By The Continuous News Desk

Published: February 20, 2009

Fun Fest staff and supporters are geared-up for an exciting 2009 after receiving numerous awards highlighting 2008’s successes.

Kingsport’s nine-day festival looks forward to distracting this community from the struggles of a tough economy. “Kingsport is the type of community that during tough times we all pull together and raise each others’ spirits,” said Lucy Fleming, director of Fun Fest. “This is the time to remember why Fun Fest was started in the first place and focus on the importance of taking pride in our community.”

Fun Fest has been awarded the prominent “Top 20 Events” designation from the Southeast Tourism Society (STS) for July 2009 as well as three Kaleidoscope Awards from the Southeast Festival and Events Association. “This is the fifth consecutive year that Fun Fest has been awarded a Top 20 Events designation from STS and its seventh award since 2000,” said Fleming.

During the SFEA’s Kaleidoscope Awards ceremony, Fun Fest’s Crazy 8s Race received the Gold Award in the “Best Event within an Event”.

“We are extremely excited and honored to receive this award,” said Hank Brown, Crazy 8s Race Director. “2008 was a banner year for Crazy 8s with two very prestigious awards – first, being named the Top Road Race of 2008 by Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine, and now, the Kaleidoscope Award honoring Crazy 8s and Fun Fest as the Best Event Within an Event. We want to thank this community for supporting Crazy 8s and making it such a success.  The Crazy 8s committee is working hard to make 2009 even better.”

In addition to Crazy 8’s award, the “Friends of Festus” program received the Bronze Award in the “Best Solicitation Package” category and the Silver Award in the “Best Event Photography” category for Jeffery Stoner’s photo from the Hot Air Balloon Rally.

“I’m not surprised this festival has received this kind of recognition,” said Wanda Valentine, Chairman of Fun Fest 2009. “Fun Fest has such a great diversity of events with something for everyone. I believe this recognition is proof of the amount of organization put forth by the Fun Fest staff, thousands of volunteers and the Kingsport community.”

The list of this quarter’s Top 20 Events can be found at http://www.southeasttourism.org.

Fun Fest 2009 will take place on July 10-18. For more information about Fun Fest, visit http://www.FunFest.net.

Fun Fest is a program of the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce.  The Kingsport Chamber is a membership organization comprised of nearly 1,000 members.  The Chamber’s mission is to utilize resources and focus efforts on enhancing a strong and viable business environment for the Kingsport area.  The Kingsport Chamber has been accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for 25 years.