CultureFest draws good crowd

WORLAND -More than 700 people attended the 15th annual CultureFest in Worland Saturday in the back field at the Worland Community Center Complex.

Special Events Manager Sheryl Ley said, "This was one of the best days for weather since we've been doing it. The entertainment was great. The people enjoyed the variety of food." She estimated between 700 to 1,000 people attended this year's event that was from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

She said the dunking booth, spray paint art and petting zoo provided a variety of entertainment for children of all ages while parents enjoyed the live music and checking out the vendor booths.

"We don't make money on this event," she said. The two booths the WCCC runs, Pepsi drinks and dunking booth, the funds are used for summer programming "so it goes back into the community," Ley added.

She said she feels it helps advertising the times for the live entertainment because some acts return from year to year and people like to come for their performances. She said she appreciates Bert Bresach and Mike Buckman donating time and volunteering to do the sound and emceeing the event.

WCCC Executive Director Steve Hunt said, "I thought it was a great show this year. We had minimal complaints. Everyone seemed happy."

Change of venue

One of the complaints is the same one Hunt and Ley have heard since the venue was moved in 2010 to the community Center. People liked it being downtown.

Ley said she's heard different reasons about safety and Wyoming Department of Transportation regulations, but referred specific questions to city hall.

Mayor Dave Duffy said he wasn't involved with the city administration at the time the decision was made to move the event.

He said he understood one of the concerns was safety of pedestrian traffic. He said most of the event was at Pioneer Square but some of the booths were on the courthouse lawn, creating a lot of pedestrian traffic across four-lane highway (10th Street/U.S. 20).

Duffy said WYDOT has specific rules on closing highways. He said if they were to barricade a portion they would have to adhere to the same rules they do when they re-route through traffic for parades.

He said it takes the police department and city crew to man the barricades for the parades. They have to provide a traffic control pattern to WYDOT that must be approved first. He noted when the city closes Ninth Street for the farmers market that is under the authority of the city because Ninth Street is not a state or federal highway.

Duffy noted to his knowledge the city has not been requested to look into a traffic control pattern to block a portion of 10th or Big Horn.

Ley and Hunt said the vendors enjoy the location at the community center. Ley said the location allows the vendors the opportunity to drive up to or close to their booth space, rather than carting their wares from farther away.

Ley added that she understands the concerns of downtown businesses with the venue location at the community center and she would like to explore ways to promote businesses through the emcee. She said she has encouraged businesses to run specials or have discounts at certain times that could be announced throughout the day during CultureFest.