(June 23, 2016) Organizers didn’t feel right calling this past weekend’s event the Cypress Festival, because a large part of that experience — carnival rides — were absent, but next year the Cypress Festival is to return and will incorporate some of the lessons learned from the Summer Kickoff.
“Everything went off without a hitch. We had nice weather all around — it was perfect, really,” Michelle Hickman, director of the Pocomoke Chamber of Commerce, said. “I’d say it went pretty well.”
Only a couple of months before the event, Hickman said, the company the chamber has used in the past to supply carnival rides folded without notifying the town, which caused a bit of a scramble.
However, a company from Chincoteague brought in inflatable amusements: a bounce house, obstacle course and climbing wall in addition to the vendor tables, food, face painting, music and other highlights of the event.
“Everyone I talked to said they liked it better,” Hickman said. “They felt they got more for their money, and said they stayed a lot later than they normally did.”
More than a few reported returning all three days to Hickman.
“People liked that we had new stuff, and were more interested in the other things going on as well. I can’t speak to the people who didn’t come because of the lack of carnival rides,” she said.
Next year, when the Cypress Festival returns, Hickman said she would incorporate the contributions of the Summer Kickoff.
“We’re in talks with another carnival ride supplier. It seems silly to get rid of what so many people said they liked the best” so the inflatable portions of the festival are likely to return, she said.
“Everything went off without a hitch. We had nice weather all around — it was perfect, really,” Michelle Hickman, director of the Pocomoke Chamber of Commerce, said. “I’d say it went pretty well.”
Only a couple of months before the event, Hickman said, the company the chamber has used in the past to supply carnival rides folded without notifying the town, which caused a bit of a scramble.
However, a company from Chincoteague brought in inflatable amusements: a bounce house, obstacle course and climbing wall in addition to the vendor tables, food, face painting, music and other highlights of the event.
“Everyone I talked to said they liked it better,” Hickman said. “They felt they got more for their money, and said they stayed a lot later than they normally did.”
More than a few reported returning all three days to Hickman.
“People liked that we had new stuff, and were more interested in the other things going on as well. I can’t speak to the people who didn’t come because of the lack of carnival rides,” she said.
Next year, when the Cypress Festival returns, Hickman said she would incorporate the contributions of the Summer Kickoff.
“We’re in talks with another carnival ride supplier. It seems silly to get rid of what so many people said they liked the best” so the inflatable portions of the festival are likely to return, she said.