Festival Expansion Explanation

The following letter reviews the process and reasons for changing the Art and Balloon Festival activities into four events held on separate weekends. It was first posted on social media and then shared by the author with local media.

To the editor:

Very often these days I get asked “why did you split up the Balloon Festival“. Even though last summer I did a great deal of interviews, some press conferences and press releases on this topic, I think it is a good idea to share this information again this year as we are in the middle of event season. I will not only share why, but some other festival facts to discredit many inaccuracies floating about.

First, let me start by saying, even though I am posting this via social media, I do not intend to debate this on social media. I will have a calm dialog with anyone that wishes to contact me directly and identify themselves. Secondly, I’d like to acknowledge that this change thing is hard for people and for that I want to say that I am sorry that an event that the community so clearly loves and has enjoyed over the years has changed. I know change is hard and at times difficult to understand. As my explanation goes on, I hope everyone (or the vast majority) will understand that the decision was made to preserve the components of the event, to help them grow, and for the greater good of the community. This change was not done to hurt anyone, to ruin anyone’s memories, lives, or for any other malicious reason. May there be some vendors that had a bad year this year? Yes, but almost ALL of our vendors had a bad year last year and no hope of coming back in other weekends to make up that money. This didn’t seem to bother anyone last year when Chamber, Oasis, and Main Street all struggled to the point of Main Street having to close up shop because of one bad event.

I think it very important to point out that it was NOT the Logan County Alliance that made this decision. The decision and discussions and planning for the expansion all took place last year with many many many people at the table before the Logan County Alliance existed. Everyone that helped plan or that was responsible for a component of the major functions of the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival was part of the decision to expand and how the festival would expand. There were others that represented the Festival Steering committee, downtown businesses, and a few board members also. So to be clear representatives from the BBQ committee, Oasis (craft fair/flea market), Main Street (art of wine), art fair, and as mentioned before the festival steering committee. I am not passing the “blame” by pointing out this fact, but rather helping all understand that this was a group process.

Reasons for expansion:

• As announced in the July 24th, 2014 press release (to the public) and in proceeding press conferences and media interviews, it is important to draw visitors to Logan County more often. By expanding a struggling event (trust me, it was and I will explain more on that), we can create more events that have a better chance of long-term viability and growth options without debilitating one organization, and straining a community. It is vitally important for community growth to have “new” money flow through our shops, restaurants, hotels and other service industries. One event once a year wasn’t working for those groups. I encourage people to take some time to talk to those I’ve mentioned above. They are all in favor of this change, because they do understand the greater impact of more events. The first event of the expansion (Lincoln’s Pigs & Swigs) saw good steady traffic for those mentioned above. Early feedback from our hotels tells us that most of them were full or close to it that weekend.
   
• With one “all-eggs-in-one-basket” kind of event that was the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival we (the organizations that had a great deal invested in this event) had no way to make up that money if we had a bad weekend (like we did last year). If the Chamber had another year back-to-back like last year due to rain and excessive heat, the Chamber would no longer exist (nor would the Alliance). Some might be in favor of the latter, or indifferent to the Chamber, but without the Alliance/Chamber none of the events happen and more than 300 hundred business and 1800 employees would feel the loss of that. Ask those involved in the former Main Street Lincoln. One bad event and they could not survive.
   
• Resources stretched: This one is a big part of the decision. When I began my duties in 2008, we have a volunteer sheet for the Lincoln Art & Balloon festival that had spots for about 150 to 200 volunteers. We generally filled most of them but if we didn’t, we didn’t feel much of a strain because we always had extra volunteers in other areas we could pull from. Last year, we needed over 600 spots filled and that does not include, Art of Wine, or Craft Fair/Flea market volunteers which easily is 75 more. Last year we did not fill our 600 spots and we had major gaps in volunteer areas that are critical to the safety of event goers. I prayed we did not have the normally anticipated 15,000 people. We did not have the volunteer capacity to serve that many people. A community of 15,000 in theory should be able to produce that many volunteers, but the reality is we don’t and most communities our size do not either. We often hear from people that they’d like to help in more areas but they just cannot, because most of the event was all happening at the same time. Now they can and they are. We have people signed up for all three events to help. Plus they can actually enjoy all the events now, whereas before rarely could someone enjoy all the components of the weekend.

• Along those same lines, our sponsors couldn’t participate like they wanted to. And yes, these people (businesses) are vital to the events, and if they want flexibility and freedom to ‘’spread the wealth” then we need to ensure they can. Because it is a fact that our sponsors are the only reason we can host events like this. Our sponsors make events happen.
   
• Space: We were running out of room to grow separately. BBQ competition has potential to grow all over downtown now, before they did not. While BBQ was growing and the craft fair/flea market was growing, the Fine Art Fair was dying. The artist hated being paired with those two components. I won’t bother you with why they hated it, but every year since we added the BBQ we would hear about it, and fewer and fewer artist came back. No, that is not the only reason artists are not coming, but it did not help the problem.

• Other reasons: The Art Fair desperately needed to be revamped. It has been dying over the last few years and if we didn’t do something big and fast we would not have it anymore. The Art Fair is what started the entire thing over 40 years ago. By now merger a version of the Art of wine (which there is no Main Street to plan the old style of Art of Wine in conjunction with old version of the festival- therefore that was going to change inevitably because there is no way the Chamber could have taken on the art of wine during that weekend and no one else was stepping up to the plate to do it) we have a hybrid event that can grow on its own and has new components to it, like painting classes and live bands with the art fair and wine tasting.
   
• Marketing: I often stated “The Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival has something for everyone”, well, what I have learned is that is not how people are attending events any longer. Most people have specific things they like and are willing to spend time and money on. By separating the old festival into components that complement each other, we can now target demographics and our marketing dollars go farther and are used smarter. We saw this method pay off for the Pigs & Swigs Festival.

The festival has changed over its 42-year history and each change has made it stronger. Back in 1972 when a group from the Women’s club decided to start an art fair I’m certain they had no idea it would evolve and change into what became the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival, just as it may be hard for some now to see what all these new events will evolve into in their lifespan. I hope the community will have realistic expectations of the new events. When the art fair started all those years ago they did not have 80 artists, so I think it would be unrealistic to expect that of the 2015 Arts in the Park event. When the Flea market started in Scully Park they did not have 80 vendors, so it is really unfair, if not unreasonable, for people to have expected that for this year. The Oasis Senior Center had a great event this year even though they only had 60 vendors (which is not too bad). Under the new structure they retain 100% of their profits so they come out ahead. Did some of the vendors struggle a bit this first year? Yes. We are sorry about that for them, but we cannot base our events solely on the needs of vendors. The Oasis will need to work with their vendors to find out what will help them be more successful. The Oasis chose the craft fair/flea market to be with the June components. They insisted that this would be best for them, and to be honest, I agree, but ultimately, it was their decision.
 

I do appreciate the communities concern and passion for the old event. I’d love to see that same passion and concern turned into an effort to make these new events survive and prosper, because the fact is that they are not going back to the way it was. We need help and support. I encourage, and dare you to become a volunteer, become an advocate for the events so they can turn into events that you can treasure as much as you did the previous event. So help us make them great in whatever way you can. Even by simply sharing the facts, and stop the spread of inaccuracies and negativity is helping.

Andi Hake, President and CEO
Logan County Alliance

[Posted June 19, 2015]