Popular Idaho Festivals Return This Week

As Idaho continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the entertainment industry is making a much anticipated comeback.

EMMETT, Idaho – As Idaho continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the entertainment industry is making a much-anticipated comeback. Many return events have been postponed or canceled over the past year due to the pandemic.

One of the returning events is the Emmett Cherry Festival, which begins Wednesday and runs through Saturday.

The return of the event is nothing short of perfect timing, according to the Gem County Chamber of Commerce. Because the festival did not take place last year, the chamber of commerce needs it this year to stay afloat.

“We had no income, we were basically in the chamber for the most part,” said Tina Hefly, chief financial officer of the Gem County Chamber of Commerce. “Fortunately, we had enough reserves to qualify, but it’s really good this year to be able to have it because the income we make from it is what we can distribute to our community and our businesses.”

The Emmett Cherry Festival isn’t the only much anticipated thing to return to Gem County: the event is expected to draw up to 55,000 people looking to enjoy the rides, music and cherries.

However, several changes are in place this year.

“We still have things we’re going to do,” Hefly said. “The rides will be thoroughly cleaned every hour, hand sanitizer at each cabin, masks available in the bedroom.”

Other popular events, like the National Oldtime Fiddlers Contest in Weiser, are not yet set to come back in full force. Instead, more than 170 contestants will perform in front of family, friends and VIP ticket holders, according to festival executive director Sandy Cooper.

“When we weighed the additional revenue associated with the attendance of our general admissions officers versus the exponential increase in our expenses, we decided to defer another year,” she explained. “It was so late in the year to advertise and let people know that they need to make the changes necessary to be here.”

The competition typically brings in gross income of $ 200,000 to $ 250,000 each year, but Cooper expects that year’s income to drop by 30%. However, she believes that a small-scale festival is better than no festival.

“The people here in our community and the violin contestants who work very hard to reach the level that they are, I think it was very imperative that we find a way to have a competition,” Cooper said. “If we don’t, I feel like we’d be letting everyone down, including our community.”

Matt Borud of Idaho Commerce released the following statement regarding the return of major festivals to Idaho this year:

Returning events like the Emmett Cherry Festival, Weiser Fiddle Festival, and the North Fork Championship in Crouch, among other events like rodeos, concerts, and parades, drive significant spending from visitors to small businesses across the country. Idaho like restaurants, retail and other area attractions.

Beyond the economic impact, these events are a source of community pride, an opportunity to showcase historic places, cultural activities and exceptional dining experiences throughout Idaho.

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