The newly-appointed Oyster Ridge Music Festival (ORMF) board convened on Wednesday, Jan. 15, for a meeting with the Fossil Basin Chamber of Commerce to discuss plans for this year’s festival. The board highlighted the festival’s significant economic impact, bringing in approximately $1 million annually to the local economy.
ORMF recently secured $20,000 in funding from a county lodging tax, but additional fundraising efforts are underway to ensure a successful event. One major initiative is a Polaris side-by-side raffle, with the drawing scheduled for April 20.
Chamber of commerce member Ashlyn Gregory said the board is open to making strategic changes to enhance business relationships within the community. Among the ideas proposed was closing an additional street to prevent storefronts from being obscured by festival tents. Another suggestion involved relocating vendor booths in front of the J.C. Penney House rather than existing businesses.
In an effort to expand the festival, the board is also considering adding up to ten additional vendor booths. However, this proposal will require approval from the Kemmerer City Council. To bolster financial support, the board plans to distribute sponsorship letters and actively seek new members to assist in organizing the event.
With these new developments and a commitment to fostering community engagement, the Oyster Ridge Music Festival is poised for another successful year, bringing music, culture, and economic growth to Kemmerer.
