The Taylorville Kiwanis Club heard about the Pana Popcorn Festival at their Tuesday noon meeting at the Moose Lodge.

Carol Albright and her husband Frank, long-time members of the Pana community, are both members of the Pana Parks Rehabilitation Committee started by Bob Smith some 16 years ago.   The committee has raised lots of money over the years to refurbish and add to the enjoyment of Kitchell Park, the city’s only park.

Carol shared that past fund-raising efforts enabled the committee to resurface the park’s tennis courts and improve the basketball courts.

She then shared that the idea of a Popcorn Festival came when she and her husband Frank attended a Pumpkin Festival in Michigan.  They brought the idea of a Popcorn Festival to the Parks Rehab Committee, and after much discussion, and adding involvement from Great Western Products, a popcorn and oils processor that build a multi-million dollar plant in Pana’s Industrial Park a few years ago, the Popcorn Festival premiered last year.

Albright recounted a lunch meeting with a representative from Great Western Products began the planning for the first festival.

Great Western employees pop and give away bags of popcorn all day at no charge.   Carol told Kiwanis Club members this year’s event is Saturday, July 26th from 9 to 9 in Kitchell Park.    A host of tournaments for young and old, food and retail vendors, and entertainment will be offered.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.  Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at the Taylorville Moose Lodge.  For information on the club, go to taylorvillekiwanis.com.