Soggy Sultana celebration a success

Soggy Sultana celebration a success

Inaugural heritage festival draws about 200 visitors

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Rain might have kept some people from coming out, but organizers of the Sultana Heritage Festival say they were pleased with the turnout and already have some good ideas for next year.

“For a first stab, we were pleased,” said Marion Chamber of Commerce Director Mike Demster.

“We came in not knowing what to expect in terms of the level of interest. But the good thing about it was that our lectures and events had at least 60 participants and the folks who were there said as far as the quality of the programs the feedback we had was tremendous.”

The weekend event featured lectures about the April 1865 Sultana disaster, a General Grant impersonator, vendors, memorabilia, living history re-enactors, period music, and a museum open house.

Demster said about 200 people attended the event.

“We were shooting for 300 unique visitors,” Demster said. “I think the weather spooked some people away even before the thing started. So we ended somewhere around the 200 mark.”

A preview showing of the documentary “Remember the Sultana” by Oklahoma- based filmmaker Mike Marshall drew about 75 people to the showing at the Marion Performing Arts Center.

And a Civil War period “fire and brimstone” church service by former Marion United Methodist Church Pastor Brother Tom Lechworth, who is a Civil War buff, also was well attended.

“We didn’t have an empty seat for that,” Demster said. “Brother Tom did a terrific job in character. He even let out a Rebel Yell.”

Demster said they also got some helpful feedback from out-of-town visitors on what they liked and would like to see at a future event.

“We got some good advice on how to move forward with some of our plans,” Demster said. “The people who came out are devoted history buffs and like this kind of thing and attend similar events.”

And there will be a next year.

Demster said they are going to go over the num- bers and come up with a plan for a second event.

“We certainly hope so,” Demster said. “The response we got was very encouraging and everyone was pleased and wants to come back next year.”

By Mark Randall