By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
A work session will be held Monday, Jan. 6 following the Great Bend City Council meeting to discuss the future of the outdoor festivals, June Jaunt and Party in the Park, and Great Bend Airfest.
Following declining numbers at June Jaunt and Party in the Park, the Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau Board hinted at the possibility of ending June Jaunt after 13 years of the festival. Community Coordinator and CVB Director Christina Hayes said in an Eagle Media interview last year that sustaining festivals has become a challenge.
"We are not like Hoisington or Ellinwood," said Hayes. "They have one big festival a year and it's very successful, and in Hoisington's case it's more than 100 years. It's frustrating Great Bend can't get something going for more than 15 years."
June Jaunt has provided downtown Great Bend with live music, games, food vendors and entertainment on the first weekend in June.
"Fourteen years ago, we had a holiday parade and that was it," added Hayes. "My job has been to bring festivals."
Great Bend Airfest, hosted once every three years, will also be discussed at the work session. Costing approximately $300,000 to host, Airfest had less than 5,000 patrons attend last September’s event. The 2021 Airfest had just under 9,000 attend.
The city council meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall.