Rain barrels do more than just hold water
Looking for a way to conserve water, contribute to your community and add artistic flair to your yard?
Then head to FoxFireFest in downtown Elgin this weekend and place a bid on one or more of the 45 "Rain Barrels on Parade."
The painted barrels will be auctioned off at this weekend's FoxFireFest Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 1 and 2 at the Art and Soul on the Fox art show. Most of the rain barrels, 29 of them, will be auctioned off in a silent auction beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday and ending at 1 p.m. Sunday. Bids will begin at $75.
The top 15 "Community's Favorites" will be auctioned off via live auction by Prigge Auctioneers at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2. Again, the bids will begin at $75. Proceeds from the auctions will go toward Elgin neighborhood sustainability projects.
"Rain Barrels on Parade" was a joint effort to bring attention to an easy way of saving water, to downtown Elgin attractions and the city's neighborhoods.
The 45 barrels were placed at strategic locations around Elgin until July 15, when they came back to the Gail Borden Public Library.
The 75-gallon plastic barrels help decrease the use of tap water, reduce stress of rainwater runoff on creeks and rivers and stop pesticides and fertilizers from entering rivers and streams.