Chamber reports on festival

Fireworks for next year’s Festival of America have already been assured, Coulee Dam’s town council learned last Wednesday night.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Peggy Nevsimal told council members that a corporate sponsor has already pledged $10,000 toward the 2016 show. Nevsimal appeared before the council for a debriefing of this year’s festival to see what might be done to make it even more successful.

Nevsimal said crowds were smaller this year because of the heat. There were reports of temperatures over 100 degrees at the park below the Visitor Center.

The chamber had expressed some concerns about whether it could afford to put on the Festival of America celebration due to the high costs associated with it.

In the debriefing, the chamber received compliments from both Mayor Greg Wilder and members of the council.

Police Sgt. Larry Hall also stated that the celebration went off without any problems.

Nevsimal stated that the chamber’s cost of putting on the festival was $34,000. That covers the fireworks show, cost of the live music, the stage and sound systems and other expenses like the refreshment tent.

This year’s fireworks show cost $10,000, with two corporate sponsors providing the financing.

With the early pledge for 2016, “it’s possible that we could have even a bigger (fireworks)show next year,” Nevsimal stated.

Parking, live music, an inflatable village, and the large refreshment tent all drew comments.

Parking is always a problem, but from reports, everyone was able to get within walking distance from the park.

It was pointed out by chamber officials that a smaller refreshment tent would save some money, the inflatable village will be eliminated, and live music might be replaced with recorded music.

The chamber will look at all the options as it starts looking ahead to 2016, Nevsimal said.