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Garden City DDA outlines Lucky Squirrel vendor fairs and Sept. 27 Chili Cook Off
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Summary
The Garden City Downtown Development Authority previewed its summer schedule on a local program, confirming three Lucky Squirrel vendor fairs (May 17, July 19, Sept. 20), a chili cook-off on Sept. 27 and details on vendor fees, registration and volunteer needs.
Matt Miller, Garden City’s community development director, described plans for the Downtown Development Authority’s summer events on the Garden City Nexus program, saying the DDA will host three Lucky Squirrel vendor fairs this year and a Chili Cook Off community festival in late September.
“We have 3 Lucky Squirrel events that are planned and also the Chili Cook Off. The first Lucky Squirrel event is on May 17. The next one is July 19, and the final one is September 20,” Miller said, listing the dates for the vendor fairs. He said the Lucky Squirrel events run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The DDA is encouraging shoppers to register in advance for the May event to receive a free shopping bag featuring the mascot Zephie the Squirrel. Miller said registration uses the Zephyr program to collect an email address and issue a QR code for bag pickup. “Why we’re doing this is, number one, we want to increase foot traffic for the event, and we also want to be able to start to build a veil list for customers so that we’ll be able to communicate future events,” he said.
Miller said the May Lucky Squirrel is already full, with about 150 vendors signed up, and that vendor space for the July 19 and Sept. 20 dates remains available. Vendor space costs $25 and is roughly the size of a parking space, he said. He described a mix of vendors expected at the fairs, including home-baked goods, artisan crafts and prepared foods.
On the chili cook-off, Miller said the Garden City Downtown Development Authority Chili Cook Off Community Festival is planned for Saturday, Sept. 27, and that organizers are refining logistics for a larger, daylong event. “We’re planning for the bands to come back. We also are working on chili teams, different layout. This year, we’re looking at some more food trucks,” Miller said. He said organizers plan family activities including a Touch-a-Truck area and children’s events.
To attract cooking teams, Miller said the DDA worked with the Garden City Youth Athletic Association (GCYAA) to sponsor a $50 gift card for each registered team. He said the cook-off’s top prize will be $600 and that organizers hope to increase team participation from about 10 teams last year to as many as 20 this year. “The prize will be $600 and bragging rights,” he said.
Miller also called for volunteers to staff booths and operations, saying the event needs “a few hundred hours” of volunteer work across tasks such as running the beer tent, cleaning and supervising kid activities. He said the DDA has in the past allowed community organizations to volunteer and receive payment for hours raised, but that the payment-for-volunteer-hours arrangement “hasn’t been approved yet” for this year.
For sponsors and volunteers, Miller said organizers will publish information on sponsorship packages and volunteer sign-ups in the coming weeks. He directed listeners to downtowngardencity.com and the Downtown Garden City Facebook page, and noted there is also a Facebook page for the Lucky Squirrel and a separate page for the chili cook-off festival.
Assistant DDA director John Prosh was identified in the segment as one of the staff working on the events.
Organizers say the events are intended to increase foot traffic for downtown businesses and to provide family-oriented community activities. Miller urged residents and vendors to follow DDA channels for updates and to register early for the May Lucky Squirrel bag giveaway.
