Thu, Jul 23, 18:03 (1 hr 58 mins)

Planning the Citra Orange-A-Fair

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Event Logistics and Vendor Guidelines

Joanne opened the meeting by discussing the upcoming Orange-A-Fair, scheduled for March 20th at Wrigley Field from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

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Vendor fees were clarified: Corporate vendors are $100, food vendors are $75, arts and crafts are $50, and non-profits/501[c][3]s are $25.

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A major focus for this year is strictly limiting vendors to homemade crafts and heritage items, moving away from commercial or mass-produced products like Tupperware.

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Food vendors will be structured to avoid competition; Joanne proposed that local churches each handle a specific "meal package" (e.g., one for hamburgers, one for tacos, one for chicken) while food trucks provide specialty items like funnel cakes and ice cream.

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Event insurance for the Citra Improvement Society (CIS) is expected to cost between $250 and $400. Individual commercial food vendors must carry their own insurance, but non-profits will fall under the CIS umbrella.

Park Layout and Site Strategy

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Joanne presented a map layout dictated by Parks and Recreation. The festival will feature a one-way foot traffic flow to ensure attendees pass through Crowne's Cradle and the historical displays.

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Mary was designated as the "sweet, happy greeter" at the main entrance table for the Citra Improvement Society.

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The park has three pavilions. Pavilion 1 is the only one with electricity, costing the group $100 for the day. This power will be used for the stage and sound system.

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Vendors are allowed to bring silent generators, though Joanne needs to confirm the specific size limits allowed by park risk management.

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The site has room for approximately 75 vendors, with spaces generally measuring 16 by 12 feet, though some roadside spots are 10 by 12 feet.

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Health Fair and Community Services

· Several health services are confirmed, including the Mammolink bus for mammograms, the Big Red Bus for blood donations, and the Health Department for vaccines.

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· Joanne noted that the mammogram bus requires at least 20 women to sign up to waive a $3,000 deposit. If 20 women participate, the service is free for those without insurance.

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· Sponsors for the health fair include DaVita, the Ocala Kidney Group, and the Marion County Kidney Foundation. Advent is currently "on the fence" regarding a $5,000 sponsorship.

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· UF is providing a "Veggie Meter" to test antioxidant levels. Mark Bailey from UF will be giving talks on sustainable gardens, but a volunteer is needed to operate the meter computer while he presents.

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Heritage, History, and Entertainment

· The Florida Garden Railway Society will set up a display at Pavilion 2, recreating a miniature version of historic Citra with names of old buildings like Crosby’s Packing Place.

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· Joanne is planning a "History Row" featuring 10–15 large posters with photos and specific quotes about Citra's past, including the post office and local farms.

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· Donald has been asked to emcee the event and potentially sing the National Anthem, accompanied by the Marion County Color Guard.

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· Entertainment will include line dancing led by a Mary Carter, a blacksmith demonstration, and a potential Seminole storyteller/dancer from Fort King.

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· The "Orange-A-Fair" theme will be preserved through a cake auction where entries must look, taste, or smell like oranges.

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Children's Activities and Demonstrations

· The "unicorn" photo op will return with miniature ponies. To avoid the chaos of previous years, Joanne is implementing a $10 per family fee for those wanting to use the costumes and backdrops, while general viewing remains free.

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· Children’s crafts will include painting balsa wood airplanes (Joanne has 200 planes and washable paint ready) and making arrowhead necklaces.

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· Traditional games such as a cookie walk, tug-of-war, sack races, and potentially a flapjack eating contest are planned.

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· The Marion County K9 unit will perform a demonstration. Joanne clarified that while the public cannot bring pets due to park policy, the K9 unit and "Neuter Commuter" dogs are permitted as official presenters.

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· Cub Scout Pack 197 will be selling "pup cups" to raise money for Wags dog rescue, with a formal check presentation planned for the end of the fair.

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Financials and Future Planning

· Joanne announced a pending $5,000 grant from SECO Electric for "edible landscaping" and equipment storage. She also submitted a grant application to AstraZeneca.

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· The group discussed the need for a digital payment system. Joanne and Mary aim to have a QR code for vendor payments operational by the following Monday.

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Suggested Action Items

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· Joanne and Mary to finalize the QR code and digital payment system for vendor registrations by Monday.

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· Joanne to confirm the maximum allowable generator size with park management.

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· Joanne to contact participants for specific historical stories, quotes, and photos to create the museum posters.

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· Mary to follow up with the MammoLink bus coordinators to obtain a sign-up link for mammogram appointments.

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· Mary to reach her church regarding the donation of his sound system for the event.

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· Connie to have her nephew from the Central Florida College of Agriculture call Joanne to discuss a potential agriculture presentation.

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· Joanne to update vendor flyers to explicitly state "No Pets / Service Animals Only" and "Homemade Crafters Only."

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· Joanne to prepare a list/poster of area churches and local businesses for display.

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· Mark Bailey to train a volunteer on how to operate the UF Veggie Meter.

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The next planning meeting is scheduled for September 3rd, which is the Thursday before Labor Day.