More Vendors, Clean-Up Help Needed As Eclipse Plans Progress

Plans continue to fall in place for a two-day Eclipse on the Current festival, but although sponsors have been willing to invest money to help support the event, the community has not responded to appeals to help clean up the county.

The city’s annual clean-up is set for May, but that won’t be soon enough.

Eclipse planners fear that in its present state the county will not make a favorable impression on an estimated 30,000 guests (more or less) who are expected to show up to view the Great American Eclipse in April.

Totality will take place on April 8; however, stargazers are expected to arrive as early as April 4.

“We can’t clean up our community without the help of our community,” was the consensus of the group which met Feb. 16 at the Eclipse on the Current weekly planning session.

Efforts to galvanize the community into participating in a March 25 countywide clean-up have so far met with apathy.

“Everything doesn’t have to happen on March 25 if that’s not the best day,” said Erin Longo, who is spearheading the Eclipse on the Current efforts.

Longo suggests rather that groups, churches and businesses in the Doniphan and surrounding communities be contacted to see if each will commit to cleaning up and policing the immediate surroundings.

“If every person would just clean up his/her own space, it wouldn’t have to be overwhelming to anyone,” said Longo.

She reported that 10 trash cans have been purchased for the downtown area as a result of sponsorships.

Money has also been committed for a stage, said Longo. Nine bands and nine artists have signed on for the festival; however, more vendors are being sought.

She maintains that the potential exists for festival participants and downtown businesses to make record sales during the days leading up to and including the eclipse.

She urged the committee members to post and share the events and activities on social media, and to actively recruit crafters, artists and others known to produce homespun items.

Vendor applications can be accessed on the Eclipse on the Current Facebook page or picked up at 1808 Public House, Current River Fabrics and Quilting and the Wild River Salon.

Fees are $200 for food vendors, $100 for boutique/commercial vendors and $25 for artists and/or vendors selling handmade items.

Vendor fees will be refunded after the event to any artist that will provide a live demonstration during the festival, which will take place April 7 and 8.

Anyone who is willing to be part of a clean-up crew is urged to make contact with the Eclipse on the Current committee, either by leaving a message on the Facebook page or by attending one of the weekly meetings, which are held each Friday at noon, at 1808 Public House.