Benedum Festival: Excitement Explosion Predicted at Bridgeport City Park
By Julie Perine on July 09, 2013
Benedum Festival 2013 is just a few days away and Chairman John Belcastro said the event promises to be even bigger than anticipated.
That has come about through some outside the box thinking and cross-marketing efforts.
The festival committee has looked at the event and its potential growth from every angle; finding ways to best showcase traditional activities and new features.
The oil and gas expo is perhaps the new star. Featuring more than 30 businesses, the expo will not only serve as a job fair and education station, but also provide demonstrations of some of the industry's newest technological advances. Among them, Belcastro said, is the first factory-built natural gas-powered vehicle.
"Because of all the interest in Marcellus Shale, drilling and gas, General Motors is now building these vehicles right on the assembly line," he said. "Ten to 15 years ago, we were seeing conversions of vehicles, but these are factory built."
Harry Green Chevrolet will be featuring the vehicle in its exhibit. Antero Resources will be bringing a casing module, demonstrating the drilling process and providing education as to why that process is not affecting the environment.
Interest in the oil and gas expo has been a bit overwhelming, Belcastro said. Just yesterday, he received a call from a company wanting to bring in and demonstrate an 84,000 pound rig. Seeing as to how the bridge into City Park wouldn't support the weight, they are still trying to work something out, he said. Companies are traveling from as far away as Georgia and Texas to participate in the expo.
The competition between the industry "roughnecks" is still on. Games will include tug-o-war, mechanical bull riding and archery tag, among others. For the competitors, it will provide challenge and for other festival attendees, a fun spectators' sport.
Knowing that the festival would draw increased attendees this year, organizers knew they would have to beef up food avilability.
"We've actually tripled the number of food vendors," Belcastro said. "There's going to be more variety than ever."
Included in offerings will be an on-site hog roast, as well as booths featuring Marino Brothers and Brickside Bar & Grille, the latter offering a full menu.
Oil and gas vendors will be provided with Benedum Bucks, which can be used to purchase food and drink items.
In addition to traditional carnival rides and inflatable games will be a 50-foot zipline, soft-tip archery tag and mechanical bull.
Classic carnival games like ring toss are new and improved.
"But these are different than your granddad's plastic games," Belcastro said. "You can accumulate points by playing several games and when you're done, pick up a prize - something worthwhile."
Also new to this year's festival is a Quiz Bowl, with participants representing various civic clubs, GFWC Woman's Club, Kiwanis, Lions and Rotary, included. Moderator will be Barbara Judy.
Questions will relate to the life and accomplishments of festival namesake, Michael Benedum, as well as about the state in general and the oil and gas industry.
"This brings a lot of organizations together and what better venue for that than the festival," Belcastro said. "I understand each organization is providing two to four people to participate in the Quiz Bowl and the more, the merrier. It will be interesting and some kind of trophy will be awarded."
In addition to that endeavor, the Bridgeport Lions will, as always, be holding a chicken roast Saturday in the front parking lot of Bridgeport High School. Kiwanis will be sponsoring the Saturday morning fishing derby for kids 12 and under at Hinkle & Deegan Lakes and GFWC Woman's Club will be manning a bingo station Friday night and Saturday.
Volunteers from DeMolay and Rainbow Girls will be assisting with parking, which will be available at Bridgeport High School, Bridgeport Middle School and Johnson Elementary. Those volunteers and others, identifiable by the large orange hats they will be wearing, will also be milling around the festival to provide various types of assistance.
Live entertainment is always a major draw and this year should be no exception. Friday's lineup includes 2nd Street and the Davisson Brothers Band with Saturday featuring Jane's Juice Joint with Micah Burgess (pictured above), Matt Enik, Lifepointe Worship Group, Lauren Starkey, Johnny Bryan & Friends and the Greg Harrison Band. Line-up follows this article.
The Greg Harrison Band will wrap its set up with "Country Roads," after which North Central West Virginia Airport will present a video commercial promoting West Virginia tourism.
Friday night's activities will conclude with a laser show and Saturday night with a fireworks display. A car show and talent contest are also included in Saturday's highlights.
"And there is free admission," Belcastro said.
Upwards of $80,000 has been raised to put on this year's festival, Belcastro said.
In return for their support, business sponsors have received notable advertising on the festival's website, as well as in 50,000 double-sided festival brochures which have been inserted in newspapers of Harrison County and surrounding counties.
Another 5,000 mini brochures have been printed and will be distributed at the gate of the festival. Their purpose, Belcastro said, is to provide guests with a good overview of what the festival has to offer and locations of each attraction.
"Inside is the schedule of activities and a legend - a map of City Park. We started with GPS and enhanced it so it is a gorgeous map of the park," he said.
Belcastro and his committee encourages residents to come out this weekend and enjoy the 2013 Benedum Festival.
"I feel very good about this festival," he said. "I think we've covered every angle and to see it actually reach fruition the way I envisioned it and beyond is just very exciting."
For more information, visit the festival's website HERE.
Entertainment Schedule:
Friday
6:30 2nd Street
8 p.m. Davisson Brothers Band with Owen Schmitt
Saturday
1 p.m. Talent Show
2 p.m. Jane's Juice Joint with Micah Burgess
3 p.m. TBA
4 p.m. Matt Enik
6 p.m. Lifepointe Worship Group
7 p.m. Lauren Starkey, Johnny Bryan & Friends
8 p.m. Greg Harrison Band
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