Winona Lake Town Coordinator Craig Allebach

WINONA LAKE — The verdict is in for terms of the success of Winona Lake’s inaugural Family Festival, held in the town July 7. The town-wide event was discussed at the monthly meeting of the Winona Lake Town Council Tuesday, July 17.

“I wanted to recognize the people in particular who really were responsible for the organization of the Family Festival and they were Meghan Lincoln, Lorna Ladd, Sandi Shuter, Holly Hummitch, our parks director,” said Town Coordinator Craig Allebach. “I’ve heard so many comments and we’ve actually received correspondence of what a great event that was. For a first time deal, it was just a wonderful afternoon. The weather played in very well. They’ve already started to debrief from that and plan for next year.”

Allebach said that planners prepared about 1,000 hot dogs for the occasion and that leftover food did not go to waste. He said next year’s event will feature a different menu. “We will have a barbecue next year, it looks like,” he said.

Allebach said the Family Festival was designed to serve the purpose of the Winona Lake Community Appreciation Dinner, which included the annual presentation of the Bill Reneker Community Service Award. This year, Michael Peoples won the second annual Limitless Award, while Dr. Terry White was named the Reneker Award winner.

“Really, kudos to the ladies who put that together, and it will continue to be an annual event and we’ll just build on the momentum that we got this year,” said Allebach.