Two Events Gained Traction In Second Year
August 2, 2018 at 5:14 p.m.
By Dan [email protected]
The first year is certainly a test to see if there is sufficient interest, and the second year can be a good sign about the future.
For organizers of two fledgling events – Winona Jazz Festival and The Lakes Games – turnout last weekend suggests they have a solid future.
The Lake Games had events Friday and Saturday. The Jazz Fest was Saturday and tripled its offerings.
Both events in Winona Lake saw major changes in the second year.
Jazz Fest
The second annual Jazz Fest expanded from two groups last year to two stages featuring six entertainers this year.
In addition to music at the Hillside Amphitheater, organizers set up a large tent to the west in the adjacent Tabernacle Lawn, a wooded area along Park Avenue, allowing the music to switch back and forth between venues.
In its first year, the fest attracted fewer than 100 people. This year’s turnout appeared to be upward of 500 people. Attendance isn’t tracked because admission is free, according to Wally Brath, an assistant professor of worship arts at Grace College.
“One of the things that was nice about this year is we had lots of styles of jazz,” Brath said.
Nick Hauck, managing director for The Village at Winona, said the jazz event is becoming bigger than just being part of the summer concert series.
The Village at Winona has worked to help develop special attractions to support the 21 shops in The Village.
Hauck helped coordinate activities while Brath lined up the music.
Hauck said alternating between the tent and amphitheater worked well.
“The setting is perfect,” he said.
They plan to use two stages again next year. Since the festival spans about seven hours, expanding would probably mean adding a day.
“Right now, keeping it to a day seems more manageable,” Brath said.
The Lake Games
Organizers for The Lake Games, an Ultimate Challenger event that involves CrossFit, an obstacle course, mountain bike ride and trail run, saw the event improve in several ways, said Todd Anderson, who helped establish the games a year ago.
This year, they replaced the 5K with a trail run. While participation was down, Anderson said he thinks the new version will catch on with people.
They also worked with CrossFit Haymaker, which oversaw the ultimate challenge and the CrossFit event.
The biggest change, though, came with support from Grace College, which agreed to host the games.
[[In-content Ad]]
Much of the activities were at the college’s Gordon Rec Center.
Anderson said the college has been overwhelmingly supportive. “They were great to work with. Gordon Rec Center is an awesome facility to work out of. It really helps us put on a great competition,” he said.
Overall, things went more smoothly this year and organizers provided improved courses for the competitors.
He said participation increased this year.
“We’re up some from last year. Not as much as we wanted to go up, but the competition was better, which is what we wanted,” he said.
A lunch on Saturday attracted about 500 people, including participants, sponsors and staff.
Next year, Anderson said they want to include corporate challenges as well as a competition between area CrossFit gyms.
Organizers for the jazz fest and games said they want to host the events again next year on the last weekend in July.
Anderson said they looked at moving the games to align with Grace’s school year, but given the amount of traffic they create it might become too much.
While the Ultimate Challenger event will return in the summer, they could consider planning something during the school year, he said.
The first year is certainly a test to see if there is sufficient interest, and the second year can be a good sign about the future.
For organizers of two fledgling events – Winona Jazz Festival and The Lakes Games – turnout last weekend suggests they have a solid future.
The Lake Games had events Friday and Saturday. The Jazz Fest was Saturday and tripled its offerings.
Both events in Winona Lake saw major changes in the second year.
Jazz Fest
The second annual Jazz Fest expanded from two groups last year to two stages featuring six entertainers this year.
In addition to music at the Hillside Amphitheater, organizers set up a large tent to the west in the adjacent Tabernacle Lawn, a wooded area along Park Avenue, allowing the music to switch back and forth between venues.
In its first year, the fest attracted fewer than 100 people. This year’s turnout appeared to be upward of 500 people. Attendance isn’t tracked because admission is free, according to Wally Brath, an assistant professor of worship arts at Grace College.
“One of the things that was nice about this year is we had lots of styles of jazz,” Brath said.
Nick Hauck, managing director for The Village at Winona, said the jazz event is becoming bigger than just being part of the summer concert series.
The Village at Winona has worked to help develop special attractions to support the 21 shops in The Village.
Hauck helped coordinate activities while Brath lined up the music.
Hauck said alternating between the tent and amphitheater worked well.
“The setting is perfect,” he said.
They plan to use two stages again next year. Since the festival spans about seven hours, expanding would probably mean adding a day.
“Right now, keeping it to a day seems more manageable,” Brath said.
The Lake Games
Organizers for The Lake Games, an Ultimate Challenger event that involves CrossFit, an obstacle course, mountain bike ride and trail run, saw the event improve in several ways, said Todd Anderson, who helped establish the games a year ago.
This year, they replaced the 5K with a trail run. While participation was down, Anderson said he thinks the new version will catch on with people.
They also worked with CrossFit Haymaker, which oversaw the ultimate challenge and the CrossFit event.
The biggest change, though, came with support from Grace College, which agreed to host the games.
[[In-content Ad]]
Much of the activities were at the college’s Gordon Rec Center.
Anderson said the college has been overwhelmingly supportive. “They were great to work with. Gordon Rec Center is an awesome facility to work out of. It really helps us put on a great competition,” he said.
Overall, things went more smoothly this year and organizers provided improved courses for the competitors.
He said participation increased this year.
“We’re up some from last year. Not as much as we wanted to go up, but the competition was better, which is what we wanted,” he said.
A lunch on Saturday attracted about 500 people, including participants, sponsors and staff.
Next year, Anderson said they want to include corporate challenges as well as a competition between area CrossFit gyms.
Organizers for the jazz fest and games said they want to host the events again next year on the last weekend in July.
Anderson said they looked at moving the games to align with Grace’s school year, but given the amount of traffic they create it might become too much.
While the Ultimate Challenger event will return in the summer, they could consider planning something during the school year, he said.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092