Oahe Days Builds Pride Through Community Celebration


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, June 10, 2008
CONTACT: Wanda Goodman, (605) 773-3301, Wanda.Goodman@state.sd.us
Oahe Days Builds Pride Through Community Celebration
 
PIERRE, S.D. – The Oahe Days Arts Festival will take place June 20-22, 2008, in Pierre.  The festival is one of five Great Events promoted by the South Dakota Office of Tourism.
 
“The residents of Pierre and Ft. Pierre take a lot of pride in their communities, and the Oahe Days Arts Festival is just one way to celebrate that,” said Dawn Nagel Crawford, President of the Oahe Days committee. “The Oahe Days committee has worked very hard to bring in some quality artists and entertainment, and we’re excited to see the community’s reaction.”
 
From art vendors and free bands to raft racing and lumberjacks, Oahe Days offers more than 40 activities for residents and visitors to enjoy. 
 
Entertainment includes a quick-draw competition, lumberjack contest, raft races, with performances by The Rude Band, Judd Hoos band, Phil Baker, SuFuDu Drumline, and Jil Jennewein.  
 
“Oahe Days allows the city of Pierre to showcase their assets to visitors and residents alike,” said Richard Benda, secretary of the Department of Tourism and State Development. “It’s yet another great example of a community event helping the whole state of South Dakota to shine.”
 
For additional information, including a full schedule of events, contact the Pierre area Chamber of Commerce at (800) 962-2034 or contactchamber@pierre.org. More information is also available at www.OaheDays.com.
 
The 2008 Great Events were selected based on visitor appeal, growth potential and length of the event. The selection process includes an application and proposal, submitted by event coordinators for consideration by the South Dakota Office of Tourism.
 
The Oahe Days Arts Festival is part of the Office of Tourism’s 2008 Great Events program, which is part of Goal 1 of the 2010 initiative to double visitor spending in South Dakota. The Office of Tourism serves under the direction of Richard Benda, secretary of the Department of Tourism and State Development. 
 
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