My name is Kate. My small business is Fabrikate. I make bags, backpacks, wallets and totes, and joyfully absurd animal shaped bags.

I have always loved parades, since I won first place at about 8 years old for my kooky winged pink elephant costume my mom made me.

I have been involved with the Parade of Lights in Champaign for a few years now and I love the joy that night brings to the community. When we first moved to Champaign we would take the kids every year, it was something we looked forward to. My first entry was a very rough vinyl table cloth dragon thrown together in a few weeks in my garage. It was fastened to a dog agility tube and so so janky.

Last year I started much earlier and sewed a 25 foot dragon (named Gertie after my sewing machine) out of ripstop nylon with an intricate PVC skeleton. I also created 3 ridiculous hoop skirted wobbly silver belle costumes with wobbly light up hats and wings to go along with the Parade of Lights theme.

This year because of weather the Parade of Lights was cancelled. After a day of tears and mourning my friends picked me up, rallied and helped me organize the first ever Fabrikatefest, an indoor mini parade with swing dancers and a costume contest.

It was truly magical, an hour or so of joy and laughter where all participants joined together, put the world on pause, raised Gertie up and walked the halls, ending with a swing dance party in front of the giant Christmas tree. It brought tears to my eyes, the joy of it all.

I am still smiling, having flashes of the chaos of prep, everyone giggling, bubble machine going, us all snapping Gertie's pvc frame into place.

So now I'm thinking. What if I started next year's prep even sooner, like January or February since those are the dead months for my business? What if I had the time to construct costumes at a leisurely pace and not need to rush and fit them in between custom orders, late night or while I struggle to maintain inventory for art shows?

What if I did the Parade of Lights as usual but ALSO organized a small fabrikate parade or festival of folly later in December, expanded on this fabrikatefest idea?? What if I had the funds to hire and pay a kick ass band what they deserve, rent Lincoln Square Mall and move the entire fabrikatefest inside, to guard us against any potential weather disasters?

I'm asking for donations now so I can use my business dead months of January through March to design and create more ridiculous costumes, look into renting an indoor space for a few hours and get live musicians.