Sometimes events run their course

Culturefest, after a 22-year run, has more than likely come to an end.

The event started in 2002 by a committee that wanted to bring the vision of then Mayor LaVertha Gotier to life. They brought that vision to the downtown from 2002 to 2009.

The committee then asked for help from the Worland Community Center, and employees of the center organized the event from 2010 to 2024, canceling this year’s event due to lack of responses from vendors, and not wanting to split attendance from three other events this Saturday.

I hear people talk about what Culturefest “used to be.” I cannot speak to that. The Culturefest I know, in the 10 years I have been here in Worland, has always been at the Worland Community Center.

I have heard that people were upset when the Community Center moved the event from downtown but it only makes sense for the Community Center to host the event at the center. They would want to showcase what the center has to offer inside and outside. They have plenty of room at the facility and back field.

Kudos to the original committee for starting the event and fulfilling a vision to showcase the community’s diverseness. Kudos also to the Community Center for seeing that the event was a great community event and continuing the event for another 14 years.

I attended many Culturefests at the Community Center and people were always having fun and it was always well attended. Certain times had larger crowds, depending on entertainment, and usually closer to lunch for people to enjoy the culinary delights of the food vendors.

I have watched as the number of food and other vendors has declined. The past few years the 4-H has been unable due to scheduling to have the petting zoo but the bouncy houses have been a huge hit.

Every year you can count on seeing kids having fun climbing on tractors from Tractor Guys as well.

The variety of music has been great with one of my favorite being the dancers out of Casper. Culturefest showcased a lot of great area talent.

The Community Center’s Director Steve Hunt and Marketing Director Sheryl Ley have said they are planning a different community event this fall and may plan something in the summer but it will not be Culturefest.

For 22 years Culturefest has brought family fun to the community. Perhaps Culturefest as a community event has run its course. Perhaps another organization or committee will reinvent Culturefest and bring it back in 2026.

Seeing the Culturefest era come to an end after 22 years makes you realize how amazing it is for Nowoodstock and the Pepsi Wyoming BBQ Championship and Bluegrass Festival to still be going strong.

Events take a lot of hard work, a lot of planning and a lot of volunteers. It takes people to support those events, to attend the events, it takes funding to bring in musicians and other entertainment, it takes vendors, entertainers, competitors participating. None of it happens overnight.

Kudos to the organizers of the many events throughout the year for all of the hard work to bring fun and entertainment to our communities and we wait with anticipation to see what the Community Center will bring us Nov. 15.