Basic HTML Version
Plymouth Ice Festival
Page 11
of Commerce- stepped in.
“I was asked to help out with raising
money,” said Jim Jabara, who became
more involved with the event after
then chamber president Pam Kosteva
teamed him up with Tom Caviston to
raise the necessary proceeds to keep
the event afloat.
The team was able to generate
$140,000. Lorenz credits Jabara and
his fellow fundraisers for keeping the
spectacular alive.
“It was almost lost,” saidLorenz.
Mike Watts headed the festival for
several years during some rough eco-
nomic times. The board was at the
point of retiring the event, Walton said,
due to the difficult economy in 2009,
when they asked Signature
Professional Group, a turn-key promot-
er and producer of concerts and event
programming founded by Walton, to
take over.
This year, the event has evolved into
a for-profit venture with Walton's
Signature Professional Group at the
helm. Walton said that this year, he has
concentrated on interactive displays
and attractions, alongwith some added
technology aspects, to really attract
crowds. The event, he said, has to grow
and change with the times, which it
has done consistently during the
decades. “That's why it is still around,”
he said.
This year, Walton said, thanks to the
generosity of major sponsors, the event
is offering free attractions like ice skat-
ing and snowboarding and expanded
cross country skiing, all at no cost to
visitors.
“It is going to be a great festival,”
Walton said. “We have some terrific
things planned and I think we'll have
something for everybody, no matter
what theweather does.”