Community gathers for 16th Annual Grape Festival

Elizabethtown — Fall was in full swing at the Lu Mil Vineyard Grape Festival on Saturday. Thousands of people enjoyed the food, hundreds of vendors, live music, and the gorgeous autumn weather.

The sky was a stunning Carolina blue and a sweet October breeze provided relief from the warm, beaming rays of the sun.

The air smelled of barbecue and funnel cakes and the sounds of community were plentiful. You could hear people discussing life events, local politics, and plans for the future. The charm of Bladen County, Mother Nature’s playground, was on full display.

Saturday’s festival marked 16 years of family fun and the reaping of benefits for the Bladen County community.

The University of Minnesota Extension Center for Community Vitality has published several articles that emphasize the vital role that festivals can have in boosting the local economy and strengthening relationships among residents. One 2018-reviewed article, in particular, written by Eliza Grames and Mary Vitcenda states several economic and social benefits that festivals bring to their communities.

Attendees will spend money at the event, of course, “but off-site spending related to festivals generates revenue for communities, too. For example, visitors stop at local gas stations, souvenir shops, and restaurants,” writes Grames and Vitcenda.

Festivals also serve as marketing and advertising for local businesses. The presence and display of locally made goods entice people to buy products they may have never otherwise known were sold in the area. Local entrepreneurs can also provide their social media or contact information for repeat or later purchases.

Money made by community vendors will then be put back into the local economy, especially in Bladen County where shopping locally is highly encouraged.

Festivals also are shown to increase residents’ pride in their towns. Word-of-mouth can be one of the most effective methods of advertising and when Bladen County residents boast about the events in their community, it encourages visitors to check out all that our county has to offer. It also increases the likelihood that more residents will volunteer for and take part in opportunities and events that serve the community.

“Experts agree that hometown pride is a critical factor in the development and improvement of any community,” writes Grames and Vitcenda. “Residents with community pride are more likely to speak positively about their town to others and to volunteer with organizations and activities that support the common good.”

Festivals also promote and increase pride in the unique aspects of a community. This is particularly important for small towns where people are more prone to complain that there is nothing to do.

Additionally, festivals also build and nurture relationships within a community. This is true for both attendees and those who work so tirelessly to plan and execute the festivals.

Grames and Vitcenda write, “Most of the relationship-building occurs in the festival planning phase. This is where the bonds among public and private organizations, government, and neighborhood groups are forged and where connections among elected officials, staff, volunteers, and interested residents are made.”

While walking around the festival, I overheard people sharing the news of recent life events, discussing town matters, reuniting with friends and loved ones, and bonding over watching their children make memories at Lu Mil. As I was leaving, I passed Sheriff McVicker and Hakeem Brown having a friendly discussion about the stress of campaigning and a shared feeling of excitement for the opportunity for rest and more family time as the holidays approach.

As we enter the time of year when festivals are abundant, it’s important to lend support through attendance, patronage, or even just positive word-of-mouth. These festivals are just as good for the economic and social well-being of the surrounding communities as they are for making memories and establishing traditions to share with current and future loved ones.

Beast Fest will take place in Bladenboro during the last weekend of October and is another great opportunity for residents and visitors to reinforce the foundation of the community and create lasting bonds within Bladen County.