Rain Can’t Dampen This Scarecrow Fest Proposal

A few raindrops in the late morning, and even a brief, early afternoon cloudburst in the early afternoon, failed to deter fest-goers during the second day of the city’s 28th annual fall celebration on Saturday.

Ponchos appeared, some huddled beneath trees, others under overhangs, and umbrellas popped up throughout the crowds. But the umbrellas weren’t the only things popping at Scarecrow Fest in St. Charles.

It seems that Mark Adrian of Schaumburg took his girlfriend, Michele Bauer of Algonquin, to Scarecrow Fest on their first date nine years ago. Michele said they’ve been coming back ever since.

When Mark took to Lincoln Park’s Main Stage at noon Saturday, as The Blu Oaks wrapped up their set, Michele said she really didn’t think much of it — especially when he announced they’d had their first date during Scarecrow Fest all those years ago. Mark, she said, is known to do the unexpected.

But two scarecrows followed Mark onto the stage as Mark announced that he had a question for Michele. The banner the scarecrows unfurled displayed the question:

“Michele, Will You Marry Me?”

“Yes,” shouted out Michele, who was quite a ways back from the stage when the banner unfurled.

The proposal was a first for Scarecrow Fest, said Jason Pawloski of the Greater St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Bureau Executive Director Amy Egolf said it was an exciting development at Scarecrow Fest.

Adrian had nothing but good things to say about Scarecrow Fest and about the Greater St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Scarecrow Fest is oriented toward family and children, which made it a great setting for proposing to Michele.

“I wanted it to be different … family-oriented, kids oriented,” he said.

He said he started planning the proposal early in the summer and expressed his gratitude to the Greater St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau for being so receptive to the idea.

Related:

• Scarecrow Fest 2013 Info Center