Page 13
If Mother Nature cooperates, this
could be a special year for the Canton
LibertyFestival.
“It all depends on the weather,”
explained Jon LaFever, deputy direc-
tor of Leisure Services for the town-
ship.
He, and the entire staff involved in
the organization of the 26th annual fes-
tival, have carefully watched the popu-
larity and civic involvement in the
event increase during the past decades
along with the economic impact in the
community.
Last year, the festival came within
$700 of breaking even and paying all
the costs associated with the event,
including funding the public safety
involvement, insurance and utility
fees, trash disposal costs, entertain-
ment expenses and themyriad of other
costs associated with producing an
event of this scope.
“This is such a great community
event,” LaFever said. “People some-
times don't realize the economic bene-
fits of the festival on ourwhole commu-
nity.
“The Rotary Club could make as
much at $10,000 from the three days
this year,” Lafever said, noting that all
the money generated by service clubs
like the Lions and the Firefighters
Charity, is used to benefit the commu-
nity.
“This is just a microcosm of how
much benefit the festival provides the
area. We did a study about two years
See
LaFever,
page 14
People sometimes
don't realize
the economic
benefits of the
festival on
our whole community.
”
Labor of love
Liberty Fest organizer marks 22nd year at event
