Thunderstorms Dominated Idol Summer

With the Lilburn Idol finale complete perhaps we can acknowledge one of the breakout stars of the season:

Thunderstorms.

Lilburn Idol's eighth season was plagued by severe thunderstorms which occurred on two of the competition's three performance nights.

Thunderstorms first stole the show this season on June 24 when the first Idol performance night had to be . The performance was then rescheduled for a later date of July 29 that went on with clear skies.

At the Idol finale on Friday Aug. 5, thunderstorms were back again to take center stage. Strong winds began to blow at 8:10 p.m. during the performances from the Young Teen Division. Initially Mayor Diana Preston assured the crowd they were just clouds, but moments later boisterous thunder and lightning began to strike causing Idol attendees to run for shelter.

Lilburn Idol's weather policy requires everyone in the park to evacuate when thunder is heard. If the storm passes and no more thunderclaps are heard for 30 minutes the competition can resume. 

Contestants and their families were ushered into the Lilburn City Park auditorium to wait out the storm. Nearly 40 minutes later there were no signs that the rain was going to let up, and Mayor Preston announced that the competition would continue inside the auditorium. Idol volunteers raced to set up microphones, organize tables, and keep the crowd entertained.

For Sarah Curlee, a Lilburn Idol contestant in the Teen Division, the rain couldn't have come at a worse time. Curlee had yet to perform when the crowd was ushered inside and due to the delays caused by having to set up in the auditorium, lost most of her cheering section.

"I'm on the volleyball team at Parkview," said Curlee, who is a senior at the high school. "We had practice tonight and I couldn't go because of the competition." To show support Curlee's teammates ran from Parkview High to Lilburn City Park to catch her performance. Shortly after they arrived it began storming. "None of my friends have ever really heard me sing before, but once the rain came they left. I'm bummed they won't get to see me perform."

While it may have rained on Curlee's parade, for other contestants like Marianella Lopez, who competed in the Young Teen Division, the weather was less of a concern.

"I really hope that I get to sing tonight," said Lopez. "But if I don't it's okay. I'm really just here to have fun."

Lopez was the first contestant to kick-off the indoor idol performances, which began around 9 p.m. All of the remaining contestants performed, and at the end of the evening Idol winners were chosen. For Mayor Preston despite the inclement weather the evening was a success.

"I didn't want to cancel the event because we had already made it through half of the performances," said Mayor Preston. "We moved it into the auditorium and even though it was a little crowded it worked out well."