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Zip Trip, street dance and fall events draw visitors to Ottawa, tourism director says
Summary
Franklin County tourism staff reported strong visitor interest tied to the Zip Trip promotion, third-Thursday events, a new street dance and an expanded Wellsville clinic ribbon cutting.
Sarah, a county tourism official, told the Franklin County Commission Aug. 27 that the Zip Trip promotion produced measurable visits and additional downtown business activity despite rainy weather during the event. She said many visitors came from Missouri and neighboring communities and that businesses report weekly increases in visitors linked to the promotion.
Sarah said August third-Thursday attracted about 350 families for a free hot-dog meal and a Makers Market, and that the downtown area is continuing third-Thursday events through October. She announced that the county will host a street dance featuring local artist Aidan, Mike Finch and the Justin White Band and said the county will promote the event publicly.
The tourism director credited partnerships — including use of the new library location when weather forced an indoor shift — and said vendors and car clubs remained active despite the rain. She also said the county worked with local groups to highlight athletes and student achievements during a recent parade and Fusion event, which drew high school and Ottawa University participants.
Why it matters: Commissioners noted the economic spillover from these events, pointing to increased hotel occupancy, restaurant traffic and retail visits. Sarah and other staff encouraged continued support for the events and said visitor tracking indicates out-of-area interest as far as Great Bend and Emporia.
No formal county votes were taken on tourism items during the presentation, but officials asked whether there were questions and said volunteers are welcome for upcoming events.
