First Appeared in the The Post-Crescent July 14, 2005

Paperfest has stayed true to vision over nearly two decades
Steven Hyden, Post-Crescent staff writer

When Paperfest was born in 1989, organizers wanted the Kimberly festival to be a free, family-friendly community celebration that would also raise money for local nonprofit organizations.
With the 17th annual Paperfest coming up Friday through Sunday at Sunset Park, the initial vision matches current reality.

"We have been able to maintain to this day what was established in 1989," festival president Jim Boots said.

Paperfest is a free admission festival run by volunteers, with proceeds from food and concession sales benefiting more than 30 local nonprofit organizations. Over the years the festival has helped to raise more than $300,000 for these groups.

"It is a fund-raiser for groups throughout this end of the Fox River Valley," Paperfest coordinator Jane Fuhrmann said. "There are quite a few groups trying to raise money for whatever their needs might be."

Paperfest draws more than 15,000 people over three days. This year the festival has a slate of popular local bands including Vic Ferrari, Boogie and the Yo-Yo'z, Sonic Circus, RPM and Chasin' Mason.

In addition to the music, food and drink offerings, Paperfest also serves up a wide range of sports activities, including tournaments for fishing, youth soccer, volleyball, flag football, 3-on-3 basketball, fast-pitch softball and a 5K run/walk.

"We incorporate almost a sports festival with a family festival," Boots said. "There's so much going on and we try to find niches for all age groups."

Paperfest organizers keep coming up with new ideas to fill those niches. This year a polka band will play the beer tent for the first time in order to attract seniors. There's also the new Tour de Fest, a non-competitive series of bike tours 18, 40 and 70 miles long. The changes help keep Paperfest fresh, Boots said.

"We realize that if it doesn't change, it dies," he said.

Paperfest has changed in small ways over the years, but at its core the event is the same family festival it always has been.

"Come down to the park with the family and enjoy several different events," Fuhrmann said.

Copyright (c) The Post-Crescent. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.