa relaxes restrictions.
“We’re going to find out what the virus tells us,” he said.
McCausland Days, Sept. 6-7
No decisions have been made about McCausland’s Labor Day weekend festival. Mayor Buzz Koehn said fireworks, parade, tractor pull and softball tournament remain scheduled.
“I hate to make a prediction now that far out as to what we’re going to do,” he said.
He anticipates social distancing will ease by summer’s end, and hopefully, allow some kind of gathering.
“We’ll listen to the governor and see how other towns manage it. We’ve got some time yet.”
Blue Grass Homecoming Days, Sept. 18-19
Blue Grass already postponed this normally June weekend of fireworks, food and music to Sept. 18-19. Volunteer Tami Gorsh said committee members are continuing to plan while keeping up on county and state health reports.