Oak Ridge, Tenn. – (June 12, 2010) –The 8th Annual Secret City Festival is set to take place June 18 – 19 at AK Bissell Park. More than 20,000 people are expected to attend this year’s event, and festival committee members are seeking volunteers to help man different booths and activities during the two-day event.
There are many ways that residents can volunteer, from helping with activities in the Children’s Festival Area to manning the recycle stations throughout the festival site.
“Volunteers are a vital part of this festival,” explained Festival Coordinator Jane Gibson. “We use their unique assets throughout the festival grounds, and we appreciate their willingness to share their time and talents with the community.”
According to Cindi Gordon, Children’s Festival coordinator, volunteers for that area need to be at least 16 years of age. They will need to work in 2-to-4 hour shifts, or more if they are willing. The children’s festival is located behind the Civic Center in the area of Bissell Park. The Toddler’s Festival Area is located next to it, and is also in need of volunteers.
Children’s and toddler’s festival activities include the Sand Treasure Pit, a sand box filled with treasures the children can dig for; an inflatable basketball arena; graffiti car, which children can draw and write on; a hay bale maze; and a Moonwalk, an inflatable in which the children can jump around inside.
Volunteers in the children’s area will be asked to assist the children and manage lines as they wait their turns to participate. There will be height restrictions for the inflatables, which will be noted by a sign next to the site, and volunteers will need to enforce these restrictions.
In addition to the children’s area, the recycle stations are also in need of volunteers to help educate festival attendees on what is acceptable to put in the recycle bins. When the bins are full, the volunteers will then contact the appropriate people to pick up the bags and make sure the water coolers have water. There will be water stations located at each recycle station, and volunteers will encourage festival-goers to stay hydrated. The Festival will be selling reusable water bottles, filled with cold water, for $1. Volunteers will be selling the water bottles as well as refilling them.
“None of the volunteer activities are difficult or strenuous,” continued Gibson. “They just require some generous people who are willing to give a few hours of their day to help make this festival more enjoyable for those in attendance.”
Those interested in volunteering can contact the volunteer coordinator, Debi Boody, at 482-7821.
The 8th Annual Secret City Festival is presented by the City of Oak Ridge, the Oak Ridge Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the Arts Council of Oak Ridge. This year’s festival sponsors are B&W Y-12 and the City of Oak Ridge, and the media sponsors are The Oak Ridger, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, WBIR-TV, Comcast, and BBB Communications. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit www.SecretCityFestival.com or call the information line at (865) 425-3610.
Immediate Release: June 12, 2010