LAUREL HILL — In a recap meeting last week, the Laurel Hill Hobo Festival committee discussed the Oct. 4 festival and set a date for next year’s community event on Oct. 3 at Gene Clary Park.
The Hobo Festival, which included children’s activities and live music and vendors, came back after a one-year hiatus. Last year’s event was canceled due to a nonprofit status issue.
Several of the committee members, including Mayor Robby Adams, considered this month’s festival a success.
“When I first joined the Hobo (festival) committee, my hope was that we would break even…but we actually made some money,” he said.
According to a financial report presented at the meeting, this year’s festival made more than $1,300 from booth rentals, auctions items and donations from local businesses and t-shirt sales. The funds will be used towards expenses for next year’s festival.
The Laurel Hill School’s varsity cheerleading squad also benefited from the community event. Cheerleaders sold hamburgers, hotdogs and snow cones throughout the day in order to raise money for new cheerleading uniforms.
“We were estimating to make (between) $300 to $500,” said cheerleading coach Deidre McVay.
McVay estimates the cheerleaders fundraised almost $700 for uniforms after nearly selling out of food at the event.
“It was wonderful…I see us doing (the Hobo festival) every year now,” she said.
In addition to adding more entertainment for next year’s festival, the committee discussed the possibility of providing a Hobo Festival scholarship worth $500 for one Laurel Hill School student.
After the holiday season, the committee plans to meet regularly in order to plan and discuss next year’s festival. Those interested in helping organize the next festival are welcome to attend the 6 p.m. Jan. 12 committee meeting in the Laurel Hill city hall building.
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Laurel Hill Hobo Festival Committee meeting
WHEN: 6 p.m. on Jan. 12
WHERE: Laurel Hill city hall building at 8209 State Road 85 North
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Hobo Festival: Event organizers consider comeback a success