Warner, NH - September 12, 2014
The Warner Fall Foliage Festival has been a New Hampshire tradition for
nearly 70 years, and takes place on Columbus Day Weekend. This is
Warner’s invitation for friends to visit, enjoy the vibrant colors
around Mt. Kearsarge, and share in the community spirit.
The festival strengthens the area’s economy by providing
an outlet for local artisans, farmers, vendors and others to sell their
products. Proceeds from the event help keep property taxes down by
supporting local charities and projects.
The Warner Fall Foliage Festival is run entirely by
volunteers. Good people from all walks of life are given festival tee
shirts to wear when they park cars, cook chickens and burgers, sell
tickets and keep the area clean. Their efforts help ensure that everyone
enjoys the event.
“Volunteers are the ones who make it happen,” said Adam
Bates, president of the festival board of directors. “If it wasn’t for
them, there would be no festival and we wouldn’t be able to support some
of the other organizations in town that are also volunteer driven.”
“The level of personal commitment to this festival by
each member of the board of directors has made a huge impact in the last
two years. The festival is a major stimulus for keeping Warner so
vibrant,” said Joan Saunders, vice president.
Because the Warner Fall Foliage Festival has grown a
little each year, offering more, the need for volunteers is greater than
ever before. If fewer volunteers come forward, more of the workload is
shouldered by a smaller group, who quickly get burned out. The old adage
“many hands make light work,” applies here.
“In the past ten years or so, the volunteer level has
dropped significantly, which makes it more difficult to continue,” Bates
said.
He is hoping that changes this year.
The Warner Fall Foliage Festival needs
volunteers. Adam Bates and his committee are asking all able-bodied
Warner area residents to lend a hand this year to keep the festival
alive.
Those willing to donate a couple of hours to this worthy cause
may register on the website: www.wfff.org,
or call Beth Lukaitis at: 456-6268.
