Organizers were pleased with the turnout for the first-ever Tanglefoot SummerFest, held June 18 in downtown Festus and Crystal City.
“There were hundreds of people (at the festival). There could have been a thousand,” said Pogolino’s co-owner Jean Scott, a member of the Historic Tanglefoot Association, which sponsored the event.
The festival included live music, food, games and shopping.
In addition, artists and crafters sold wares along Main Street and Bailey Road, which were closed to vehicles during the event.
The SummerFest was held this year instead of the association’s Taste of Tanglefoot, which was called off in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19.
“(The SummerFest) is basically a new event,” said Michelle Hohmeier, a Tanglefoot Association board member who spearheaded the festival. “I feel it went rather well. We had about 20 vendors. That was more than we expected.”
Hohmeier owns Tree of Life Home Decor & Furnishings, which, like many other businesses, extended its hours to remain open during the evening festival.
Scott said business was brisk at Pogolino’s during most of the festival.
“We had a tent outside the restaurant, and we were busy. It started a little slow. It picked up when the live music started,” she said. “I would say it drew every bit as many as A Taste of Tanglefoot did, if not better.”
A bingo-type game called The Great Gift Card Giveaway was held during the festival, which had people visit businesses to fill in their cards and then enter the cards in a drawing for a basket of gift cards that participating businesses donated. Three winners each received a prize of a basket of gift cards containing at least $200 worth of cards, Hohmeier said.
“We had about 50 participants,” she said. “Our businesses donated $25 and $50 gift cards.”
Hohmeier said the Tanglefoot SummerFest was not intended as a fundraiser, but more of a community event t@o promote the participating businesses.
However, some businesses sold bottled water and those proceeds are going to the association, she said.
Hohmeier said the SummerFest will be held again next summer, and the Taste of Tanglefoot may return.
“We plan to do (Tanglefoot SummerFest) next year in June again,” Hohmeier said. “We hope to also do A Taste of Tanglefoot next spring.”