Children's Day Parade event heads back to South Park
It was announced this morning that the Children's Day Parade event, hosted by the Oshkosh Jaycees, will be returning to the south side and South Park this summer. In 2006, the parade had been moved downtown and the after-parade event to the Leach Amphitheater, but that was met with many complaints - the biggest complaint being that the event was losing touch with the south side, where the parade and events afterward originated and were always held previously.
Following is a press release issued by the Jaycees concerning the move...
Children’s Day Parade to return to South Park Jaycees to simplify event; celebrate 75 years of tradition
OSHKOSH, WI) – In 2006, the Children’s Day Parade encountered multiple storms. On the morning where children from across Oshkosh prepared to march down city streets showcasing the floats and costumes they constructed, rain threatened to cancel the event. Despite the delay in the schedule, the parade proceeded with dry skies to the delight of the children. But, this was not the only storm the parade organizers endured.
In a controversial move, the Oshkosh Jaycees, a non-profit volunteer group who acts as the current organizers for the parade, had relocated the parade from the traditional route ending at South Park to a new route through Downtown ending at the Leach Amphitheater. “We wanted to make it a bigger event for the kids,” explains Jaycees President Jay Stoflet. “PMI (the management company for the Leach Amphitheater) had hosted a kids-based event for the community the year before. We thought it would be exciting for everyone if we worked together and gave the children the opportunity to showcase their creativity on the same stage the big holiday parades are held and gave them a bigger festival at the end of the route.”
Despite the best intentions, not everyone in the community supported the change. Shortly after the public began to hear rumors about the move, residents – many residing on the south side of Oshkosh – began to voice their disapproval, feeling the event was being stolen from it’s rightful home and turned into a money making event.
“We began receiving calls and seeing commentary in the paper criticizing the change,” explains Stoflet. “We knew there would be some resistance, but we had no idea people would accuse us of turning the event into a fundraiser at the expense of local families. From the beginning, we have always operated the Parade as a ‘break even’ event. Even if we had a small loss, we considered it a donation back to the community,” claims Stoflet.
The problem was the losses had become greater each year as the group attempted to cover costs from diminishing sponsorship while maintaining activities after the Parade at an affordable cost. In 2006 alone, the Jaycees covered over $1000 in losses to keep the festival partnership with PMI free for participants. “I don’t think people appreciate the costs associated with holding an event at a level the public expects," claims Stoflet.
So for this year, the 75th anniversary of the Children’s Day Parade, the Jaycees will be honoring the history of the event by returning to a simpler time and returning the event to it’s traditional home. While many details have yet to be determined, a few things have been established. The 2007 Parade will be held on August 5th, the route will end at South Park, and while there will continue to be awards and prizes for parade participants there will not be a festival hosted by the Jaycees after the parade.
“Seventy-five years ago when the Parade started, it was about kids showcasing their creativity - not inflatable activities, roaming entertainers, and games,” describes Stoflet. “Continuing the tradition of the Parade is the most important thing to us, but we can no longer afford the time and expenses associated with a festival. Our city parks have wonderful amenities and South Park is one of the best in Oshkosh. There is simple free fun for all children at that park that is as good as anything we could bring in.”
The Jaycees have stated that they would be willing to work alongside any other community or neighborhood group that would be interested in hosting additional activities after the parade, but stressed that their commitment is to the Parade only. When asked about the motivation to keep the event going, Stoflet explained “While the festival was always fun, seeing the pride and smiles on the kids’ faces as they march down the street with their creations isthe best motivation for us to keep going for another 75 years.”
More information regarding the 75th Annual Children’s Day Parade can be found at www.oshkoshjaycees.org as it becomes available.
Today's news should come as a pleasant surprise for people, including some visitors to this site who blogged about it when the change was made to move the event to the Leach Amphitheater last summer.
Following is a press release issued by the Jaycees concerning the move...
Children’s Day Parade to return to South Park Jaycees to simplify event; celebrate 75 years of tradition
OSHKOSH, WI) – In 2006, the Children’s Day Parade encountered multiple storms. On the morning where children from across Oshkosh prepared to march down city streets showcasing the floats and costumes they constructed, rain threatened to cancel the event. Despite the delay in the schedule, the parade proceeded with dry skies to the delight of the children. But, this was not the only storm the parade organizers endured.
In a controversial move, the Oshkosh Jaycees, a non-profit volunteer group who acts as the current organizers for the parade, had relocated the parade from the traditional route ending at South Park to a new route through Downtown ending at the Leach Amphitheater. “We wanted to make it a bigger event for the kids,” explains Jaycees President Jay Stoflet. “PMI (the management company for the Leach Amphitheater) had hosted a kids-based event for the community the year before. We thought it would be exciting for everyone if we worked together and gave the children the opportunity to showcase their creativity on the same stage the big holiday parades are held and gave them a bigger festival at the end of the route.”
Despite the best intentions, not everyone in the community supported the change. Shortly after the public began to hear rumors about the move, residents – many residing on the south side of Oshkosh – began to voice their disapproval, feeling the event was being stolen from it’s rightful home and turned into a money making event.
“We began receiving calls and seeing commentary in the paper criticizing the change,” explains Stoflet. “We knew there would be some resistance, but we had no idea people would accuse us of turning the event into a fundraiser at the expense of local families. From the beginning, we have always operated the Parade as a ‘break even’ event. Even if we had a small loss, we considered it a donation back to the community,” claims Stoflet.
The problem was the losses had become greater each year as the group attempted to cover costs from diminishing sponsorship while maintaining activities after the Parade at an affordable cost. In 2006 alone, the Jaycees covered over $1000 in losses to keep the festival partnership with PMI free for participants. “I don’t think people appreciate the costs associated with holding an event at a level the public expects," claims Stoflet.
So for this year, the 75th anniversary of the Children’s Day Parade, the Jaycees will be honoring the history of the event by returning to a simpler time and returning the event to it’s traditional home. While many details have yet to be determined, a few things have been established. The 2007 Parade will be held on August 5th, the route will end at South Park, and while there will continue to be awards and prizes for parade participants there will not be a festival hosted by the Jaycees after the parade.
“Seventy-five years ago when the Parade started, it was about kids showcasing their creativity - not inflatable activities, roaming entertainers, and games,” describes Stoflet. “Continuing the tradition of the Parade is the most important thing to us, but we can no longer afford the time and expenses associated with a festival. Our city parks have wonderful amenities and South Park is one of the best in Oshkosh. There is simple free fun for all children at that park that is as good as anything we could bring in.”
The Jaycees have stated that they would be willing to work alongside any other community or neighborhood group that would be interested in hosting additional activities after the parade, but stressed that their commitment is to the Parade only. When asked about the motivation to keep the event going, Stoflet explained “While the festival was always fun, seeing the pride and smiles on the kids’ faces as they march down the street with their creations isthe best motivation for us to keep going for another 75 years.”
More information regarding the 75th Annual Children’s Day Parade can be found at www.oshkoshjaycees.org as it becomes available.
Today's news should come as a pleasant surprise for people, including some visitors to this site who blogged about it when the change was made to move the event to the Leach Amphitheater last summer.
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 12:24 PM
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