Weinland Park Community Civic AssociationPlanning Committee for Weinland Park Neighborhood Festival

Summary of Festival Planning as of June 4, 2015

Diane Dixon, Chair, and Ashley Dixon, Co-Chair

The planning committee for the annual Weinland Park Neighborhood Festival met June 4. The committee members made a number of important decisions because the festival is being moved this year from the citys Weinland Park (behind the elementary school) to the area around Godman Guild Association at 303 E. Sixth Avenue. The festival is still scheduled for Saturday, August 8, from noon to 4 p.m. The festivals location is being changed because the city park is reserved for another event.

Because of the limited space around Godman Guild, the logistics and locations for various festival activities are still being considered. We thank Godman Guild staff members for being willing to host the festival at their facility and for working with us on the logistics.

Logistics. Godman Guild will permit access to restrooms in the back of its building. Community Properties of Ohio may host an open house in its offices at Godman Guild as part of the festival. The open house would include access to restrooms. What tents, tables, chairs, and dance floor must be rented? Diane Dixon would like more small canopy tents. The large tent may still be needed close to the stage. We may need 35 tables, although that figure may be revised closer to the festival. Steve Sterrett will consult with Erin Prosser about tent and other rental needs. Godman Guild will be able to provide electricity. Permanent electrical service to the stage may be available by the time of the festival. Diane Dixon, Terry Althouse, and Steve Sterrett will meet to consider the best locations for the various festival activities. Diane Dixon will obtain petitions from the city and seek signatures from residents to close North Fifth and North Sixth streets around Godman Guild for the festival. This will allow additional space for vendors and activities and will help protect children from traffic.

Budget. Steve Sterrett has confirmed funding for festival from Weinland Park Collaborative. Support also may be sought from other potential partners. Campus Partners will manage funds for festival.

Food vendors. Diane Dixon has confirmed the following food vendors for the festival: Mojos Tacos, Mikes Late Night Slice, Konoa Ice, Grace Baptist Churchs fish fry, and Godman Guilds Blue Bow Tie Bistro. Each food vendor will be charged $50 for space at festival. Diane has purchased a popcorn machine for festival. Jane Wiechel will give festival a cotton candy machine. The civic association will have to pay $65 for a license to sell food. Festival will offer free ice water.

Information tables. About 30 non-profit organizations want to have information tables at the festival and about 15 vendors wish to sell items. Organizations and vendors should provide their own tables, chairs, and canopy (if desired).

Entertainment. Diane has engaged Carl A. Bogan, Jr., (aka DJ Car B) to provide music for $250. Volunteer(s) still needed to organize entertainment for the festival. The dance instructor and his partner, who led a dance demonstration at the April civic association, will be invited to lead dances at the festival. The festival committee agreed to invite Taelor Gray, a new member of the Veritas Community Church staff, to perform family-friendly rap music.

Activities. Columbus Zoo will present a program at 1 p.m. for about an hour and will include animals. Schoenbaum Family Center will organize activities for children of pre-school age. Terry Althouse said Godman Guild will handle face-painting and organized games for elementary-age children. Terry will talk with Principal Rhonda Peeples about her staff also providing activities for elementary-age children. Terry will arrange for the bounce house. Mark Lomax of the R.I.S.E. Youth Program has agreed to organize games for teenagers. Volunteer(s) are needed to organize games and activities for adults. Terry Althouse will bring a corn hole game. Chess and checker boards also were suggested. Brandyn McElroy reported that the Gen Y program of the YWCA will again provide about 25 volunteers to assist with games. This group did a great job last year. A Cub Scout troop will conduct a flag ceremony to start the festival. The Weinland Park Wildcats football team and cheerleading squad will be introduced. The festival will include a brief program to introduce the civic associations officers and the festival planning committee. Diane Dixon has forms for high school students who volunteer at the festival to receive public service credit from their school.

Yard sale. Kimberly Golden will organize a yard sale be part of the festival. Any Weinland Park resident can register to sell as part of the yard sale. The cost will be $10, which will include a table. Brandyn McElroy and Kimberly will work out the written details of the sale. Residents will have to register in advance so the proper number of tables can be rented.

Give-aways. Schoenbaum Family Center will distribute Proctor & Gamble products without charge. Volunteers will be needed to help move products from Schoenbaum Family Center to Godman Guild. Committee members agreed festival-goers should sign-in, complete brief festival survey, and then receive ticket for one bag of P&G products per household (until products are gone). We are uncertain whether Grace Baptist Church and Live Laugh & Learn daycare center will have school supplies to distribute. Diane has received a donation from the city of 10 bicycles to be given away at the festival. While parents complete the festival survey, their children may put their names on slips of paper for the bicycle drawing.

Miscellaneous. Volunteers are needed to lead festival set-up and clean-up. Steve Sterrett will contact Matt Adair about designing a festival flyer.

Next meeting. The festival planning committee will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, July 7, at 5 p.m. at Godman Guild, 303 E. Sixth Avenue.

Summary prepared by Steve Sterrett.

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