Cherry Blossom Festival Location

[Wearing my Rubber Boots]

Just curious of everyones opinion on the location of the Cherry Blossom Festival in Cherryvale. In the past it had been down town and the last several years it has been at Logan Park. It rains every year so it is always REALLY muddy and awfully messy!!! Why was the location ever changed? It seemed more fun downtown also! Why not have it down town with the businesses, especially with the clean up project last week! KUDOS!!!! Town looks great!

[swimmin in Cherryvale]

I agree!!!!!!!!!! People said it was to hot down town........Come on people I bet a lot of you have those portable awnings you could set around main street so people could put their chairs under. Might be better for our businesses also..........WHO'S IDEA WAS IT TO GO TO THE PARK?
Must of been someone who doesn't own a business down town!!!!!!!!!!

[Water logged in C-Town]

Cherry blossom would be a lot better if it was down town again. you wouldnt have to worry about the mud and swamp in the park and it could possibly bring people to the businesses downtown. I also think we need some more events at the festival. What happened to the street dances and the fireworks. It just dont seem like its that big of a deal anymore. I as well as several others were also disappointed in the car show this year. It was supposed to last until 3:00 and the awards were handed out and people leaving at around 2:00. We really need some new events next year. Its the same every year and its time for something new. Or we need to rename it the Cherry Blossom Craft Fair and Sorta Car Show!

[Just Me]

I totally agree, put the celebration downtown again and get some fresh blood with some new ideas. Seems there are way too many commercial vendors and only a couple of nice craft booths with truly handmade quality items. If I want an imported from China item, I can get that at Wally World! Not much for the kids to do either, except get muddy! If there was, I didn't see it and after all the young folks did to clean up the town there is nothing downtown to show it off. Come on Cherryvale, we can surely do better.

[not crafty]

Some of the crafty people I know have thought about having a table at cherry blossom, or have in the past. They said that the "entry" fees are too high, and they don't sell nearly enough. Lots of lookers, no buyers. One guy actually said that "Cherryvale can't afford my stuff!"

[Just Me]

OH, it was my understanding that there was no fee for craft booths this year as stated on the Chamber of Commerce site entry form. But heard other say they were charged $40-$45. Went and checked it out and sure enough, said no fee for craft booths and I have a copy of that site.

[CB Queen]

I would love to hear some ideas from all of you. Please email them to the chamber (anonymously if you'd like) on our website. We would welcome the ideas, and would welcome any "fresh faces" that would like to volunteer their time as well. I personally like it better at the park, because people stay longer when there is shade. Also, the vendors do pay $40-$45 for their spots, and according to them, that is the average. Our chamber only rents the spaces. I would hate to limit the booths to "non-walmart" items. If you don't want them, don't buy them. I didn't think there were very many booths with Walmart type items, but that's just my observation. Mr. Just Me....yes, for a short time, there was a statement that was on the site stating that there was no fee. The administrator of that site misunderstood information from me, and corrected it.

Some of the downtown businesses (prominent ones) stated that they liked it better at the park, because they actually did less business when it was downtown. Also, the parking is better at the park, and the electricity would be an issue downtown. People didn't stay as long downtown either, because of the heat, and the vendors said they didn't do as well (according to vendors that came when it was downtown compared to now).

Again, for the person that wants to see "fresh faces," step up to the plate. We would love to have some fresh ideas, and actually would welcome them.

You all want more activities, which we provided for the last two years. The problem with them is that no one supported it. We had evening activities last year (which we spent $2,000 on) and only had about 20 people in attendence. We had Chely Wright the previous year, with fewer in attendence than what we expected. There were more people from out of town, than in town. We lost money both years, and needed this year to recoup our losses to be able to do the fireworks for next year. We also tried to do a flag football event this year and didn't field one phone call....so to say we aren't doing anything different is not correct.

To complain about the vendors stating that "Cherryvale can't afford my stuff" is not reflective of our prices. That's reflective of their prices.

Again, any and all volunteers are appreciated. You can go on the city website and submit your suggestions anonymously, and they will be given serious consideration. If you've got the guts, put your real name with it, and help us accomplish it by helping next year.

Thanks!

[LOL]

I like how you said "if you have got the guts, put your real name with it", and then didnt put yours! Just thought that was kind of funny!

[CB Queen]

My name is Tina Cunningham.:) The email address is [e-mail] if you would like to email directly.
Thanks again!

