Where To Volunteer, Part 5

Have you seen Google Maps Street View? This is the website where you can zoom in and see your house or any number of places around the country like you were standing in front of them. At work the other day everybody was cruising around it, looking at their houses and wondering when the pictures were taken.

Well, I can tell you exactly when they were taken. Last year, the Thursday before Irish Fest at about 7:00 AM. How do I know this? Because, my dear Watson, of some simple detective work. My car is in my driveway, rear hatch open with my tool box visible in the back. There's an Irish Fest yard sign in the lawn. When you go to the Crown Center view, the big KCIF banner is hanging but the big tents aren't up yet. So I deduce that I was just leaving, at about 7:00 with my tools to begin the long set up process of last year's Irish Fest.

I tell you this as a prelude to today's Where To Volunteer segment:

The Site Crew

If you want to get your volunteer duties done before or after Irish Fest so you can enjoy all that great music and culture with a clear conscience, this is the place for you. Set up begins on Thursday, tear down starts Sunday night and continues Monday morning. Lest the task seem too daunting, keep in mind that a lot of the stuff that turns Crown Center Square into Irish Fest is done by contractors. The tents, the toilets, the vendor stands, the stages...all that stuff is covered. But signs, chairs, tables, banners, stage backdrops, fencing, gates, the ramp, decor...well, that's us. And it's never near enough of us.

I have a dream every Irish Fest weekend that on Friday afternoon before we open, everything is done early enough to walk back to the hotel, take a shower, change clothes, walk back, maybe even get a bite to eat, and be rested and ready when the first fest goers arrive at 5:00. It's never happened. Not once. Every year, we're running around like lunatics until the last minute, and usually beyond. So if I smell funny when you see me on Friday night, now you know why.

But with your help, this is the year. Volunteer today and join the site crew. In the comments box on the sign up form, let us know that you can work on Thursday or Friday or Monday. Make my dream come true and get your job done without missing a minute of Irish Fest.

Volunteer!