Food Needed For Fall Festival

WAITSBURG - Or- ganizers of this year's Pioneer Fall Festival are hoping Waitsburg mer- chants will step up to provide food for the event's numerous guests now that the traditional buf- falo barbecue has been discontinued.

"We're now almost ready to begin publiciz- ing the event and would like to mention the food," said Jeff Broom, presi- dent of the Waitsburg Historical Society. "We would like to include a list of those who will par- ticipate."

Broom said he hopes local restaurants and busi- nesses will let him know by Aug. 10 whether they will be keep their store- fronts open for the guests the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 16. Specific menu information for restaurants can wait until later in the month.

"When the Lions opted not to continue the (buffalo) barbecue, our board (Waitsburg His- torical Society) considered several alternatives, including bringing an outside caterer to serve buffalo," Broom said. "In the end, we realized that although it may be very good, it would just not be the same as what people have come to expect over many years, and the price would have to go up be- cause of the many hours of volunteer labor that would be unavailable."

That left organizers with the idea of spread- ing the festival to include downtown, including sidewalk sales and his- torical tours, Broom said. It offers restaurants the chance to sell some food to appreciative visitors, possibly with a pioneer or historical angle.

In early September, organizers will produce a poster for the Bruce House grounds listing the places to eat and any specials.

"We also need to know whether (the merchant) would prefer a phone call be- fore people come in," he said.

Organizers will try to promote Waitsburg as a fun destination for that weekend, which will fea- ture the Waitsburg Lions Club Salmon Barbecue on Saturday night and four days of Shopping Bag vendors.

The Pioneer Fall Fes- tival itself includes the traditional non-denominational church service, a vintage-style fashion show, music and, orga- nizers hope, lots of local food choices on Main Street.

Broom said most of Waitsburg restaurants and merchants have re- sponded positively to a memo he circulated about the new festival format in February.

Broom is asking busi- ness owners to get in touch with him about the food arrangements by phone at 509-337-6688 or email, jbroom6688@charter.net by Friday, Aug. 10.