[Past CB Queen]

I was invoved in the Cherry Blossom festival when the festival was downtown. The reason we moved it to the park was because everyone complained about how hot it was and we did not have a good turn out. We maybe had 10 vendors show up. I realize that the last few years the ground has been extremely muddy at teh park, but the day of the festival has always been nice. Everyone involved with putting the festival together are just a group of unpaid volunteers that work really hard.

This year SE Kansas has been hit hard with people losing their jobs. Right now, people are just trying to survive.

I would like to thank all of the volunteers for a job well done. The festival was fabulous. Keep up the good work!!

[Cherryvale vistor]

I was very unimpressed with the festival this year. I was expecting to go buy some handmade CRAFTS but found very few. There were a few with actual handmade items. If you are gonna let them sell imported items from China at least put them in a separate place from the crafters. There were a few nice craft booths...so Kudos to the genuine crafters! The music in the afternoon was great. I did enjoy that. Need to figure out something to get the people there. I can't blame the vendors for not wanting to come if there are very few ppl there. Perhaps on the vendor booths you should do like the Coffeyville Dalton Days. Rental is FREE and then you pay 10% of your sales. If I was a vendor I would gladly pay $100 if I sold $1000 of my product. Just a thought. I am from out of town and the festivals seem to be getting worse. Not hardly worth the drive.

[I -HEART- Cherry Blossom]

I liked it this year. If you get all home made crafts, you will only have 10-20 booths, if that. There are just not that many people doing that anymore. I think it's neat how everyone comes to the park. I see people that I dont see out much and everyone looks they they are having a good time. Cherryvale is not a big town, so anything they can do to not only get our own people to get out, but to get other people to come here is a big deal. Also, those kids cleaned up the park too, not just down town. I am proud to live here and work here and I think our town is great. We have a lot of people that volunteer their time to put things like this together and they dont get paid for it either.

[Just Me]

I-HEART, You really don't get out much do you? You say that there are not that many people doing the craft stuff anymore, have you ever been to Mound City, Ks. in October. It is an all craft juried craft fair that will knock your socks off and is attended by thousands of people and believe it is two full days and it is just a tiny little town that comes to life in that one October weekend. Quality crafts fill nearly every building at the fair grounds. And of course there is food, about anything you can imagine and probably some you wouldn't imagine.
Maybe Cherryvale should just have a town potluck in the park, everyone in town bring a covered dish and we could all see old friends and invite family and friends from all over. That would be fun!
And yes the people that volunteered and cleaned up the town did an amazing job and thanks to all that worked so hard on that weekend.

[Pathetic]

What exactly does the City Crew do. Everytime I see them its a new face. I asked if they have much of a turnover and they said no. They just have about 8 full time guys and a couple summer helpers. My god everytime I read about the council meetings in the newspaper its always them needing this or buying that. Does the Police and Fire Department get to buy whatever they want? I am just worried about our City Crew spending lots of money and there isn't much to show for it.

[Just Me]

So what do you all thing about the 'Fall Festival' that is being hashed over now? What do you all think about having a 'beer garden' in conjuction with the Fall Festival? Just Me and Just Wondering.

[Just Me]

ooops, *think, not thing

[Cherryvale Resident]

I think the City Crew is doing a great job and I'm glad to finally see my tax dollars being used productively. I've lived in Cherryvale for almost three decades and until a couple years ago, I never saw the City Crew do anything but sit around smoking cigarettes, and every once in awhile they'd fix a water leak in the same place they'd done it a thousand times before. It's nice to see the crews out working all of the time! They may be spending more money but my taxes haven't gone up. Keep up the good work!

[Concerned Citizen]

Cherryvale Resident,
So you dont care that the city crew each has a take home vehicle? How about that street sweeper the city bought about a year ago. If i remember reading it in the paper it cost like 10000 dollars. I have saw it like 3 times in a year. And how about the brush dump hours. I called up to the fire department the other day needing into the brush dump and i was told that it is only open 2 days a week and one saturday a month. Back when there was only half the staff they currently have the brush dump was open 6 days a week. Its frustrating driving down there with a load of brush and then being told its closed. I work monday through friday and I try to keep my yard clean and cant get rid of brush but once a month. I say we all start dumping it in front of the street barn. Maybe that will get them off there ass and keep the brush dump open.

[Just Me]

Last I saw of the street sweeper it was 'herding' around the water during the last heavy rain, sweeping rain away from curbs. Well I guess that is what it was doing. Or maybe washing the street when it was raining??? Had to laugh.

[The Weatherman]

The CBF was pretty cool. The train ride was neat, too. Neody needs something like this.