Saturday, September 27, 2008

Harvest Fest

I would love to know how people think Harvest Weekend was. What did you like, what can be improved. Were there enough bathrooms? Should the band be in the intersection of downtown or at the remodeled band shell? Since it is a Harvest Fest shouldn't the people selling produce and flowers be in front of the courthouse? Maybe all the food vendors should all be in one park? Or spread all over?

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I thought it sucked....though I wasn't actually there...

Anonymous said...

I went for a while on both Saturday and Sunday, and had a nice time. The car show on Sunday was great! It gets bigger and better every year and draws a lot of folks to Green Lake. A pat on the back to the organizer!

We sampled a few things at the food fair but weren't overly impressed with anything we tried but it was okay. The prices are fair and the servings were ample.

There was an annoying auction going on in the center of the festival on Sunday, and I think they would do better to have the auction by the bandshell and keep the live music down by the festivities.

Too bad the weather wasn't a bit warmer on Sunday, but it wasn't bad and could have been a lot worse. The fresh produce stands really make the fair an true autumn event, and I would like to see that aspect keep growing and improving. All in all, Harvest Fest is by far the best festival of the year and keeps getting better.

Anonymous said...

I thought that weekend was just great! Our grandchildren visited and had so much fun at all of the events. There were so many things that children could participate in. And the food on Sunday was great!

The parade on Saturday ran for 45 minutes and everyone had fun. I'm estimating that at least 1,000 people visited Green Lake over the weekend.

What's not to like!!!

Anonymous said...

Overall the fest seemed very nice. It looked like a record crowd. We noticed that there was not enough seating for the many senior citizens in shade on Sat.(it was very hot),so they could enjoy the live music. Also not enough garbage cans.

Anonymous said...

We went both days and had a great time! It seemed bigger and better than ever! We have enjoyed it for 20 years and think it is WONDERFUL!
Many, many thanks to all who work so hard on it! We always like the delicious food, fun activities plus craft and variety of venders!

Anonymous said...

How about those rides for the kids, the bungee jump and the rock wall! Thanks to the Green Lake Kiwanis Club and the Chamber for getting things for older children to do.

Wonderful event for families.

Anonymous said...

Yes, Harvest Fest just keeps getting better and it is exciting to think how it can keep improving as our downtown areas get spruced up. Thankfully the fence was removed from the old Grocery Bag lot in time for the fesitval. Having extra parking is key to good attendence. It would be wonderful if the city could buy that lot as an investment for Green Lake's future.

Once the city expands and improves their park-land by the tennis courts and also by the boat landing, there will be lots more room for vendors, rides, games etc. The car show grows bigger every year and draws a lot of people here, yet the county grounds are looking pretty shabby.

I was dissappointed that the food vendors on Saturday had to close down at 3:00 to make room for the parade route. We didn't arrive till 3:00 and didn't get to eat. What if the Saturday food vendors set up on Water Street, between the courthouse and the lake? Then they could stay put until after the parade and even keep their equipment there overnight for use the next day. It would be great if the Rotary had their stand operating on Sunday, too. Why not? None of the Sunday vendors were selling a regular ol' hamburger and many families with children would appreciate standard festival food on Sunday, too.

One other thing that might improve Green Lake during the festival and all summer long would be a daily ferry boat that leaves from the Marina. I realize that the Heidel House has their "ship" but I am talking about something more middle class and touristy. There was such a ferry on Waupaca's chain of lakes when I was a kid, with several daily tours that were always busy. I don't know who would fund such an endeavor but it sure would bring the tourist to the lake, something we need to work on.

Anonymous said...

Dear ideas,

I like some of your suggestions. I hope some of them are considered by the Chamber for this event. However, the City is in no financial position to buy a lot that might be available for over $400,000 for parking on a main street. The City cannot have a situation where no tax revenue comes in on a prime piece of commercial property.

Anonymous said...

Donna, yes I understand the city doesn't have the money to buy such a lot, it would be nice if they did. I personally think that the lot is overvalued considering a homes right down the block are worth a small fraction of that. Since one of the issues with building a new courthouse is the lack of parking, it would be far cheaper to buy a parking lot and then throw a few improvements into the old courthouse rather than spending almost $30 million on a new building for a county that has not grown in population in 10 years. Of course, that would make far too much sense for government to comprehend.

Anonymous said...

The city needs to acquire a backbone! Start enforcing it's ordinances. We can not have absentee land owners holding us hostage. That empty lot is never going to bring that kind of money. Clean it up or condemn. Let that guy lose his ass. This city needs to stop letting everyone with so called money, from walking all over us. Get tough. Stop that belly aching. We need more revenue from all these empty lots in town. We must be able to grow.

Anonymous said...

Woah... here come the fights over city issues. Let's get back on topic!

I thought Harvest Fest was great! I do wish the food booths on Saturday could be somewhere else so they could stay open longer.
I had a first at the food booths, I now know what a "funnel cake" is, and I want another one!

All the craft vendors have nice stuff, although I seldom buy anything.

I don't know what, but new things need to be added each year to keep the Festival fresh. The rock wall was great. Could we expand somewhere with more block party like games, expand the games that were in the park near the dam.

Great job to all who help organize the Fest. It's gotta be a ton of work. It is very much appreciated.

Anonymous said...

That music thing in the middle of the intersection was a pain in the neck. you should be able to walk down the street without dodging cords and bails of hay. and the traffic control was kind of dangerous.

Anonymous said...

I almost tripped on a cord that was stretched from the realtor on the corner across the street to a vendor booth. It wasn't even taped down!

Anonymous said...

To try duct tape,

How about walking on the street where people are supposed to walk instead of behind the booths?

Anonymous said...

No, you don't understand. The utility cord was stretched across the sidewalk and continued to stretch all the way across the street to the bison stand. The sidewalk is where people are supposed to walk. Not only was the cord not taped down, it was not laying flat on the sidewalk but suspended an inch or two above the sidewalk (like a trip wire). This was right on the corner by Lake Realty.

Green Lake Zobel Park Rec Fund

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