The Duncan Banner

Local News

Related Photos

  • Daniel Hammontree makes sure Tank is well hydrated during SummerFest at Fuqua Park. Derrick Miller

    SummerFest 1

  • Kallie Slate paints Brooke Stephens’ face Saturday during SummerFest. Derrick Miller

    SummerFest 2
July 17, 2011

SummerFest moves along

Derrick Miller The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — Despite the heat, SummerFest 2011 brought in 72 vendors and hundreds of people shopping Friday and Saturday in Fuqua Park.

Toward the beginning of the day Saturday, Chris Deal, Chamber president, and Laurie Baldwin, Chamber director of events, set up an information booth on the south side of the park. During the first few hours, Deal and Baldwin kept a tally of how many people walked by the booth.

On average, they had more than 300 people pass the information booth every hour. They had about 25 people every five minutes.

“It’s going smoothly,” Deal said about SummerFest, which is a portion of the World’s Largest Garage Sale. “Laurie has done a great job. I think with the heat, it is keeping some people away. But all in all, we’ve been very pleased.”

Baldwin said the majority of the vendors were satisfied with Saturday’s turnout. She said Friday’s turnout didn’t pick up until later in the day.

“Honestly, I think the heat is keeping some people away,” Baldwin said.

She said some of the vendors left early Saturday because of the heat, and food vendors weren’t selling as many hot items.

But many vendors were staying busy Saturday, which she attributed to people being off work.

“My vendors seem to be pretty happy,” Baldwin said. “They said it’s going well in spite of the heat.

“I had a lot of repeats, and about 30 percent are new vendors.”

She said having more than 70 vendors has been the average for about three years. Four years ago, vendor numbers were in the 50s.

“We’ve gone up,” Baldwin said. “We are one of the few shows in July. They make money here.”

But not all vendors were out to turn a buck. Immanuel Baptist Church had a ministry to pass out free water, make balloon animals, face paint and give temporary tattoos.

DeAnna Sanders, Immanuel missions minister, said the church has been a vendor for SummerFest for five years. Every year, people volunteer their time to help out. And those volunteers range from students to senior adults.

“We’re here to teach about love through Jesus Christ,” Sanders said.

Deal said together SummerFest and the World’s Largest Garage Sale make an event that brings in the fourth highest amount of revenue to Duncan. He said the event historically brings in between $150,000 to $170,000.

“Last year was about $152,000,” Deal said.

He said SummerFest and the World’s Largest Garage Sale drives commerce in Duncan because it brings tourists to the area. People stay in local hotels and eat in Duncan restaurants.

Deal said Baldwin starts getting vendor calls about SummerFest in February. Every year, she also gets many last minute calls. He said he is impressed with how well she put the event together.

“I would call it a success,” Deal said.

Text Only
Local News