All smiles at Spectrum
First-year organizers enjoy Spectrum at Kin Coulee
Though Friday’s weather may have handed Hatters a bit of a scare, Saturday’s Spectrum celebrations were everything to be expected — and maybe even a little more.
“We added a lot to the festival this year,” said first-year chair Kevin McGimpsey. “This being our first year, and the first year back at Kin Coulee, we wanted to change things up a bit.
“It’s not just one or two things, we’re offering a lot of new experiences to people that come out year after year.”
The festival took place on North Railway Street last year and has bounced around over the years, including some time downtown. McGimpsey says the festival board likes the new location.
“We’re happy with it right here,” he said. “We know it has moved around, but Kin Coulee makes sense to us.
“So far we’ve heard nothing but good things from people that have come through. There’s been lots of families and a lot of smiling kids coming through.”
This year’s Spectrum featured magic shows, axe throwing, food trucks, a giant playground, bouncy castles and much more.
“I think people like to kick off their summer with Spectrum,” he said. “There’s a lot to do, and there’s a lot of fun to be had.
“These festivals have been running for years, and it’s something a lot of people in the community look forward to every year. We want to offer the best festival for everyone.”
McGimpsey says the board will look at adding a third day back to the festival next year, and that it is thankful for Saturday’s good weather.
“I was checking the weather on my phone a lot,” he said. “With this being our first go, we figured we’d do two days and go from there — next year we can open it up and do a little more with it.”