Summerfest patrons had tickets to ride, but they weren't there
When heavy storms rolled through Glendale Heights and surrounding towns Sunday night, Summerfest officials pulled the plug early on the final day of the festival and adjacent carnival.
Apparently, however, word didn't reach workers who continued selling tickets for carnival rides that already were closed.
Some patrons who bought tickets during a temporary lull in the storms say they were falsely told the rides would reopen - and the whole incident has left a sour taste in their mouths.
"I won't forget it," said Addison resident Nasser Diab, who has attended the festival since 2000. "I hope I get my money back, that's all. If not, they are going to lose good customers. It's all about making money for them in any way they can."
Summerfest officials, meanwhile, say they realize the storms caused confusion, but no one is sure how to correct any mistakes that were made.
The difficulties began around 7 p.m. when sirens warned of an incoming storm. Vendors closed their tents and police officers made sure festival patrons found safe cover.
But an all-clear was sounded a short time later as the intermittent storms seemed to pass. It was during that window of opportunity that tickets were sold with the expectation - and attendees say an assurance from ticket booth operators - that the show would go on.
That didn't happen, though, because officials tracking the storms closed the event permanently about 8:30 p.m., before those who bought tickets could get on the rides.
Diab, who said he spent $25 on a family ticket for his wife and child as well as $5 to park in a nearby lot, said police officers stopped the rides from reopening because they said the storms were expected to return.
"They should have stopped selling them (the tickets)," Diab said. "It's Mother Nature, I understand. But do not be selling tickets if you know the storms are coming back."
The village has a no-refund policy for carnival ticket sales but Founders Day Committee member Marge Linnane said members have discussed Sunday's situation to figure out if anything can be done. She backed the decision to shut the festival down early and said patrons should have been leery of buying tickets with storms in the area.
"Our main concern was safety," Linnane said. "If people were buying tickets in the rain, I don't know why they would have done that."
Wheaton resident Krystyna Shull said she understood the decision to shut the festival down.
"They did the right thing," she said. "But next time, there should be a big, fat closed sign on the ticket booth itself."
She said the only reason she bought tickets with overcast skies looming was because she was assured the rides would reopen.
"It was just complete confusion," said Wheaton resident Krystyna Shull, who took her two children to the event. "My concern is protocol. If you can't even buy a bottle of water, why are they selling tickets?"