Itasca approves pact to keep Scottish Festival
The Itasca village board approved a three-year agreement with the Illinois St. Andrew Society that will keep its Scottish festival in the village through summer 2014.
The annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games moved in July from its longtime Oak Brook location to the Hamilton Lakes office park in Itasca. And this week organizers said the first year in its new home was a success.
Society representatives, including President Gus Noble, told Itasca leaders they received positive feedback on the new site from attendees, as well as members of the fest committee. They said attendance for the two-day fest, which attracts about 15,000 people, remained steady after the move to Itasca.
That bodes well for the society’s plan to increase attendance numbers, the reason behind its move from Oak Brook to the larger Itasca space. Officials said the fest has the potential to expand to 60,000 visitors, similar to festivals in Massachusetts and California.
Itasca Village Administrator Evan Teich said the festival is also a great opportunity to showcase the village.
“We’re excited to have them grow and have people see our community who might not have before,” Teich said.
Under the new agreement, Itasca residents can enter the fest at the same discounted rate enjoyed by members of the Illinois St. Andrew Society.
Fest organizers also must give an annual report to village leaders with details and statistics, including what Itasca vendors they solicited for business, such as local printers. In addition, organizers must report any known hotel stays or other tourist revenue generated by the event.
Noble said this year’s fest brought a confirmed 50 hotel stays to Itasca, but the real number is likely double due to visitors or participants who did not report to organizers.
This month, fest organizers also must finalize an agreement with Hamilton Lakes owners to keep the event on their site. But Teich said the contract is ready and was contingent on Itasca approving its agreement first.