Published: May 24, 2009 12:00 am      

Entertaining options: Economy influences how area folks will spend their summer

Local officials are cautiously optimistic heading into the summer entertainment season, despite the cancellation of the International Tour de ’Toona bicycle race for this year and the Oakland Jubilee.

One of the “benefits” of the protracted recession may be that local people are staying put – and spending their discretionary money here, if they need to spend anything at all.

“What we have plays well into the tighter economy,” said Lisa Rager, executive director of the Greater Johnstown-Cambria County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Admission to the Friendly City PolkaFest later this week is free. The Thunder in the Valley motorcycle rally offers many free attractions.

The cover of the Official Visitors Guide says it all: “Johnstown, Free Admission.”

“Rather than going to the beach this summer, take that week and ride into Johnstown,” Rager said. “Sometimes when things look bleak, it could work to our advantage.”

She noted attractions from kayaking and hiking to museums and cultural affairs.

Later in the summer, the former FolkFest – now, the AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival – actually will begin charging admission.

That is being done to preserve the festival’s well-being and form a foundation for growth, organizers said.

The outcome of such outdoor festivals is more dependent upon the weather than the economy, Rager believes.

That’s not to say that there haven’t been setbacks:

• The Tour de ’Toona bicycle race will not be held this year but will return in 2010, officials said. The current state of the economy spurred the decision, Bob Leverknight, the race’s media director, announced Friday.

• The Oakland Jubilee – a staple for 60 years in suburban Johnstown – was scrapped this year. Profits have been waning for the past few years, officials said.

• The Windber Dog Run – a 20-year tradition – may not be held this year unless additional sponsors can be found.

Treasurer Barry Jerley said a decision on the run for charity still has not been made. He said a story on the event’s plight that ran in March brought some more supporters forward, but that the future remains cloudy.

The committee is expected to decide within two weeks. “It would be a shame to let the event go like that,” he said.

Laurel Arts Executive Director Michael Knecht said his fingers are crossed for Somerfest on July 17-19.

“Unlike some of the other festivals, we don’t rely on sponsors or state grants,” he said from Somerset. “We have a sustaining member program.”

And Laurel Arts’ timing was just right. Its membership program was in full swing in September, “just prior to things going south,” Knecht said. He said the vendors lining up are pretty much the same as they have been in prior years.

He said his festival gate actually may rise because of the tough economy and folks staying home.

The organization also will be sponsoring a return engagement of the band The Clarks on July 11.

In the Johnstown area, one of the first community events of the summer is the Southmont Jubilee.

The jubilee, which benefits Southmont Volunteer Fire Company, begins Monday and runs through May 30.

Ferndale Volunteer Fire Company will hold its 79th annual jubilee July 13-18.

Fire Chief William Cornell said attendance was up for last summer’s festival, when high gasoline prices may have prompted families to stay closer to home.

This year, he anticipates that the economy may lead to a repeat.

“We’re hoping that people will spend their money locally,” Cornell said.

Over at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena, General Manager Jim Vautar is coming off the first year in the black since the 1990s.

And he believes revenues could be 25 percent higher this year.

“Maybe people are not going to the Pittsburghs, the Bryce Jordan Center, but are staying closer to home,” he said.

He ticks off the moneymakers from the October to April “arena season,” when people seek entertainment indoors: October, Ringling Bros.; November, cheerleading contest; January, Disney on Ice; and March, the rock ’n’ roll show featuring Styx.

Vautar already is looking to get a jump on the arena season with a World Wrestling Entertainment performance Aug. 30.

He’s penciling in Sesame Street in September, B.E. Taylor Christmas show in December, a monster truck show and Disney on Ice in January and a concert tribute to the rock band Queen in March.

Vautar said the arena is poised to have its best season since he began working there in 1981.

“I wouldn’t have this schedule if these promoters didn’t think they’d be making money,” the general manager said. He thinks “all the negativity” on the economy is overblown.

Rager agrees.

“I think the bottom line is people like to do what people like to do,” she said. “The difference will be in how they do it and where they do it. Everybody needs their release.”