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Riverfront Fest a success
While figures are still being tallied, organizers of the 4th annual Riverfront Festival said this year's event may be the most successful ever.
The fete, which took place Saturday evening at the riverfront site located in the 400 block of North National Avenue, celebrates the continued development of the proposed Riverfront Park and trails project in that area. Activities included a hot dog roast, a hot dog eating contest, live music and activities for children.
"Donations are still coming in, but we expect to see over $3,000," Riverfront Festival Co-Chairman Mike Lakeman said.
Lakeman said he believes the number may be the highest amount raised in the fest's short history. Money comes from donations from community members and businesses. More than 38 different businesses donated to the festival.
"A lot of people in the community supported the Riverfront," he said. "We had more donors this year than we've ever had."
Lakeman added everything that was needed to put the festival on was donated by local businesses or supporters.
Although more donations came in this year, attendance at this year's festival was down from last year. Organizers said about 190 people attended this year's occasion, compared to about 250 people last year. Lakeman said the turnout was nice despite the hot weather.
Lakeman said about $2,300 was raised through last year's celebration.
"I thought it went excellent," he said. "The entertainment we had; it was real exciting. There was good music. The kids looked like they had a good time."
The event included a hot dog roast over an open campfire assisted by the Boy Scouts. Food available included watermelon and a variety of desserts.
One highlight of the festival is the hot dog eating contest, sponsored by Cheney Witt Chapel, which this year featured seven contestants munching hot dogs in an attempt to raise money for the local organizations they represented.
This year's winner, Troy Arnold, competing for the Fort Scott Fire Department, donated the $100 first-place prize to the riverfront project, contest organizer Jerry Witt said.
Arnold didn't go home empty-handed, though, as he was awarded $50 for himself. He gulped down 17 hot dogs and buns during the 10-minute contest to claim the prize.
The second-place winner was Mikhail Gonzales, competing for The Sharing Bucket. Gonzales won $50 for the organization and $25 for himself. The third-place prize of $25 for the organization and $15 for the contestant went to Earl Higgins, who competed for the Girl Scouts of America.
Both men tied with 11 hot dogs each and a coin was flipped to determine second- and third-place winners.
Other competitors included Matt Russell for The Sharing Bucket, Matt Glades for the Fort Scott Community College football team, Scott Flater for Fort Scott Kiwanis and Daniel Lyon for the Boy Scouts.
Lyon, last year's winner with 10 hot dogs downed, finished this year's event with seven hot dogs. Arnold tied for third place in last year's event, eating eight hot dogs.
Witt said contestants gobbled more hot dogs this year; organizers prepared 80 hot dogs and ended up serving more than 100 franks.
"I thought it went well," Witt said of the event. "It was not quite as good as last year's turnout. We're lucky we had a breeze; it wasn't unbearable. It was a nice summer evening. The music was great (and) there was plenty of food. All in all, I thought everybody had fun."
Entertainment was provided by local musical duo Fuss and Feathers and Cruising Crooners, a new group from Pittsburg that performed for the first time in Fort Scott.
Freewill donations will go toward the Riverfront Authority's portion (20 percent) of a $100,000 matching grant the organization received for the Phase 1 trail project. Expected to be completed this fall, the project includes construction of a half-mile of trail east of National between the Marmaton River and Mill Creek.