BRIGHT, IN — The 2022 Bright Community Festival has been canceled.
Bright Fire & EMS says the cancellation is due to a lack of volunteers, and an increase in the cost of materials that are required to hold the event, which draws people from all over Southeastern Indiana, western Hamilton County, Ohio, and beyond.
The department released the following statement on social media:
“Inflation is impacting all of us and the cost of the festival is no different. The Festival Committee is seeing increases upwards of 40% in the cost of all purchased materials required to operate the festival. These costs could be passed through to community members who attend the festival. Placing this additional financial burden on our neighbors who are already facing the rising costs at the gas pumps, grocery stores, and most other places do not feel like the right thing to do. This is creating a situation the department is not willing to put on those who support us every day and has led to the difficult decision to cancel the festival.”
Festival organizers also say an increase in the number of calls combined with additional effects from the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years has led to several other challenges.
“There has been a reduction in our membership. New recruits numbers are low and the inability to hold training courses for new members has only compounded the issue. In addition, we continue to face an increase in call volume responses and training hours required for firefighting and EMS services. The additional burdens have led to an increased amount of time volunteers must spend on activities and have taken them away from their families and other personal time. With the total stress of the times on our membership, the added effort it takes to put on the festival is just too much for our membership to shoulder this year.”
The Bright Festival has been traditionally held the final full weekend in July and is the main fundraiser for the department, which uses the money to purchase equipment and protective gear for volunteers.
Organizers hope to bring the festival back next year.
