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Rhythm and Booms turns out fewer people, mosquitoes than expected (with photo gallery)

Pat Schneider  —  6/30/2008 11:17 am

Iffy weather apparently kept some revelers away from Rhythm and Booms at Warner Park Saturday as the crowd was estimated at between 150,000 and 175,000, short of the predicted turnout of 200,000.

There were 10 arrests at the event, which were related to youth disturbances in the midway area of the park. At one point, police shut down the midway and cleared the area because of the fight. There were several fights, which led to arrests for disorderly conduct, battery and recklessly endangering safety.

The event shut down for about a half an hour in mid-afternoon because of a storm, but there was no damage.

Also missing were much-anticipated swarms of mosquitoes, something several on the scene attributed to the stronger winds and cooler temperatures that followed a brief afternoon downpour. "There's been not a one," volunteer coordinator Deb McCue said in a cell phone interview from the site just before darkness fell and the fireworks began.

Before that big crescendo, though, Rhythm and Booms was a whole day of fun, food, games, rides, music, beer and socializing.

Cub Scout Ben Kaeder, 9, of Verona was working the lawn Saturday afternoon, collecting donations to fund the extravaganza and children's charities. It was actually "sorta" fun, said Ben.

"People are willing to donate, even though there's an economic crunch," said his mom, Jill Kaeder. "People like the event and want to see it continue. There aren't enough patriotic events now."

In the carnival area, David Keokanya and Narry Manavong of Madison watched several of the crowd of children they brought along on a fast-spinning ride called the Hurricane. "All the kids want to come here first," said Keokanya. In fact, by the time darkness falls and the big fireworks show starts, they can be pretty worn out, he said. "We like this event, we come every year."

Autumn Bartlett, 11, spent only $1 to win two goldfish by tossing ping pong balls into tiny fish bowls several yards away. "You just throw it like this," she said, demonstrating an underhand toss. The last family goldfish, also a carnival souvenir, "lived two or three years," she said.

The $8 sampling of BBQ from Famous Dave's (three ribs, a corn muffin and a side dish) was "great," said Marianne Larson of Madison. Larson said she and her husband arrive early to get a seat as close to the fireworks staging area as possible so that the charges explode right over their heads. That means at least two meals of fast food from the trailers and carts serving the event. "It's fun stuff, and we don't usually get it," she said.

And what a menu the vendors offered. Not only ribs, but corn dogs, hot dogs, corn on the cob, gyros, fajitas, tacos, burritos, pizza, chicken strips, cheese curds, Polish sausage, donuts, funnel cakes, kettle corn, and something called "beer battered french fries with cheese."

They really are better than regular french fries, Larry Mannheimer, 18, said as he dug into an order of them. They were out of the cheese sauce, though, said Mannheimer, a Louisianan who was visiting relatives in Madison and would be seeing Wisconsin-style fireworks for the first time. "I hear they're a pretty big deal here," he said.

Beer battered french fries may be an attention-getter, but it's the cheese curds that really sell, said Jami Mapson of Eau Claire, working the counter at All Star Foods. "We make them with white cheddar," she said.

Over in the fenced-off sponsors' area, right across from the fireworks staging area on an island in the lagoon, rows of white-paper covered tables stood empty. Ranks of coolers of food and beverage awaited opening, as workers taped centerpieces down to the tables.

Scott Strand of Portage comes early to get as close as he can to the staging area. "I like to be able to see the ground show," he said, referring the fireworks that don't rise in the sky and aren't visible to those farther away.

Curtis Nelson of Wisconsin Dells is in the Army National Guard and volunteered for the detail that sets off cannons on the hour. In between, he and his buddies were socializing on a lawn scattered, but not filled, with mostly families on foldable chairs and stake-claiming blankets and tarps, many of them empty in the late afternoon.

It's great people-watching, said Ben Lutterman of Madison. "I love it," said Laura Dischler of Mount Horeb. "Everybody being here is comforting. I just relax and chill out."

Couples dominated in front of the rock stage, where John and Marcia Vasta of Green Bay were grooving to the music. No wonder. The band playing was called The Groove Hogs. "Our mayor needs to talk to whoever coordinates this," said Marcia Vasta, praising the event.

"I love to come back to my hometown," John Vasta said. "There's a certain spirit that's unique to Madison. I feel it every time."

At the beer tent, Jason Bakken of Madison complained, "There's nobody here." Particularly missing, he said, were unattached young women, who are usually in ready supply and ready to socialize. He also wasn't pleased with the $4 charge for a small cup of beer. "You can buy a six-pack for that."

The carnival area was thick with teenagers by evening. Too many for Kyra McCann of Madison, who was heading towards home with her two young children. "I'm not feeling it this year," she said. "I used to see everybody I knew. Now it seems like a younger crowd."

Indeed it was. Madison Police Capt. Cameron McLay said by phone just before the fireworks began that officers were concentrating on teenagers on the carnival midway, and several disturbances. "We're hoping the presence of officers will quell that."

After the fireworks, it's on to the traffic, he said.

Pat Schneider  —  6/30/2008 11:17 am