Scott Williams, swilliams@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Dark clouds did not deter fans of the Johnny Wad band from stepping out and dancing Saturday on the final night of Sun Drop Dayz. The concert venue was packed for the closing show.
Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Maggie Dame of the band Red Clover sings for the crowd Saturday afternoon during Sun Drop Dayz as Colin Kriss provides accompaniment on the drums.
Organizers and participants are declaring the inaugural Sun Drop Dayz a major success, despite a thunderstorm during the event’s final hours.
With near-perfect weather conditions otherwise, crowd estimates for the two-day Shawano event are running in the thousands.
“It was huge,” said Jon Aumann, co-chairman of the Boys & Girls Club of Shawano.
As one of the outdoor music festival’s main nonprofit partners, the Boys & Girls Club is likely to share in the proceeds of what appears to have been a money-making event, Aumann said.
“Many good organizations will benefit,” he said. “We’re really excited to see how things went.”
Sun Drop Dayz was held Friday and Saturday on festival grounds centered along Elizabeth Street between Main Street and Lincoln Street in downtown Shawano. The event featured live musical performers, as well as food and beverage vendors, a beer tent and numerous children’s activities, including a petting zoo, a fishing clinic and inflatables.
The event was conceived by Leadership Shawano County as a new annual tradition marking the start of summer.
Jeff Ballwahn, leader of the event planning committee, said the festival’s first run exceeded expectations in terms of turnout and overall results. Ballwahn said preliminary estimates put Friday’s attendance at 2,000 to 3,000 people and Saturday’s attendance perhaps even higher.
“We’re just extremely happy,” he said. “The people came out, and they seemed to be having a good time.”
Weather conditions were nearly ideal until a thunderstorm shut down the musical stage and sent crowds scampering for cover Saturday night during the festival’s final two hours. The beer tent and other tents provided coverage for those who decided to stick around.
Shawano Interim Police Chief Dan Mauel said police received no reports of any incidents or trouble at the festival, except for a couple of people who needed medical attention from possible heat exhaustion.
Mauel said officers were on scene both days, and they did not make any arrests or eject any festival goers.
“It was a wonderful crowd, well-behaved, and I think it was a good thing for Shawano,” Mauel said.
Organizers plan to meet over the next few weeks to compile results and to begin making plans for next year’s Sun Drop Dayz.
Other sponsors included Twig’s Beverage Inc., Novolex, Menominee Casino Resort, Screamin Head Buzz, Cellcom and Premier Community Bank.
Rotary Club of Shawano reported good success with a Friday fish fry, popcorn wagon and other activities during the festival. The club was among several nonprofit groups that were invited to operate booths at the festival to sell food, beverages or other merchandise.
Chris Marcks, president of the Rotary Club, said her group sold about 375 fish frys, ranging from $10 to $15 each. Along with the other sales, the club earned revenue to help fund its charitable work and programs in the community.
Marcks said she would gladly get involved in Sun Drop Dayz again next year.
“We’re definitely happy we participated,” she said. “It was great to be part of something so big.”