11th Annual Festival of Tables Set for March 18

The Festival of Tables set to make its return to Upton on Saturday, March 18, 2022, at the Upton Community Center. The event was started in 2013 by the Upton Chamber of Commerce to raise funds for the Upton Park Project, constructed in 2015. The Upton Economic Development Board joined the event as a sponsor in 2020. Since then, the two organizations have hosted the event in efforts to fund different community projects.

This year, the Festival of Tables event will be raising money for Upton History and Heritage, the non-profit organization working to promote tourism through the preservation of Old Town and similar acts. Upton History and Heritage has multiple plans for development and events that the funds will go toward.

The Festival of Tables is designed to celebrate the past year in Upton, and to look forward to the new year for businesses, organizations and Upton’s education system. The Upton Chamber Installation will also be held. The event kicks off with a social hour, to mingle and connect with one another. After the social hour, a meal prepared by a business in Upton is served to attendees by student-organizations. After dinner, different organizations share updates from the past and upcoming year, while giving a sneak peak of what’s in store for Upton. Finally, the event concludes with the Upton Chamber of Commerce’s installation of officers.

The 2023 Festival of Tables will open at noon on March 18, for RSVP’s to begin decorating their tables. The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. with the social hour. Silent auction bidding will begin at this time as well. Food will be served at 7:00 p.m., with “A Taste of Italy” being served by Upton High School’s student organizations. After dinner, Upton’s primary organizations will give updates on last year’s accomplishments and share plans for the upcoming year. The event will end at 9:00 P.M. after the silent auction closes.

New to the Festival of Tables in 2023, the Upton Chamber of Commerce will be presenting three new community-service awards: the Greater Upton Area Service Award, TUF Award, and the U Award. The Greater Upton Area Service Award will be awarded to an individual who has made a commitment to their business or professional career to make a difference for Upton’s economic vitality and sustainability. The TUF and U Awards will be given to one (1) citizen and one (1) business who is actively working to promote Upton as the “Best Town on Earth” through Upton’s location, quality of life, and education. Nominations for these three awards will open on Wednesday, February 1.

The Upton Chamber of Commerce and Upton Economic Development Board are dedicated to innovating the Festival of Tables to serve the entire community. If you would like to reserve a table at the 2023 Festival of Tables, please contact Chamber President Buffy Helwig at (307) 391-0114 or uptonchamberofcommerce@gmail.com. The organizations are also looking for silent auction items for the event. Please reach out to President Helwig if you would like to donate an item for the auction.

Courtesy of the Weston County Gazette.