July 11, 2016 at 4:57 p.m.
Another Hodag is in the books
Fans not put off by weather, there for the music, fun
Another Hodag is in the books
"So much for sunny and 77," she lamented, referencing a weather forecast that never realized.
Instead, the temperature never broke 70 degrees and the skies, gray and threatening, occasionally unleashed liquid sunshine on the attendees.
It was a pattern that repeated itself for much of the last four days, making this a particularly wet Hodag.
The annual music festival has a major impact on Rhinelander's economy, and this year those area merchants who sell rain gear did especially well.
In the end, while the weather conditions were less than ideal, those in attendance got what they came to see, a mix of new and classic country music acts. Whenever the rain would start, a rainbow sea of umbrellas, ponchos, rain jackets and tarps would come out, sheltering those in front of the stage and in the campgrounds until the precipitation passed.
For Brenda and Joe Lingnofski, who were making their 25th trip to the Hodag, a little rain wasn't going to dampen their spirits, even on the last day of this year's fest.
Brenda said this wasn't even the wettest Hodag they remembered.
"I remember slipping and sliding down the hills," she said.
When asked for their secret for getting through the nine-day event in less than ideal weather, Joe gave an answer that was echoed again and again Sunday afternoon.
"You just buy more beer and drink your way through it," he said. "It's all good."
Amy Lange, and her daughters Evelynn Sawyer and Macy, who were making their first pilgrimage to the festival, didn't let the dampness deter their fun.
"We got coats and shelter," Amy Lange said as her 18-month-old daughter Evelynn napped on her chest wrapped in a blanket.
The trio was under the watchful guidance of Dustin Scheid, who was making his 17th appearance at the festival.
"You just do the best you can to say dry," he said.
Eric Borchardt was telling another festgoer about one of the pitfalls of life in the campground after the soggy week.
"You can't even tell what color it is," Borchardt said of his Jeep. "It's full of mud."
Borchardt, who has been coming to the Hodag every year since 2006, said it wasn't the driest festival he had been to in that run; it did seem like the busiest despite the conditions, in his estimation.
"I'm just here to people watch, and there are a lot of people here," he said.
The wet, cold conditions did have a plus side for the Oneida County sheriff's deputies and Per Mar security personnel working the event. It kept some of the rowdier behavior in check.
"When it's wet and cold, people are less likely to get out of hand," said Deputy Brad Fogerty, adding that things were different on Wednesday, when the skies were sunny and it was hot and humid. But even then, the party didn't get too far out of hand, he added.
"Who is partying today?" asked the disc jockey from an area radio station as the sprinkles started as he introduced Chris Janson, who is touring in support of his debut album.
The crowd roared a positive response.
"Who's getting wet today?" he asked.
The crowd roared again.
He then asked one final question, "Who doesn't care?"
The crowd roared as if they were a herd of Hodags.
That summed up the mood of those who braved the elements for the annual festival.
And there were still plenty of people left on the hill in front of the stage when Neal McCoy, the unofficial "Mayor of Hodag," took the stage at 7 p.m. Sunday to this year's event.
Jamie Taylor may be reached at jtaylor @lakelandtimes.com.
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