Successful festival draws thousands to enjoy Jefferson and Greene County
The 2015 Bell Tower Festival, Bell Tower Big Top, drew thousands to Jefferson to enjoy events and activities that packed downtown Jefferson June 12-13. Highlights of the 36th annual festival included the return of carnival rides that filled an entire city block, streets packed with vendors, and a high energy performance by the Twin Cities band PopROCKS.
Preliminary numbers provided by Greene County Chamber of Commerce treasurer Nikki Uebel showed a profit of about $8,000, including sponsorships. “We’re happy to have been able to show a bit of profit after all the work of putting on the festival, and we’re grateful to our sponsors and members for their help,” Uebel said.
“But the bigger reason we host the festival each year is to give our members and our business community, and the City of Jefferson, an opportunity to draw people from all over to see us at our best, to see the vitality and variety we have here,” Uebel continued. “We know it’s a weekend residents look forward to. We think it’s part of what makes Greene County a great place to live, a place you’d suggest to someone as a destination for a day trip or as a new home.”
Angie Pedersen assisted in Bell Tower Festival planning as a contractor, and that contract will be completed in the next week or so when the festival wrap-up is final. The Chamber board is moving forward with hiring a fulltime tourism and events coordinator to assure that tourism and special events, like the Bell Tower Festival, continue to grow in Jefferson and Greene County to benefit area businesses and to enhance the quality of life for residents.
Persons who have suggestions for ways to improve the 2016 Bell Tower Festival, or who would like to be part of the early planning stages, are welcome to contact the Chamber office at 515-386-2155, or by email at info@greenecountyiowa.com.
