Thursday, June 18, 1987
Daily Nebraskan
Page 3
Editor's Note:
The Flatwater Festival brought
approximately 60,000 people to down
town Lincoln last year, including
many from Omaha and surrounding
areas. Although no statistics are avail
able, the festival significantly stim
ulated the economy as well as offering
a fun-filled weekend. Carol Jess,
former executive director of the
Downtown Lincoln Association, said
"it's important to have these events
downtown" in order to familiarize
people with what Lincoln has to offer.
The same is true with hundreds of
small Nebraska towns offering festi
vals this summer. Ethnic festivals
provide an excellent chance to see
what kind of people made Nebraska
what it is. Swedish festivals, Czech
festivals, and Mexican fiestas are
some examples. Small town festivals
also celebrate their livelihoods like
the Chappell Wheatking Festival. They
also memorialize their heritage, for
example, the Chadron Fur Trade Days
and the Litchfield Old Settlers Picnic.
Although this issue of the Daily
Nebraskan focuses on the Flatwater
Festival we encourage you to hit the
road and explore small town Nebraska.
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Lincoln's Entertainment Oasis
340 W. Cornhusker 477-2026
Sorry, No Minors
Flatwater Festival expected to repeat success
By Chris McCubbin
Staff Reporter
Last year's Flatwater Festival was a
daring experiment, but it was so
successful that it's already a Lincoln
tradition.
The Flatwater Festival is a direct
descendant of the "Lincolnfest" cele
bration, said Vic Gutman, executive
director of the festival. While Lincoln
fest was strictly a local event designed
to promote downtown business, the
Flatwater Festival is designed for every
body in the Lincoln area, Gutman said.
This change in scope is indicated by
the change in name "Flatwater" is a
loose translation of the Indian word
"Nebraska."
Gutman said there was "no question"
that the changes made worked for last
year's festival. Although no exact
statistics are available, Gutman esti
mated that as many as 60,000 people
attended last year's festival. The festi
val was advertised all over the state.
Although no attendance records of non
Lincoln residents are available, Gutman
said that there was significant atten
dance from Omaha and outlaying com
munities within at least a 50 to 75 mile
radius of Lincoln.
Gutman said there were no major
problems last year. One of the main
stage bands canceled, but a replace
ment was found in time. The main
stage was located next to the then-brand-new
Lied Center excavation.
Gutman said that the festival attract
ed a "comfortable crowd," and that no
complaints were received about crowds,
traffic or parking.
Lt. Albert Maxey, of the Lincoln
Police Department, said that last year's
festival required no extra policemen
and that there was no reported trouble.
The police treat the festival "just like a
busy day downtown," Maxey said.
Carol Jess, who was executive dir
ector of the Downtown Lincoln Associa
tion at the time of last year's festival,
said that the Flatwater Festival is a
"celebration of life in Lincoln" and not
specifically a downtown promotion.
But, she said, it's also "a mechanism to
bring people to Lincoln," she said. Jess
called the festival "a modest success"
at bringing outof towners to downtown
businesses.
"It's important to have these events
downtown" in order to familiarize peo
ple with what Lincoln has to offer, Jess
said.
Mansour "George" Kholousi, owner
of George's Greek Gyros restaurant,
sold his wares at last year's festival. He
said is food was well received.
"Usually people come to places that
are a little unique," Kholousi said,
"and people saw all these weird names
like 'baklava'."
He said the coupons George's handed
out at the festival improved business at
his regular restaurants. He said he is
looking forward to having a booth at
this year's festival.
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Thursday 10-9
Sunday 12-5
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