For Immediate Release:
The Pufferbilly Days 2023 Steering Committee is excited to share a number of announcements about the upcoming August Festival!
First, Pufferbilly’s Main Stage Entertainment was most recently unveiled as multi-platinum selling artists, Blessid Union of Souls, best known for “I Believe”, “Let Me Be the One” and “Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me for Me).” Although the band is the first multi-platinum selling band in over ten years to come to Pufferbilly, the concert continues to be free for the public, and VIP package tickets will come up for sale soon for those who want a full experience while rocking out with their friends and neighbors.
Secondly, along with the Main Stage Entertainment, the committee chose “Throwbacks on the Tracks” as this year’s theme. Holly Stecker, Pufferbilly Steering Committee Chair said, “We know Blessid Union was one of the most played groups on the radio in the 1990’s- it made perfect sense to have fun with it and show all the ways we love the 90’s within the festival!”
In line with the 90’s theme and ‘throwbacks’, Boone High School graduates will recognize Pufferbilly’s Grand Marshalls, Eldon and Ann Hutcheson. Both born and raised in Woodbine, Iowa, Eldon and Ann served in a number of roles in education in central Iowa communities. Eldon was a teacher and administrator for 42 years, retiring as the Boone High School principal in 2003. Ann also served our community of students in Boone County for 30 years before retiring with Eldon the same year. Both Eldon and Ann were, and continue to be, very active on committees and boards within the schools, community and church. Ann has served for a number of years on the Boone County Hospital Foundation and, as a Realtor with Nerem and Associates for over 30 years, Eldon has served as a member of the Boone County Chamber Executive Board, and currently sits on the Real Estate State Ethics Board, as well as Boone/ Greene County Probation Board and Rotary. Both are active members at First United Methodist Church. The team is proud to spotlight the Hutcheson’s and their enormous contribution to our community.
Lastly, another “Throwback” for the Boone festival is the reunion of Art in the Park back within the the schedule. Art in the Park began in the 1980’s as a part of the Boone, IA Pufferbilly Days and became a well- loved event for decades. When it fell aside with the times, the team within the Boone IA River Valley Festival revitalized it in 2017, bringing it back to the masses- an average of 2800 people each year for handcrafted art, music, free kid’s activities and more. Now the festival teams merged and the Puffer Steering Committee are excited to have Art in the Park back “home,” while attendees can experience the same vision and same leadership- all at the same location. Artists are encouraged to participate in this juried event. Inquiries can be sent to Jennifer@BooneCountyChamber.com
Pufferbilly Days will be August 4-6, 2023 throughout Boone, IA!