Committee members took time last Wednesday afternoon to breathe a collective sigh of relief, and fully review the 46th Annual Country Ham Festival a month after its celebration.
Of note, the yearly Trigg pig shindig operated in the green this season — with booth rentals making more than $32,000, T-shirt sales netting more than $7,300, carnival sales cashing in more than $17,000…and local/regional sponsors supplying more than $33,000 in support.
Of those sponsors, Wabash came in the lead — committing $5,000 annually for at least the next three years.
Janelle Nichols, in her first year as director of Renaissance On Main for Cadiz, said entertainment was well received throughout the weekend, and two groups are already slated for next fall.
While there was little anyone could do about heavy winds that Friday afternoon, temperatures were in the mid-70s with full sunshine — which led to larger crowds than previous years.
Craig Oakley, Cadiz public works director, noted while it was hard to gauge just how many people visited, one thing was abundantly clear.
There were record amounts of trash collection and porta-potties over the three days.
From an improvement standpoint, three particular concerns came to the surface: the need for more handicapped parking, the desire for more shuttle options alongside what’s currently being provided, and the conundrum of what to do with Court Street.
Parking, in general, always turns into a creative cluster during the Ham Festival, and providing special spaces even more so.
One of those solutions has always been a dedicated transit system, but buses were unavailable this year. Lucy Oliver Kyler, county treasurer, said it’s the lone complaint she serviced.
As for Court Street, City Tax Clerk Heather Reddick said it’s always been an ongoing discussion.
Reddick added that Marion Street just draws so much attention, which might leave those around the Trigg County Justice Center wanting.
Furthermore, Reddick stated that Court Street vendors maybe just need a little more time to catch on in the public eye.
The committee will convene again early next spring.
