Harry Fest 18 Sets New Attendance Records!
Harry Fest 18, the major fund raiser for the Harry Stout Foundation held on May 22nd, set new attendance and revenue records. Held at Bittersweet Ski Resort in Otsego, Michigan, event planners estimated nearly 3,000 people made their way to one of the area’s premier family events.
“We’ve been building this event in a grass roots fashion and after six years of hard work, it appears to paying off,” said HSF President Matt Adams. “Even with a sluggish economy, we managed to increase our numbers which allows us to give more to our causes and help more young people in south west Michigan.”
Highlights of this year’s event were the music, food, a hot dog eating contest, silent auction, and the Harry Stout Rocks competition between eight area high schools.
“It’s our way of helping these band programs help themselves” said Mr. Adams. “The school that brings the most people to Harry Fest wins the biggest prize package from RIT Music in Grand Rapids, and this year that was $ 5,000.”
$ 5,000 winner Otsego defended its title with a good margin against second place finisher and newcomer Parchment, who will receive $ 2,000, and Vicksburg, a $ 1,000 winner, who finished third. Plainwell, Portage Central, Kalamazoo Christian, Mattawan and Decatur all took home $ 500.00 awards.
Eight local bands performed throughout the day while event goers feasted on sausages, burgers, hot dogs, Pepsi and Arcadia Beers. A new addition to the food offerings were BBQ Ribs from Quantum Foods which disappeared long before the charcoal. A large, spirited, and somewhat disturbed crowd enjoyed the fierce competition of the Sobie Meats Hot Dog Eating Contest won in the last seconds by Jordan “Buddah” King who took home $ 100.00 in cash!
This year’s Harry Fest was dedicated to Harry’s graduating class, the Plainwell class of 2010. Harry was a Plainwell 7th grader when he passed on. In addition to the scholarships for Otsego and Plainwell students, the foundation also contributed $ 1,000 to the Plainwell Football program and $ 1,000 to the Plainwell Men’s Basketball program. HSF will also be contributing to “First Day Shoes,” an organization based in south west Michigan that provides shoes for children from low income families.
Of course, what has become the iconic event at every Harry Fest is the launch of 1,000 blue and white balloons. It is one of the most beautiful and fitting tributes for anyone who has lost a loved one.
No date has been set for Harry Fest 19 as of this release, but the HSF Board of Directors is planning on another late May date.
HSF News
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