Rain hits Lions Festival opening

By Brandi Watters, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer

July 02, 2009 11:57 am

ANDERSON — The opening night of the Anderson Lions Family Festival was meant to be a celebration of its new location at the Anderson Speedway.
Instead, plunging temperatures, strong gusts of wind and bursts of rain had many fairgoers headed back to the car.
For its fourth year hosting the event, the Anderson Noon Lions Club chose to partner with the Anderson Speedway to give residents a completely new festival experience.
By changing location, festival organizers were able to offer racing events alongside fair food and kid-friendly rides.
But just 40 minutes after the fair began Wednesday evening, the clouds rolled in.
Carla Palmer vowed to try and enjoy the fair despite the rain.
Pulling the hood of her cotton sweater over her head as the rain was carried sideways by the wind, Palmer smiled at her three children, who had no intentions of leaving.
Her husband, Brian Palmer, was excited by the new location.
A race fan, Palmer had every intention of returning to the fair site this weekend to watch the Independence Day racing.
Anderson resident Julianne Remley said she loves the new location and will likely return, if the rain stays away.

Contact Brandi Watters 640-4847, brandi.watters@heraldbulletin.com

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.

Photos


At right Morgan Hobbs and her daughter Fallon, 3, race her stepdaughter Karra, 9, down the Fun Slide as the Anderson Lions Family Festival opened Wednesday at the Anderson Speedway. The festival runs through Sunday. The Herald Bulletin


Dollie Merritt shows her grandaughter Lillian, 2, a goldfish won for her by her father Jonathan Poore as the Anderson Lions Family Festival opened Wednesday at the Anderson Speedway. The Herald Bulletin


AJ Shanahan, who loves apples, enjoys his first candy apple as the Anderson Lions Family Festival opened Wednesday at the Anderson Speedway. The Herald Bulletin