Ineed you to start thinking bigger. Last week when I asked for ideas on how to attract people to Rockdale, I guess I wasn’t clear enough. What I am talking about (and not just me, everyone in the Leadership Rockdale class is talking about it) is something that Rockdale will be known for. A celebration of some kind that will draw a lot of out-of-towners to our city.
It’s nice that we have farmers markets on Saturdays. That’s not what I’m talking about. It’s nice that the Kay Theater shows movies and has a special speaker event on Saturday (see on the front page). Also not what I’m talking about.
This idea needs to attract hordes of people into town and fill up our motels. The Rockdale Fair and Rodeo is the biggest event, by far, in Rockdale that does this. We need to come up with another event that brings lots of people to town and makes them want to come back for it again next year.
I wasn’t living in Rockdale when the Dewberry Festival got started, but I remember seeing it in The Reporter. Years ago there were many groups involved and lots of different things to do that day. Now I think only one group is involved, but I could be wrong about that.
Just thinking off the top of my head, but what if the Dewberry Festival had musical acts at night, a carnival or something for the kids to do, booths selling all kinds of merchandise and different kinds of food, if it’s in the summer maybe the pool could be open for a special day while the parents do something else. Things to do all day long and into the night.
That’s just an example, but hopefully you can see where I’m going. Something big and fun and worth driving to – and staying in– Rockdale.
We have lots of good things going on in town now, and I’m not trying to discount any of them. I’m just asking you to think bigger about something totally separate from all we already have going on. And as far as the farmers markets, they could both benefit from having a town full of tourists, just like all of our businesses would.
And we need to hold it in a place where being rained out isn’t an option. If there’s music involved maybe at the Fair Park pavilion. One of the most “dangerous” things about the Fall Music Festival we used to have is that it was outside. Those acts have to be booked months and months in advance so having it rained out would be a lot of work and money going down the drain, which is one reason why we don’t have it anymore.
Make good use of the Patterson Center, the KC Hall and the Kay Theater. A lot of booths would fit in any of them. Or show kids movies at The Kay as another alternative to both the kids and parents having things to do all day.
One thing I heard when I first moved back home in 2019 was that groups did not like working together in this town, but this idea would have to be a joint effort involving everyone to make sure it’s a success and get people coming back every year and sharing what a good time they had with their friends so they’ll come in the following year.
So put on your thinking caps. What kinds of organizations are you involved in and how could those organizations make money if there were a lot of people in town.
Churches? Are you collec ting enough money during the offering each Sunday? What could your church offer to help make up for the deficit, if there is one? I’ve been to plenty of delicious church potlucks. How about having one that serves visitors?
The thing is we all need to work together to accomplish this so it’ll be something for all Rockdalians to take ownership of and make us all proud. And also, to make us all a little money.
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