LAUREL HILL — Several North Okaloosa residents are working to revive the Hobo Festival.
Volunteers are preparing for this year’s event with assistance from city officials including Mayor Robby Adams, event co-chair, and City Councilwoman Betty Williamson.
Now, with the necessary paperwork in place, organizers seek additional volunteers.
“We need personnel,” event chair Elgin “Trae” Duley said. “The more people we have doing a piece of this puzzle, the easier it is to get the work done.”
The festival committee — which earlier this month started meeting at Laurel Hill City Hall — is discussing setting an official date and vending prices, and organizing potential contests, among other things.
“This is new territory for all of us,” said Debra Adams, Robby’s wife.
Crestview resident Tara Llewellyn — in charge of the festival’s auction, featuring items donated by local businesses — anticipates the event's revival.
“I think it’s great that current leadership is bringing the festival back and trying to make a difference,” she said. “I think it will be very beneficial to the community and I am proud to be a part of it.”
Sherill Ward, the city’s water clerk, is the committee’s secretary and seeks talented local residents to perform at the festival.
“I’m always looking to be more involved with the city,” Ward said. “I’m just excited that we are bringing this back.”
More than 50 vendors, children's activities, entertainment from local musicians, an auction and — of course, food — comprised prior festivals.
A festival fixture is the city's iconic hobo, which honors the city’s railroad history. After the Civil War, soldiers-turned-migrant-workers traveled railroads and provided manual labor on local farms during pit stops in town.
Last year’s festival was postponed due to a nonprofit status issue with the Internal Revenue Service, Duley said.
“We decided to postpone it rather than make a possible mistake,” he said.
However, this year, all systems are go.
“We are ready to rock 'n’ roll,” he said.
EmailNews Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitteror call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'NEW TERRITORY': Committee seeks volunteers to revive Hobo Festival