Old Shawnee Days requests $55,000 city sponsorship to keep festival free for visitors

A representative of the Old Shawnee Days Society asked the council’s May committee meeting for continued city sponsorship of $55,000 to support the 2026 Old Shawnee Days festival.

Dale Schimpf, who identified himself as a committee member of the Old Shawnee Days board, told the committee the event has brought "over a hundred thousand people to our community over those 3 day weekend[s]" and described a 2025 operating budget of about $181,000 split across entertainment, parade, grounds, publicity and operations. Schimpf said the event relies on three revenue sources — sponsorships, vendor booths and carnival proceeds — and that the city’s contribution helps keep the event free and accessible.

Councilmembers asked for more financial detail. Councilmember Mike Hemling asked why the event’s budget still required $55,000 from the city given its reported attendance, noting the possibility of revenue sharing with the carnival and suggesting organizers provide revenue‑share and city‑cost details. Schimpf said he would follow up with specifics and the Old Shawnee Days Society later provided commitment details to staff; the council asked staff to capture the city’s overtime and resource costs for the event going forward.

Schimpf also described safety and weather challenges common to outdoor events and said the society contracts private security for the grandstand and works closely with the Shawnee Police and Fire Departments.

The presentation was informational and the society’s $55,000 sponsorship request was placed in the packet for the city manager and budget process; the council indicated by show of hands that it wanted staff to track event‑related city resource costs for a post‑event report.