Arnold City Park was the place to be last weekend.
Parks and Recreation supervisor Teresa Kohut said an estimated 17,000 attended the Arnold Days festival, held Sept. 17 through Sunday at the park.
The festival was not held last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the turnout this year was larger than in 2019, when approximately 12,000 attended, Kohut said.
“We had a great crowd, and I think everybody was excited to get out and do something,” Arnold Mayor Ron Counts said. “I think it was well received by everybody.”
Kohut said carnival ride ticket sales were up by about 30 percent, with about $70,000 in tickets sold.
The city is guaranteed 25 percent of the ticket sales, as well as an extra payment because Little Egypt Shows Inc. of Marion, Ill., which supplies the rides, reached a certain level of ticket sales, Kohut said. “It was very busy,” she said. “It was one of the best Arnold Days for sales and crowds.”
A modest but enthusiastic crowd attended the fourth Arnold Days Trivia Night on Sept. 16, which kicked off the festival. The 10-round trivia contest, sponsored by Leader Publications, was held in a new 100-foot-by-60-foot tent set up over the park’s former tennis courts. The first three Trivia Nights had been held in the Arnold Recreation Center.
“Those who came enjoyed the evening,” Leader assistant publisher Peggy Scott said. “The tent worked out really well for the event, giving the participants a great view of the festival grounds.”
Other festivities throughout the weekend included fireworks on the lake, live music, a princess photo session, a craft fair, eating contests, a shoebox race, a corn hole tournament and a parade down Jeffco Boulevard.
The Leader will publish names of some of the Arnold Days contest winners in a future issue.
New layout
The Arnold Parks and Recreation Department changed the festival grounds layout this year. Along with the new tent, the rides were moved to the athletic fields. The rearrangement, along with the fireworks displays set off from the park’s lake, allowed for more parking areas.
“The layout really worked well,” said Ajsa Hukic, a Parks and Recreation supervisor. “People liked where the carnival rides were, and the parking worked out well.”
Kohut agreed. “People who came were using the whole park,” she said. “I saw families set up for picnics near the carnival ride area. I was really excited to see that. I thought it was fabulous.”
Arnold Days organizers planned to rent VIP tents, but there wasn’t much interest, so those tents were not set up for the event.
“People did not respond to them like they did for the Fourth of July celebration,” she said. “It may be something we only do for the Fourth of July.”
Big tent
A Princess Razzle Dazzle photo session featuring Dream Time Princess Events performers decked out in princess garb was held Sept. 17 under the big new tent. “They were a big hit,” Kohut said. “We will likely do something like this again.”
On Sept. 18, nearly 30 vendors participated in the craft fair, which also was held under the tent, Hukic said.
She said the craft fair was a hit.
“I thought it was awesome,” Hukic said. “I loved seeing the different items people made. There were really cool things in the tent.”
Saturday in the park
A children’s fishing tournament hosted by the Arnold-Imperial Optimist Club attracted about 100 participants early Sept. 18. Members of the local Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation provided poles and tackle for the children, along with craft activities and the chance to try out archery.
“It was a beautiful day for the fishing tournament,” Kohut said. “It is heartwarming to see because it is such a family-oriented event, which is something we strive for.”
The Farmers Market, which is held every Saturday at the park, also drew a large crowd, she said.
Several contests were held, including a new shoebox race that attracted 20 participants in the child’s race and seven for the adult race.
A “Car Hop Special” eating contest, challenging participants to eat as many hot dogs, hamburgers and shakes as possible, drew 15 participants. A children’s cupcake-eating contest had 49 entries, and the Grasp for Glory” pitcher-holding contest had 17 participants.
“They were so fun and really entertaining,” Hukic said.
The seventh annual Car and Bike Show drew 158 entrants, and the Arnold Police Officers Association handed out 45 trophies to winners in various categories, said Matt Phillips, the association’s president. “It was the largest turnout we have had in the last five years,” he said.
Phillips said he didn’t know how much money was raised at the event, but proceeds will fund the association’s annual Shop with a Cop program and other community events.
Sunday events
The Arnold Days Parade featured 35 entrants. Huey’s Xpress Wash and Detail, 3981 W. Outer Road, in Arnold, won the $100 prize for the best float with its Halloween-themed entry to promote a haunted car wash it will hold in October.
“We had wonderful floats and decorations,” said Karen Fay, a Parks and Recreation procurement specialist. “It was very attractive.”
Rain disrupted the events on Sunday, including a corn hole tournament that had four teams participate, Kohut said.
Music
Each day featured live performances, with Joe Dirt playing Sept. 17, Bitter Pill performing Sept. 18 and Dirty Money taking the stage Sunday.
“All three were really good,” Kohut said. “I had a lot of compliments on the Saturday evening band (Bitter Pill) in particular. Of course, Joe Dirt always has their fans; people really love them. Sunday night was a little off with the on and off rain, but Dirty Money did a really good job. They always deliver a really solid performance.”