Our Town Is Dead. Any Ideas for a Festival?

[jmarie]

Maybe something that your town does that you enjoy, that we could borrow?
The business group is soliciting ideas.
Thanks.
J

[Terri_A]

One of my favorite festivals each year is the Chappell Hill Scarecrow Festival. You can see the information at this link...http://www.chappellhillmuseum.org/festivals.htm

It is just a lot of fun! It's about a 45 minute drive north of Houston to Chappell Hill, but the trip serves two purposes for me as I always stop at Chappell Hill Sausage to stock up the freeze with their great sausages.

My advice would be to find something that is unique to your town and build a festival around that, or something indicative of the time of year.

Good luck!

[Kayaksoup]

Let's see, events and festivals here in No-Fun City (so called because of our stringent laws).
Folk Fest
Jazz Fest
Childrens Fest
Greek Days (large greek community)
PNE (Pacific National Exhibition; like a county fair type thing)
Early music Fest
Film Fest
Japanese Cultural Festival
Dilwali (pardon my spelling)(Festival of Lights)
Various Neighbourhood Days where the main drag is shut down and they have go cart races and sidewalk sales
Homopalooza
Various Rock concerts
Wooden Boat Festival
Lumberjack Games
Scottish Festival
Wine Festival

[Robyn1007]

There's a Biscuit Day coming up here in the town I just moved to. I'll let you know how that goes if you'd like....

[jmarie]

Any ideas would be appreciated!

[tamawrite]

Is there something your town or area is famous for? Logging? Beets? Fiddling? Bootlegging? My favorite festivals are those that come with a history.

[misskitty100]

Our town has "Derby Days" which is somehow related to bicycling. They have a parade, carnival and bike races.

Another festival that we have enjoyed is a Strawberry Festival where fresh strawberry shortcake is served.

Pretty exciting stuff up in the NW....

[JJeannette]

I live in a small village (pop 600) and we even have our "-------Days"--no real theme, but they manage a small parade, little Miss/Master contests, pedal tractor races, etc for the kids; a street dance and pork chop supper, a car show, community church service on Sunday morning, pancake breakfast for the fire department.

The past couple of summers they've had free outdoor movies once a month.

Halloween brings a village Halloween parade and party sponsored by the village board.

Of course, in the spring is the village Easter egg hunt for the kids--.

A larger town nearby has weekly band concerts thru the summer and a Music Festival over Father's Day weekend with a parade, concerts in the park, and juried arts and crafts sale/show over Sat/Sun.

During the holidays this same town has a Victorian Walk with victorian style vinettes set up in store windows, horse and carriage rides and caroling by groups on the street corners.

The nearest metro area has all sorts of festivals, etc through out the year, but one special one is the Festival of Trees that kicks off the holiday season--local businesses sponsor/design holiday trees, local celebs do small trees--these are auctioned off at the end of the festival. During the week, there are "Daddy/daughter dances, children's tea parties, a kick-off dinner and dance--.(This is something that could start small and grow and evolve with time and interest).

[hlao23]

My hometown holds "Chili Night in October" every year. It's a chili cook-off...mostly businesses, but anyone can enter. You pay $5 for 5 tickets and each ticket gets you a small cup of chili. I think winners are determined by which business has the most tickets. The event is held on closed-off streets of the downtown area, so it is a chance to people to look at shops that they maybe haven't noticed before. Local bands also play at this event. The streets are always PACKED for this.

[momcancook]

We have historic home tours, community band concerts in the park, outdoor movies,Dog Days Fest with dog parades(and votes for doggie mayor ) 5K runs, Village wide garage sales,Lighted Christmas parade, Halloween parade,with a pumpkin carving contest.

[leebee]

Whatever you choose, add a car show to the festivities! There are plenty of clubs in your part of the country, and it's a fun way to attract a crowd. You can focus on a particular segment of the collecting population (ie, pre-war classics or muscle cars, even classic tractors) or take all-comers (my personal preference). Have local businesses sponsor awards. It's often a nice photo-op to see beautiful old cars lined up in a park or in a historic setting. Plus, you can often get vendors to help fund things in exchange for booth space (a car dealership, for example, might bring a brand-new Mustang to display).

[Canice]

Is there something your town or area is famous for? Logging? Beets? Fiddling? Bootlegging? My favorite festivals are those that come with a history.

I second this; makes it feel unique and might stir a little local pride to help get folks to the event. Every spring the town of Petaluma has a "Butter and Egg Day" parade; it's been decades since Petaluma was "the egg capital of the world" but that link still seems to appeal to its residents.

[Escher]

Start up the local Festivus celebration

/Seinfeld

[summer02]

My favorites are the "Taste of your town" festivals. In the town that we just moved from, it's held in early October. Each of the local restaurants, food markets, school cafeterias, bakeries, etc. set up a booth in the town hall and for a $15 entrance fee, you can sample the food from each place. Beverages are provided by the local brewery, wineries, and soft drink maker. It's a great social activity for the town and helps to boost sales in the local shops afterward.

[Sookie]

Our town has a Car Show and Sock Hop. You wouldn't believe how many people come from all over to enter their old restored cars! It gets bigger every year and it's been going on for 9 years now. There are live bands, DJs, best 50's outfits, hula hoop contest, dance and singing contests, and live bands. This year we had an Elvis impersonator. The main event, however, is the cars. There are trophies given for cars and motorcycles. I don't know what all the different classes are. Last year we had over 600 entries and I think they had to turn some down.

[Escher]

Our town has a Car Show and Sock Hop. You wouldn't believe how many people come from all over to enter their old restored cars! It gets bigger every year and it's been going on for 9 years now. There are live bands, DJs, best 50's outfits, hula hoop contest, dance and singing contests, and live bands. This year we had an Elvis impersonator. The main event, however, is the cars. There are trophies given for cars and motorcycles. I don't know what all the different classes are. Last year we had over 600 entries and I think they had to turn some down.

Yeah, in the "Motor City" we know all about that.

"Dream Cruise" attracted, what, over 1 million people in 2005?

'Aint no party like a Deeeetroit party....

[badunnin]

'Aint no party like a Deeeetroit party....

Cause a Deeeeetroit party never stops.... (I had to)

[Escher]

I should have known badunnin would have my back.

[Robyn1007]

Well, Biscuit Day is today and I started my morning off with a plate of biscuits and gravy and a bowl of stew and it was yummy. Along with food they had a few craft booths, the local high school jazz band, the historical society and a local farmer's stand. It seemed to have a great turnout as I got there about 10 minutes after opening and waited in line for 30 minutes to get my food.