Success Story

October 8, 2021

Greenup Old Fashion Days is the longest-running festival event in the county. 2021 marked the 56^th year and the 55^th event for this 3-day outdoor festival in downtown Greenup. 2020’s event was canceled due to Covid restrictions and concern for public health. The twenty-five member volunteer committee’s task was greater than usual for 2021 because the historic chairperson, Mattie Coldiron, passed away in February of 2021 (from Covid complications) which left a gap in the structure of the organizational group. She was such a special person and the holder of knowledge for Old Fashion Days and downtown Greenup. This need for leadership was filled by the Extension Agent for Fine Arts and Community Development in partnership with a local businesswoman, Bambi Reed, who both had worked with Mrs. Coldiron previously. 

It was unanimously agreed upon that the Grand Marshal for 2021 would be the extended family of Mattie Coldiron and the theme would be “Mattie Coldiron’s Memories of Old Fashion Days in Greenup”. Vendors had to be notified that they would no longer be communicating with Mattie about their booth spaces and all organizational details were taken on by the new co-chairs. Committee meetings were set and planning began in April of 2021 leading up to the actual event which took place from Thursday, September 30 to Saturday, October 2, 2021. 

Many changes were made such as vendor placement and marketing. There were sixteen donor sponsors, seventeen in-kind sponsors, and twelve event partners. There were twenty-two events that included contests and a children’s pageant. The opening ceremony included the Greenup County High School Junior ROTC, special recognition for local teacher Jordan Sparks’ program to hang banners honoring local veterans all across our county, and a time of memoriam for six local people who passed away over the past two years. These six people were former OFD committee members and event contributors. Special attention was given to Mattie Coldiron and her family as the Grand Marshal for 2021. 

100% of vendors reported high sales and all participant feedback was positive. The parade was the longest it had been in many years and both tourism and the creative economy benefitted from the festival. Surveys are still being collected and new ways to build relationships with donors and participants is being implemented. Leadership skills, problem solving, and proper process are the focus of committee meetings. Volunteers are stepping up to take on more leadership roles. Communication is clear, kind, and positive. Partnerships are stronger, local culture and community pride are increased, and momentum is building for bigger and better community events all across the county because of the success of Old Fashion Days’ return. 

The goal is for the Extension Agent to lead the committee through changes and slowly give over more duties to volunteers when they are ready. Strong leaders make a stronger community.