The 30th Celebrated on The 30th

Whew! It was hot, but the crowd at the Duluth Fall Festival 30th Anniversary Celebration and Concert Saturday, June 30, still had fun.

"We really appreciate you braving the heat and coming out," said Kathryn Willis, festival founder, as she welcomed guests to the party on the in the 100-plus degree heat.

Children played on giant inflatables and cooled off in the city fountain, while others took refuge from the heat in a deluxe portable air-conditioned restroom provided by Superior Plumbing. Candidates in the upcoming election contributed hand fans and bottled water. Electrical fans were strategially placed around the green.

Past festival chairmen were individually introduced wearing T-shirts from the years they chaired on the Duluth Festival Center Stage. Volunteers then lined up in front of the stage creating an impressive display. More than 400 volunteers are involved in putting on the festival the last weekend in September.

While chairmen filed onto the stage encees Brooks Coleman and Johnny Phelps read a list of downtown improvements the festival has paid for over the years.

A check paying off the $1.3-million Duluth Festival Center, funded with festival proceeds, was presented to the Duluth Mayor and City Council.

T-shirts, tabloid covers, scrapbooks, and memorablia from past festival years were displayed in a tent where complimentary desserts were available. A huge cupcake cake celebrating the festival's anniversary and the 80th birthday of Willis' sister, Ann Odum, centered the tent. A regular cake was presented to Odum on stage.

Other food and refreshments included Varsity hot dogs, ice cream from Chocolate Perks, Margaritas from Pure Taqueria, and beer from the Best of Brews.

The celebration concluded with a concert by China Grove, a Doobie Brothers tribute band, and dancing in front of the stage.