Neither rain nor shine nor dead of cold, will prevent these dedicated kids from attending Grundy County Corn Fest.

The day started off sunny and warm, but every weatherman in Chicago was predicting rain and wind gusts exceeding 40 mph around 2:00 PM. The first show was a bit windy, but it didn’t stop me from performing. However, as the day progressed, the weather changed. The clouds thickened, and I could smell the rain in the air. When I checked the radar, I saw that I was right on the edge of a large green blob with a dash of red inside, and I had a balloon show scheduled for 1:30 PM.

It’s time to cover the equipment with a tarp, relax, and read my Kindle. There’s a good chance the afternoon performance will be canceled due to rain. I just need to wait for about an hour until the storm passes, and then the rest of the week should be rain-free.

As I sat sheltered from the steady rain, I noticed a lady in a red poncho heading towards the stage. She then turned around and headed back. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I thought. “That can’t be a school arriving for the 1:30 show.” It was raining and windy; the bleachers were soaked, the sound system was covered with a tarp, and the stage itself was exposed to the elements. To my surprise, a group of little kids began marching towards me, clad in raincoats and holding umbrellas, accompanied by a group of adults.

It’s a tradition for local schools to take field trips to the festival, and this year’s rain and wind weren’t going to stop this school. As I look around, I see only one spot that is dry and sheltered enough to hold an impromptu balloon show.

Huddled under a couple of trees, with rain dripping from the leaves, I entertained 25 dedicated kids and adults who came out to see Magical Balloon-Dude Dale. Each child was included in the show and left happy—even if they were a little wet. For this school, the tradition of attending the Grundy County Corn Festival continued, despite the wind and rain.