Twilight Festival to end Sept. 25
The Central Columbia Association's evaluation led to the decision to end the festival after 18 years.
Aug. 29, 2008
Johnny Lang performs during Summerfest on Wednesday at The Blue Note. Drawing a large and diverse crowd, this Summerfest concert was the second to last of the year.
After 18 years in Columbia, the Twilight Festival will end next month. Other major events in the downtown area such as Summerfest, pictured, and the Roots 'N Blues 'N BBQ Festival have emerged, reducing the need to continue the Twilight Festival, according to organizers and the Central Columbia Association.
After 18 years of music, dining and family fun, the sun will finally set on the Twilight Festival. The decision comes after a two-year evaluation by the Central Columbia Association.
Since its inaugural year in 1990, the goal of the Twilight Festival has been to bring life and liveliness to the downtown area and to "get (residents) thinking of The District as a gathering place," said Carrie Gartner, executive director of Columbia's Special Business District.
The Twilight Festival, originally started as a project of the Central Columbia Association, has been turned over to the Special Business District.
"All the reasons we started initially, all the goals, we've succeeded," Gartner said. "We really get them thinking of The District as a gathering place, when 19 years ago, the foot traffic wasn't as high."
Gartner said the downtown area has become a venue that other organizations have used, such as Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity for the Rock-A-Thon.
Although attendance at the festival often reached 11,000 per night, local businesses were quick to point out the festival's shortcomings.
"This past year, we only had one sale during Twilight hours," Elly's Couture owner Elly Swetz said. "I even have to keep more staff on for shoplifting purposes. Those Thursdays, we don't see our normal customers."
Gartner and district associate director Erika Kubsch are the only in charge of organizing and executing the event, which requires a $45,000 annual budget. The relies heavily on grants and donations from sponsors, which have included Commerce Bank, William Woods University, The Blue Note and radio stations.
"It's never enough money to do everything you want," Gartner said.
The two boards and others decided that money could be better spent.
"If the festival's goal was to bring in students as well, it didn't succeed," said senior Samantha Aiossa, who was at Thursday's Summerfest. "After summer, we're only around for three or four evenings" of the festival.
The Special Business District recently completed a two-year investigation of the 100-plus members of the Central Columbia Association to determine the festival's future. Phone calls, town-hall meetings and questionnaires showed that retailers and townspeople alike feel Columbia's resources should be invested elsewhere.
Downtown is home to 110 shops, 70 bars and restaurants and 40 weekly performances.
"I'm Columbia born and raised," resident Kath Conrad, 40, said. "I've seen this place evolve, and it's a much more family-oriented area than it was 20 years ago."
Bob Goldberg, a parent who works downtown, said the Twilight Festival might have lost its luster.
"There's more going on now than there was when I moved here," he said.
The final Twilight Festival will be Sept. 25 at Flat Branch Park.
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