This year’s Celebrate Neosho was a far cry from the Celebrate Neosho events held the past two years.
And that’s a shame. We are firm believers that events like Celebrate Neosho, the Car and Bike Cruise Night, Summer Social on the Square, the Fall Festival and the Dickens Faire are vital to the quality of life in our community.
The reason behind the down-sized Celebrate Neosho event this year was the state of the economy, according to event organizers. In an previous report, it was stated the city did not deem it wise to go to local businesses and ask for sponsorships to help fund the event as it had in the past. But, bad economy or not, this community has proven time and time again it will support a cause or event — both in sweat equity and financially — if they feel it is worthwhile, and two good examples are the annual Car and Bike Cruise Night held on the Square in May, and the Summer Social on the Square in August. Also, see pages 6A and 7A of today’s edition to view the events on tap for the Fourth of July celebrations in Granby and Seneca. For these events and others, businesses donate money, resources and employee time to work booths, fund prizes, offer discounted advertising and more. In Granby, they pass a bucket and residents who attend will donate money to help with costs.
We find it difficult that the same could not have been done for Celebrate Neosho this year. We spoke with several local business owners who said if they had been contacted to donate prizes or help fund the Celebrate Neosho event this year, they would have contributed. Yes, a few said they may have had to downsize their contribution, but they would have given something to the event which can bring a crowd to Neosho and offer them a good marketing tool to attract potential customers or show community goodwill and spirit.
We would like to see an effort made for the 2010 Celebrate Neosho event to take it back to where it was in 2007. That year there were local music acts, a pet pageant, eating contest, free watermelon, as well as a Little Mr. or Miss Celebrate Neosho contest, and other attractions. Stay away from the national musical acts, and keep the celebration in a smaller space at the ballpark parking lot, not spread out across the grass where rain and damp grounds could become an issue as it did in 2008. We can’t let what happened to Celebrate Neosho this year happen again, because the past proves it is an event that can be successful and not have to cost a fortune.
DAILY NEWS
