Elsah’s streets will be significantly quieter this fall after organizers canceled this year’s Elsah Fall Festival.
The festival was canceled “due to the immense preparation that it takes and a shift in personnel,” according to a press release by the Elsah Tourism Committee in the “Escape to Elsah” newsletter.
“Nobody was just willing to step up and take it on this year,” said Connie Davies, owner of the Green Tree Inn and founder of the festival. She stepped down this year to focus on her retirement and the sale of the Green Tree Inn. “I just didn’t have enough energy to do another, and neither did any of the other people that volunteered last year,” she said.
It is not the first time the festival has been canceled since its founding in 2014. The festival was cancelled in 2019 when Elsah flooded and in 2020 at the height of the COVID pandemic, according to Davis.
Instead of a festival this year, Elsah’s tourism committee said it is planning a number of “pop-up events in the village,” including “a potential apple festival, an art walk or a wine/music event,” according to a press release in the “Escape to Elsah” newsletter.
Usually held at the beginning of the fall season, the festival offered tours of the village’s historic buildings, live music, assorted vendors, local artists’ exhibitions, and food and drink, according to flyers from the past two festivals. “It was a really vibrant, busy, and great atmosphere,” said Matthew Cocks, who performed the duet “Blue Set” at the festival in 2023 and teaches economics at Principia College. “We had people all watching around us, lots of people walking by. It was sunny, it was a great day. There were food trucks and lots going on.”
The festival has significantly raised Elsah’s profile over the years, attracting visitors and benefitting local businesses, according to local business owners. One of those visitors is Merrilyn Shoemaker, who resides in nearby Dow and attended the festival twice. She said she came to support local businesses and to buy unique gift items crafted by artisanal vendors.
The festival also served as “a fun way for [Principia students] to get to know Elsah and the residents,” said Monica Semnacher, career and service learning manager at Principia College. “Being right down the hill, there were no transportation issues, so it was easy for any student to attend if they wanted to.”
Semnacher, who organized student volunteers for the event in 2023, said it’s important for students to build connections with the village and its residents.
