It's over!

I can finally breathe!

For the past few years sleepy little Cannelton has had a Pumpkin Fest every second Saturday in October. With hardly any vendors and participants, its a bust. So, as part of a small group I'm involved in of committed citizens, like 7 of us, with the rehab of the town as our mission, we decided that if we didn't get involved in the planning process of the festival, then it'll be another embarrassment on the town. This group has taken it upon ourselves to be the big brother of the town, look out for it, and try to accomplish strategic things to turn things around.

So, with that said, Since the first week of August, we started meeting with the town's festival planning committee (of one) and offered our "help". Needless to say, we kinda took it over and she was relieved. So for the past two months we've met religiously on a weekly basis reporting back on the different vendors we found, music we booked, and food we planned to have. It was an intense two months. First of all, most of us wear a lot of different hats on other committee's and we have full time jobs. Secondly, we only had two months to plan a festival that should've started planning 6 months ago. We had to work around people being booked already, or just plain "short notice". We also learned a few things along the way. Mostly, that people need to be hand-held. Get things in writing and follow up. often. like every week. whether they're musicians or craft vendors. We also learned some things about each other. I learned who to count on, who followthroughs, and who passes their tasks to other people and points the finger at someone else when push comes to shove. (that's disappointing)

Anyway. This past Saturday was the newly revamped "Cannelton Heritage Festival". Our focus was REAL arts and crafts. Like basketweaving, soap making, candle making, blacksmith, silversmith, wood carving. We also featured artists who painted or carved stone, or shaped metal into lawn art. It was all quite remarkable. We had musicians the entire day. My favorite are the Troubadours of Divine Bliss. They're awesome! Wine tasting.. lots-o-food. and then kids stuff like pumpkin painting and games, and inflatable jumping stuff. The entire Main street was blocked and packed with things to see/do. We also offered historic walking tours (guided) and then at 5 they changed over to historic GHOST tours.--led by yours truly ;) of course. There was also an auction, but I missed all of it because I was breaking down me and Mandy's Deer Creek Gifts booth. Then I had to start right in with a full tour group of about 10-15 people for the ghost tour.

Any profits of the festival goes to the Cannelton Foundation a non-profit organization who's goal is to preserve or restore Cannelton.

We estimated 1,000-1,500 people there yesterday.

All the nay-sayers were impressed. I think we woke up the town. :) I know that number isn't very large, but when you're talking about a small town like ours (population around 2k, and how bad the previous fests turned out, we hit this one out of the park! and the vendors felt that way too. They said they did better in one day here, than they did at another (well known, very big, 4-day long) local festival. And I know that's true from our booth too.

It's a great sense of accomplishment when everything seems to fall in place and work. and then be successful. and I think our group can be proud of that.