Fest highlights family activities

Ran on Sunday, June 10

Fest highlights family activities

By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff

This year’s return of Sawdust City Days to Carson Park shows a family-oriented festival can be successful in Eau Claire, said Bob McCoy, Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce president.“People are always looking for something to do,” McCoy said. “Stay local ... make it a family affair.“Sawdust City Days had a great reputation years ago. It’s starting to build up to that point where people can come to the event confidently.”This year’s festival runs Thursday through Sunday, June 17, in Carson Park.In the early 1990s, the festival moved from Carson Park, causing a drop in attendance. The celebration disappeared for nine years.The Leader-Telegram revived Sawdust City Days last year to coincide with the newspaper’s 125th anniversary. The newspaper decided to run the festival for a second year after receiving encouragement from the community, said Mike Carlson, marketing and promotions director for Eau Claire Press Co., which publishes the Leader-Telegram.“It’s a great community festival,” Carlson said.Both McCoy and Carlson stressed the array of activities aimed at families and individuals taking place close to home. Carlson said the festival provides a community event people of all ages can enjoy. Many other local businesses are helping sponsor the festival.Some aspects of the fest will change slightly this year, and additions will supplement the celebration.The layout of the park will provide space between the family activities and adult activities. A large carnival, inflatable park for children and Family Fun Stage sponsored by Xcel be moved farEnergy will be moved farther from the beer area and music stage. Fireworks sponsored by Mega Pick’n Save are slated to begin at about 10 p.m. Saturday. The baseball stadium will be open for spectators to watch the display.National music acts will include .38 Special at 10:30 p.m. Friday and Soul Asylum at 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Area “American Idol” hopefuls will attempt to qualify for the Fox Network hit show starting about noon Sunday. Alcoholic beverages will not be sold during the “American Idol” competition; the free event will be open to all ages.Other attractions will include a craft sale, a beanbag tournament at 1 p.m. Saturday sponsored by the Young Professionals group, and a display of Paul Menard’s race cars.Jugglers, storytellers, Oz Seeker the Clown, Rob Reid, members of Karate American and the Golden Trunk Players will perform on the Family Fun Stage.Weekend sporting events at the park will include Eau Claire Cavaliers baseball at 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday, and Eau Claire Crush football at 7 p.m. Saturday.Free parking will be available at the Menomonie Street entrance to the park and in UW-Eau Claire’s Haas Center lot on Water Street, with free shuttles to and from the park.Limited parking will be available in Carson Park.n For a complete schedule of Sawdust City Days activities, see a special section in today’s newspaper.