Well, we are amending the old adage. I guess you can count on death, taxes, and weather at PrairieFest…
We brought back a lot of traditions for our 25th Anniversary. We had 24 teams play in the PrairieFest Softball Classic, which included 21 teams visiting from out of town. After a six year hiatus, the Medallion Hunt was back and so much fun it will be back next year too. Finally, we continued the tradition of a bummer forecast all day Saturday which cut off our band that night. Ahh, traditions!
Thankfully, a stronger custom has been established for Oswegoland. You can’t keep this town from enjoying their weekend with friends and family. Over and over I have said that PrairieFest is the biggest thing we do together, and after watching all the different groups host events for our community, it’s true. We honored Diana Aug, our first PrairieFest Coordinator. Bob Prosec, the host of so many street dances joined her on the PrairieFest float. We sang along with the band, rode the rides, ate the food, ran the race, and watched the parade.
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Even more importantly, while we were having all that fun, we did a lot of good. We had a blood drive, a canned food drive, electronics recycling, and seven dogs were rescued into loving homes. Money was raised by the Boy Scouts, the Oswegoland Optimists Club, the Rotary Club of Oswego, and other charitable groups that will go back into this community. PrairieFest is the community festival that is good for this community.
The support from our community businesses made such positivity possible with so much entertainment free of any admission fees. We are grateful to our title sponsors, Oswego Community Bank, Groot Industries, and AT&T U-verse. Their enthusiasm and support of PrairieFest has been a great benefit to our festival.
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The support of our Major Partners, Allied First Bank, BMO Harris Bank, Euclid Beverage, HQC Incorporated, Ledger-Sentinel, New Life Electronics Recycling Inc, Oswego Tourism Bureau, Oswego School District #308, United Radio Communications, Village of Oswego, Weblinx Inc, and WSPY was integral in bringing us PrairieFest 2013 entertainment.
Thank you to our Supporting Partners, Christina Reynolds of American Family Insurance, Ancel, Glink, Diamond, Bush, DiCianni, & Krafthefer, Genoa Italian Concessions and Genoa Pizza, Holiday Inn Express, Hometown Insurance Services, Inc., Old Second Bank, Orleans Homes, Oswego Youth Tackle Football and Cheer, The Garden Faire, and Your Place Realty.
We are appreciative of the support of our Participating Partners; AmericInn Lodge and Suites, Builder’s Asphalt, First Place Rental, Fox Valley Trophy and Promotions, G.A. Blocker Grading Contractor, Ground Effects, Inc., Scott Gryder for the Kendall County Board, Heartland Bank, HR Green, Inc., Jim and Joyce Frankino, Kendall County Young Republicans, Dan Koukol with Kendall County Government, NM Tripp Insurance Agency Inc., Oswego Chamber of Commerce, Oswego Inn, Oswego Patch, River Heights Veterinary Clinic, Rotary Club of Oswego, Sikich, LLC, The Tillers, Vesco Reprographics, and The Village Grind.
Festival-goers stopped staff on the grounds to ask what ticket costs were for the entertainment all weekend. We were pleased to tell them that thanks to these partners, it was complimentary.
Having the Oswego Police Department involved in our planning process as well as on the grounds for the entire weekend was integral to keeping our festival safe. We boast a pretty wonderful department in this town and appreciate all the officers that were available throughout PrairieFest. The Oswego Fire Department and their EMTs were outstanding. Each year, we are so grateful that they are on the grounds making sure everyone is okay, and stays that way!
Volunteers in purple shirts filled the grounds making the operations of a 50,000 guest festival possible. If you see those purple shirts walking around, thank them for their outstanding service. They did it all while smiling!
We are already brainstorming for 2014! Our first order of business is to host a Saturday night band that plays a full encore. Despite a soggy Saturday, we had a great time with all of you and are still talking about it in our offices. If you have a story, event, or picture, we would love for you to share it! Please email me at kvest@oswegolandpd.org .
