Arlington Heights Mane Event rocks in the rain

Arlington Heights officials worried all day about Friday's downpour and how it would affect their Mane Event, but in the end it may have worked in their favor.

Thousands of people turned out - though not as many as in past years - just to get out of the house.

"After the kind of day we had, I think everyone wants to get outside," said Michelle Holifield of Arlington Heights.

Many came for the chance to party in the streets and hear the featured band, Libido Funk, which plays 80s and Motown favorites.

They heightened the intensity when they opened their two-hour set with the popular party song "Get Down Tonight" before singing the Motown classic "I Want You Back."

Roland and Diane Brandt of Arlington Heights put their chairs down early for the show, after hearing the same band at the event two years ago

"We were coming no matter what," said Roland Brandt. "It's exciting. There's always lots of people here, and we love this band."

The event is in its 10th year, and this was the first time village organizers had to deal with rain. The soggy weather forced at least one cancellation. Members of the Metropolis Youth Symphony pulled out, in order to protect the young players and their delicate stringed instruments.

However, their rock band carried on, made up of students studying guitar with the Metropolis School of the Performing Arts, in Arlington Heights.

Members of the Arlingtones, a men's a cappella harmony group, got into the horseracing spirit. They wore cowboy hats as part of their western-themed look, in order to plug their newest spinoff group, the Spittoons.

"We sing the classic old westerns by Roy Rogers and Gene Autry," said Jim Bataille of Des Plaines. "It's great harmony and great lyrics. It just makes everybody feel good."

Billed as the "Million Dollar Block Party" in order to advance today's Arlington Million, the event featured pony rides, balloon twisted hats and a pony race game for children, while their parents perused the more than 70 booths showcasing businesses and restaurants in Arlington Heights.

Patrons had their choice of traditional pizza slices and hot dogs, as well as more exotic fare such as grilled octopus legs and chicken shish kebabs from Yanni's, as well as steak sandwiches and crab cakes from Big Shot Piano Bar & Restaurant.

"It's always fun," said Karen Metz of Arlington Heights. "You see all your neighbors here, and it's close to home, so you can ride your bike."