Letter to the Editor

Statement from Popcorn Festival of Clay County

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Editor's Note: The following is the full statement provided by the Popcorn Festival of Clay County, which officially disbanded Saturday, July 20.

Popcorn Festival dissolving

The facts

The Popcorn Festival of Clay County Board of Trustees would like to set the record straight with just the facts of recent requests and events. It is unfortunate that this situation has taken "flight" and escalated to the degree it has. The request that was taken to the Park Board for their consideration, was just that, a "request." Our group has always operated under the strong belief that we follow all rules and never cut corners or try to do anything "under the radar."

We are a very small group of citizens who donate countless hours of our time to bring to this community the highest quality of entertainment for all ages and all walks of life while attempting to maintain an affordability factor for all citizens.

These are the "Free Facts:"

* Free parking; free popcorn; free music entertainment; free $250 raffle with as many other 'free' raffles we can add; free Farmer Ron's Amazing Field Trip for the children on Saturday mornings; free coloring contest for school-aged children with cash prize delivered to them at their school; free entry into Orville Redenbacher look-a-like contest with a chance of four people winning a monetary prize; free entry into the popcorn eating contest with a chance of four people winning a monetary prize; free cruise-in car show all entries receive a free "dash plaque" and a T-shirt; free living statue, Mark Abatti, roaming the grounds on Sunday afternoon entertaining old and young alike with his mime antics and surprises; free interaction and prizes with Radio Disney; and scholarship to Northview and/or Clay City students.

Unless you have ever been involved with trying to organize an event of this magnitude, a person would not understand that just because we offer these things for "free," we don't get them for "free."

Now, let's move on to the other "facts" of our request. Every year, we provide people the opportunity to express their input of things we may need to improve upon.

All of our Food and Craft Vendors are given a survey sheet to fill out and after the festival is over, we look for their ideas for improvements or changes to keep our festival "fresh."

Going above and beyond that, we provide attendees the opportunity to express their opinions on the "Free Raffle" tickets that they can sign up for during the entire festival.

During our wrap-up meeting, usually in late October, we read those to gather all input. Hence, the reason we decided to "ask permission" for a Beer/Wine Tent. We knew going in we should don considerable "homework and research," so we had all the facts of how they work prior to delivering the "request."

These are the "facts" that no citizen could possibly know because this was never published in the newspaper. So here are the "facts:"

* B/W tent to be fenced and security, including state excise will be on site; tent will only be open on Friday and Saturday evenings, during the main musical entertainment; no one can leave the fenced area with any drinks; ID will be required to get into the fenced area; there will be one opening that will serve as entrance and exit. This will be secured; tickets or bracelets will be purchased at the entrance. There will be a limit of two tickets that can be purchased; the buyer will hand the ticket to the person serving and receiving their drink. No ticket -- no drink; serving will end one hour prior to the end time of the final music group if at any time one of the police officers, security, excise officers or PFCC member working the garden questions whether or not a patron should have another beer or glass of wine, they will not be served and will be escorted out.

So, for those who believe this would "open a can of worms" for other organizations and it would be discrimination to others who may be told they could not do it, let's put it in the proper perspective.

If another organization is willing to go to these lengths to be assured theirs would be controlled, insured, apply and receive a state issued permit, pay for additional security and done with dignity and respect of the park, the same as our request was made, why should they be turned down?

The biggest disappointment is not in being turned down, but in the manner many people chose to quote "Hellfire and Damnation" to a group for only asking for a "request." To hear the comments that we were trying to corrupt the children of families and be accused of bringing shame to "sacred ground," you may not want to take those children to Disney World or Epcot Center, or out to eat at many of the chain restaurants that are "kid friendly," because they also serve mixed drinks and there is no limit to how much they could consume. Just because you have a drinking problem doesn't mean everyone does.

The fact is the popcorn festival is made up of volunteers. We are extremely dedicated to bringing quality, interesting and unique events to the community and had intended to continue for decades.

Because we "asked a question" we have been criticized, demonized and crucified as a group. As a group, we know there will always be issues, problems and misunderstandings that need to be tended to. But after this fiasco, we feel enough is enough.

Getting irate phone calls with warnings that we better not have alcohol at our festival and quoting the Bible in the same conversation is ridiculous.

We were not surprised by a "no" vote from the park board. But we thought that four highly respected and appointed park board members would take the "facts" and make a decision. We assumed we would be treated with equal respect. Our members and supporters were encouraged to not show up en masse or to start a petition. We did not know a decision was going to be made by the amount of phone calls made to friends or the number of people that attended that meeting.

Something the public may not know is the Popcorn Festival of Clay County received a sizable increase in the cost of renting the park because the park board says they don't have enough money. That was hard to swallow but we did it. Please keep in mind most organizations are allowed to use the park for free. This decision is coming from the same park board that states they always want to be fair to everyone.

The popcorn festival has never cost the taxpayers anything. This is the way we wanted it. If we can't grow and offer new and better entertainment for the community, we wither and become boring.

With all this being said, I hope you can see there is another side to this story. Trying to bring the community a great festival was fun for all but when unnecessary obstacles are constantly arising from disgruntled people and organizations that need to be dealt with, it is time to move on. As stated before, we are a small group of volunteers. We don't have time for both.

The popcorn festival members have worked hard and enjoyed every minute of giving this festival to the community. Ten extremely satisfying and successful years.

We feel that we were winning at keeping our commitment of always doing what was best for the festival. But part of being a winner is realizing when enough is enough. Sometimes, you have to give up the fight and walk away.

Remember, we are all volunteers.

The popcorn festival is dissolving as of July 2013 ... "Because we asked a simple question."

Thank you for 10 great years Clay County.

The Popcorn Festival of Clay County