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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor:
As a card-carrying, lifelong citizen of Elgin, I feel that I am well within my rights to speak for the copious number of other lifelong Elginites that have spent this last weekend not only reminiscing the Western Days (WD) of old, but also highly disappointed by what WD has become.
There is a long list of questions that echoed from almost every person I spoke with this last weekend — Why do we no longer have a WD court, with a WD queen? Why was the Thomas Family Band scheduled to start at 10 a.m. whilst the parade was just barely starting? Why has the Friday night tennis court dance been done away with? How can we have a successful day in the park if there’s no carnival? Where was the overwhelming number of vendors in the park? Who has dropped the ball in communicating with local businesses to support and be involved in the parade? Why was WD scheduled on the same weekend as the Luling festival?
Although I was never involved in the Miss Western Days court, it seems logical to reinstate that part of WD, as it has been a focal point for the young ladies and the members of the town since its inception. As a smaller community, shouldn’t we be supporting the youth, as well as other small communities’ hometown festivals? Smithville court made a strong appearance in our parade, why can’t we return the favor? This small contest creates ties, friends and thrives on the support of the community and local businesses. I for one would happily support this event financially, as would countless other entities within and outside the city limits.
In hindsight, I see why the Thomas Family Band was scheduled at 10 a.m. — because the day at the park was already a lost cause. It was probably determined early on in the scheduling process that without a carnival, and without a park full of vendors, there would be extremely limited foot traffic/low turnout for the day, thus forcing what is arguably one of the best bands in town to not only miss the parade, but be first to play music to essentially the vendors — what few there were.
Safe to say that aside from the carnival and its flashing lights, the highlight of WD has always been the Friday night tennis-court dance. Assuming the editor is from Elgin, and not a transplant, they will recall the days where you had to go and park next to the courts a day or two in advance, to have the best view of Friday night’s attendees and music. The camaraderie, the old friends, the family, the people that long ago moved away but came back for that event during WD, the kids playing and running around, the bed-of-the-truck socializing, the laughs, the fun, the memories. That sums up WD, yet it was nowhere to be found.
One could only surmise that the list of local/ available vendors, that are continually present for the annual Hogeye, could in fact be contacted about participating in WD as well. I’m not in the business of promoting a small-town festival, but it is clear to all that Hogeye continues to appear successful, while WD is literally being sent to the old Southside Slaughterhouse on 1704. Without a draw to the park (see carnival), it will never again bear fruit or appear to be a fun time. Where are the water guns that kids used to run with? Where was the fun? I can only answer that by simply stating that it was not there. The Memorial Park appeared empty and sad. Clearly, the committee that has put WD together the last few years seems to have forgotten the fundamentals that we all loved and miss.
Much like my offered financial support for the Miss Western Days pageant, I would most likely construct some form of float or means of advertising my name in the parade. Who wouldn’t want to? It’s a great way to be seen/remembered by the community and an opportunity to get your business seen by those watching the parade. Does the chamber ever approach small local businesses about participating? Do they proactively solicit new members/businesses? We’ve been in business over 70 years and have never been asked, which leads me to believe that lots of others haven’t been asked either. Lifetime businesses in this town know they’re able to write off advertising and such, and would likely be happy to pay to put a car, horse, truck or float in to participate. I would support if asked.
Fur thermore, why doesn’t the chamber proactively solicit new members or call on members to support their endeavors?
Hometown festivals and gatherings are the hallmark of summer, and while I realize scheduling can cause conflicts, I need help in understanding why our festival would overlap with others that are already far more successful than ours. There’s been the flip-flop of the WD schedule, the removal of the rodeo — the most western part about WD — from the same weekend, to kind of bringing it back, to still a disappointing turnout overall. No one wants their dog to be called ugly. I am not trying to anger anyone, nor pretend that I could/ could’ve done better. It should be mentioned that there were a few noteworthy highlights from this past weekend. Hats off to those that organized the class reunions at the SPJST and the staff there. Everyone who made mention of having attended the function spoke to how packed, how fun and how many people they were able to see. The rodeo was as full as it has ever been, with hundreds of cars present for the long haul. Thank you for keeping the “Western” with the “Days” in that sense.
It’s time to start planning WD 2026. I’m positive that there are things that were executed very well, as well as those who would agree with my long tirade of “it should be better.” My hopes are that we see a rejuvenated, revitalized and energetic approach to future festivals. Make people talk about it for the weeks leading up to the event. Make people talk about it for weeks after the fact. Bring back the fun and excitement that kept the memories so thick you had to brush them away from your face like gnats.
Don’t try to reinvent WD with themes ... we have a theme. It’s western. It represents the very foundation on which we have grown. It instills and breeds pride within the citizens of this fantastic little town — young, old, lifelong residents and transplants all alike.
In closing, it hurts me to say this: There is a sentiment that Western Days has been “turned out to pasture” ... i.e., it’s on its way to die. There are two choices — let it continue to wilt and die, or pump the life back into it, whatever it takes, as soon as possible!
Zachary C. Voelker
