Good Ol’ Days committee reviews event’s highs, lows

A youngster performs a flip on a bungee ride at the Fun Time Shows carnival Saturday on Skubitz Plaza. The carnival was part of the 36th annual Good Ol’ Days street festival held in downtown Fort Scott. The festival opened Thursday with the new Fort Scott Good Ol’ Days Talent Extravaganza and continued through Saturday, with a parade, musical entertainment, street vendors and the first Bourbon County Outdoor Expo. Activities to commemorate the 175th anniversary of Fort Scott were held at the Fort Scott National Historic Site.

Jason E. Silvers

With another year of the annual Good Ol’ Days street festival in the books, organizers are taking a last look at last weekend’s event before looking to the future.

“I thought it was a great weekend,” Good Ol’ Days board member Rhonda Dunn said. “I think it was one of the best in a long time. I saw a lot of smiling faces and that’s a good indicator.”

This year’s festival included some new events and activities, such as an Outdoor Expo that included several contests and family activities, and the Fort Scott Talent Extravaganza, which replaced the former Fort Scott Idol singing contest. The expo brought in several outdoor vendors, as well as Fort Scott native Adam LaRoche and Justin Martin of the “Duck Dynasty” TV series.

Dunn said the expo was well received.

“We had no negative vendor comments,” she said. “We’re planning a duck calling contest for next year.”

Dunn said the event committee continues to receive feedback on the festival. She said most of the comments received on the various activities have been positive.

“A majority of it is positive,” she said. “We love feedback.”

Dunn said there has been some negative feedback and the committee plans to address the issues. She said issues range from live animals being given away at the carnival to some music performed at the festival being deemed offensive. The concerns will be addressed, she said.

One incident organizers and emergency personnel dealt with Friday involved a child reportedly being injured by a carnival ride. Fort Scott Police Chief Travis Shelton said a few of his officers visited with carnival employees about the incident Friday night. A report filed on what the officers witnessed labeled the incident as an “accident,” he said.

The Fort Scott police and fire departments, as well as Mercy EMS, responded to the scene. The child sustained minor injuries but was not transported to the hospital, officials said.