The city’s Labor Day festival drew rave reviews and a solid financial return, city officials reported at this month’s City Council meeting.
“I’ve heard nothing but good comments about the city’s portion of Labor Day,” Alderman Donna Wetzel said. “People told me the fireworks were spectacular—they really impressed everyone.”
The four-day festival featured a dazzling fireworks display by J&M Display of Yarmouth, Iowa, alongside carnival rides, games, inflatables, live music, dancing, a petting zoo, and food—including sizzling fried chicken and handmade sweets. The event was powered by volunteers from the Colchester Lions Club and city staff.
Alderman Catherine Louderman, chair of the Labor Day/Festivities Committee, shared the financial results. Deliver the Party, which provided the inflatables, earned $3,200 in ticket sales. Advanced carnival ticket sales brought in $1,185. Alabama-based K&S Southern Midways, which supplied the carnival rides and games, reported total revenues of $4,095 from tickets and armbands.
“So the city recouped its costs through ticket sales,” Mayor Mark Clark summarized.
Looking ahead, Clark and Louderman plan to attend the annual Fairs and Festivals Convention in Springfield this January. They will meet with K&S Southern Midways to negotiate a new contract for the 2026 Labor Day carnival.
“The representative promised at least eight rides next year, possibly more,” Louderman said. “We expect a full carnival ride setup for Labor Day 2026.”
