Don't rain on the parade

It seems that there is a vocal minority who simply refuse to have fun. It happens in every community, Gonzales is not the rarity of the bunch.

Town festivals are an opportunity for annual homecomings across the state. And almost every municipality of any size has one. They usually celebrate something the town is known for, be it a commodity, a person, or historical event. Around that central theme a celebration is built.

I have had the pleasure to be associated with a couple of hometown festivals so far in life. They were created long before I got there and will continue long after my involvement, no matter what dire predictions naysayers cry about them not doing this or not having that.

Gonzales isn't any different.

Let this be the opening salvo in the Come and Take It Celebration coverage from this publication. Next week you will get a report from the organization's president and a nice piece on one of the headlining musical acts. Of course it will be a great read, because I wrote it.

The Inquirer's staff is also all on-board with the annual special section that outlines the festival, from the parade to carnival, noting the times of each and what to expect across the city. It is easy for me to take a few photos and write words. The hard part comes in designing the pages and selling the ads, which I would flee in an instant if tasked with such.

That hard work from a small staff will hopefully pay off with an edition that is entertaining and informational and something that folks will keep as a memento from this 2016 event. Likewise, another small staff, this though of unpaid volunteers, is working even harder to make sure the fest goes off without a problem, and have been doing such since early this year.

The Come and Take It committee that stages this annual fair is the epitome of small-town volunteerism and sacrifice. You will see their photo in our special edition, but it is unlikely that you could name one member — much less than what they are tasked with — unless they are a family member. I can personally attest that these people do the best that they can, with what they have, for the betterment of the community and the non-profit organizations they serve.

It is unfortunate that every year — again Gonzales not the exception — certain townsfolk bellyache about their local festival. The music isn't right, the parade was too short (or too long), there wasn't enough to see, it was too far of a walk, and on and on. Why even bother doing the thing again, they say.

To those people, I gladly ask them to step up to the mic and say something. Do something. If you don't like it, volunteer and change it. Get out of your house, your garage, your backyard, look up from your phone and get involved. Do you have something constructive to bring to the table? Then bring it! Chances are you won't be turned down if there is validity and substance to your ideas.

Sitting back and armchair quarterbacking city events is a poor way to go about life. I'm picking on Come and Take It because it is upon us, but this same discussion can be had at any of the downtown events that happen throughout the year here. Don't even get me started on the person who thought he could do a better job of booking the Main Street Concert Series.

Anyhow, last year, in my swan song of the festival that I was involved with a number of years, a woman was quite angry and repugnant that the dinosaur installation did not appear on time. As I attempted to find a solution for her anger, she thanked me for ruining her day and the festival experience for the children that accompanied her.

I was nice enough to smile and just let her walk away, while all I wanted to ask is what she would do if she encountered a real crisis in her life. I was also sad that those children had to tag along with that curmudgeonly woman, whatever relation she was to them. My wish is that they won't grow up to be as miserable at life as her.

Fact is, she had no idea that she was speaking to the person that had booked that act, who had gone out on a limb with the price of said act, and who had already taken heat from upper-management on the snafu. There are plenty of volunteers here in town with the same stories, just ask them. Tales of complaining and whining and consternation because things aren't just right. You know what I have to say to the party-poopers? Get over it.

The Come and Take It Celebration is a free event. It is free to go look at the arts and crafts area, free to punch a chicken in the butt and watch it fly, free to sit and watch the parade, free to be entertained by the strolling acts, free to watch some classic country and Tejano music — and by God — free square dancing. The only things that aren't free are the carnival rides and the beer, and if you have a problem with those prices, then there are larger problems in your life and maybe you should just stay home and save that money anyway.

The rock bottom line is that this festival — like the many others out there near and far — exist as a mechanism for non-profit organizations to raise some big bucks once a year. The Knights of Columbus is on board, Lions Club, car club, churches, school units and the like. If they weren't making good money, they wouldn't be fooling with it. The figures from last year are $100,000 being raised and going back into community organizations from the three-day event. Start talking to the restaurants and the lodging spaces across town, and the figure grows.

These nameless volunteers are the ones you can thank for that. They put their lives on hold so that organizations can raise money, kids can ride some rides and the town can have a party. Hopefully those volunteers will have a chance to enjoy a beer somewhere in between.

It is true that the vast majority of this town's residents enjoy everything that the Come and Take It Celebration is, and I am just harping on a small, unenlightened minority. But it has to be recorded and said aloud. Not just for my own post-festival volunteer therapy, but for those who work every year to make your hometown festival work.

And if you don't believe me, fine. I'll be posted up over by the petting zoo and the snake pit watching the children's eyes light up in enjoyment. Because they don't care one bit about what you think. Now, come and take that.