By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Weather forced the recent Festival De Espanos indoors, but the effect was minimal and plans are already being made for next year.
With more foul weather predicted during a period of incessant rain in Decatur, the festival was moved from the Madison St. Plaza to Riverside Center at the proverbial last minute.
“It was tough, but the parks and rec people were so extremely helpful,” chief organizer Victor Canales said. “The city, including the parks people, city hall, the police and the fire departments, made everything super smooth.”
Canales said well over 2,400 people attended – “We stopped counting at 2,400,” he said – the eight-hour festival.
He was pleased with how the third-year event unfolded.
“It was amazing! Especially with the pivot to indoors,” Canales said. “Everything went extremely well and we heard nothing but positive from the attendees.
“The fact that we had to move the festival and lost a few of our events due to having to go indoors, it was still an amazing turnout,” he added.
Over 50 combined vendors and food trucks participated. “And they were extremely happy with the switch and the crowd,” Canales noted.
So it’s onward and upward for festival No. 4 next year?
“We are already planning for year 4,” the Decatur native said. “We hope to have a softball tournament, a baseball tournament, a boxing demonstration and a youth soccer event.
“This is now growing into a regional celebration and a great way to showcase Decatur!
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