When Ulysses puts its mind to something and people come together - great things happen.
Spring Fling starts tomorrow, an event 43 years in the making.
Grant County Chamber of Commerce Director Robin Leonard has worked with the event the past six years.
"But," she said. "this is our 43rd year of having this event. It's one of our great community events that it seems like we have always had. And, I hope we always continue to have it here."
According to Leonard the annual event has taken place in March before, but typically they plan it for April. This is her first year to be at the helm of the event as Chamber Director.
"It has been going good," she said. "We have more vendors this year than we have had since pre-Covid, so I am very excited for everyone to come out and see all the new vendors we will have."
According to Leonard, they have 54 vendors signed up to participate this year compared to around 40 last year. It is one of the Chamber's biggest events of the year.
"We are getting ready," Leonard said. "It is a very big process, but it all comes together with the help of our committee and our volunteers. We all make it happen."
Leonard said the event "takes a lot of work".
"We have a committee of six people plus my office help, myself, and Bob Dale helps us a lot with the sound at the civic center and getting everything ready to go for our entertainment," she explained. "The help at the civic center - it takes a lot of them to help as well - we appreciate them a lot."
This year's entertainment includes locals Hailey Kastl and Miranda Vazquez. Other attractions are the Kiddie Tractor Pull sponsored by Grant County Farm Bureau.
"The Kiddie Tractor Pull will be on Saturday," Leonard said. "And, we will have the Match Game hosted that night by Bob Dale. An antique tractor pull will be going on outside."
The Match Game is based on an old 70s television show.
"We will have a panel of six people and two participants who try to answer a phrase, or maybe finish a phrase, matching it with the majority of the panel members," Leonard said. "We are still looking for volunteers to play the game and may be pulling volunteers out of the audience."
Set up for the show started this morning at 8 a.m. Vendors will begin setting up today at noon until 8 p.m., and then again on Friday from 9 a.m., until 4:30 p.m. The show will be open from 5-9 p.m., Friday, and from 10 a.m., until 7 p.m., on Saturday.
This year's vendors include Omar Zaragosa with Western Wear, a golf cart company, the "bread lady" American Implement, Golden Plains Credit Union, Pioneer Communications, Pioneer Electric, Grant County Bank.
"There will be lots of good food," Leonard said. "We will have five different food trucks and some food vendors inside as well."
Those attending will also have the opportunity to play a special kind of Bingo.
"Adults can win up to $50 in Ulysses Chamber Bucks and kids can win swimming passes," Leonard said. "Our theme this year is American Heritage. Participants will pick up their bingo cards at the chamber booth, and each vendor will have an Americana image. Participants will go find the image and write down the name of the booth that has that image, and then when they get a bingo bring it back to the chamber booth. Their name will be put in for the drawing."
Leonard encourages everyone to come out to the show.
"Spring Fling is a great community event which showcases a lot of our businesses we have here in town," she said. "You will get to see a lot of things you may not realize we have here locally. It is also great to bring in different vendors so they can see our great town and great community."
The Chamber will not get much of a breather, as the Senior Citizen Prom will take place the next weekend, on April 25, and in June it will be time for RAM - when they set up their time station for Race Across America.
Leonard said she appreciates everyone who has stepped up to help, especially the Ulysses Promotion members and the committee.
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