Local festivals facing logistics problems, volunteer shortages

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Fort Wayne’s NBC) - Festival season is in full swing in Northeast Indiana and Northwest Ohio, and people are showing up in large numbers to get their fill of food and fun.

However, festival organizers in throughout the area are facing unique problems this year.

Germanfest Board Member Judy Svoboda says the festival has grown and grown over the 25 years she’s been involved, but volunteerism slowed down this year.

“We’ve always had plenty of volunteers and plenty of people wanting to help us out down here because it’s a lot of fun,” Svoboda says. “But, because of the problems over the past couple of years when things have been real closed down, or slow, its kind of hurt all of the clubs.”

One organizer with Arab Fest who spoke to Fort Wayne’s NBC says they had more people in attendance than anticipated over the weekend, which meant they were a little more short staffed than expected.

Fortunately for Ribfest organizers, they’ve had their volunteers in place at the beginning of the year, but they’re facing some challenges as well, says Cindy Chappuis, Executive Director of Ribfest.

Chappuis explained, “I think the biggest challenge for us, and we had to do a little bit of tweaking, the construction going on in downtown Fort Wayne is a great thing. So, we had to tweak the parking lot a little bit and change a few things.”

Construction has closed off parking near headwaters park and lane closures are forcing people to figure out other plans.

Chappuis and Svoboda both say they’re expecting record turn outs for their events and their situations aren’t ideal. Combine that with people frustrated about parking and slower than normal service, they’re both asking for the same thing.

Patience.

If you would like to sign up to volunteer at Germanfest this weekend, follow this link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050d4eadac22a1f94-2022