ago and determined that there is about
$100,000 of economic benefit for the
community fromthe event.”
LaFever admits that he has a spe-
cial affection for the Liberty Fest, hav-
ing started working at the event when
hewas still inhigh school.
“Bob Dates, the retired township
recreation director, started the Liberty
Fest back in 1991,” LaFever explained,
and Dates helped him find a job work-
ing with one of the festival vendors
whilehewas still inhigh school.
“I loved it then and still do,” he said.
This will be LaFever's 17th year as
chairman of the Liberty Festival, and
his 22nd yearworkingwith the event.
Organizing the festival is a year-long
commitment that begins while the
event is still under way. During the fes-
tival, township staff members take
notes about things like traffic flow,
power outlets and attraction place-
ment in an effort to make any neces-
sary improvements or changes for the
next year. The staff meets with the pub-
lic safety department immediately
after the festival to compare notes and
decide on any location changes for the
next year. LaFever said that because of
five-year contracts with the fireworks
provider and the carnival operator,
most of the contracts, including those
of the live entertainment, are usually
signedbyNovember.
The carnival is one of the most pop-
ular and profitable events at the festi-
val, LaFever said, and provides a sig-
nificant contribution toward the costs.
He explained that 10 years ago, the
township was subsidizing the festival
at a cost of about $175,000 and seeing
that cost decrease to the $700 total last
year was quite an accomplishment and
a sure sign of the growth in popularity
of the event.
“Every year, we say, 'This is the year.
This is the year we break even,'”
Lafever said, “but we know that the
weather is the biggest factor. If we
don't lose any time to rain, we will do
well and sowill the civic groups.”
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LaFever
from page 13
Jon LaFever
