Expanded FOX 50 Family Fest a Hit – Capitol Broadcasting Company

FOX 50’s Family Fest takes over the American Tobacco Campus on Sunday, October 6, 2013. The event also took place at Pullen Park in Raleigh on the Saturday before.

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Both Raleigh and Durham embraced the expanded FOX 50 Family Fest and Great American Tobacco Duck Race on Saturday and Sunday, October 5 & 6, 2013. Crowds filled Pullen Park in Raleigh on Saturday, and families flocked to the duck race and fun at American Tobacco in Durham on Sunday.

“I think this year’s event was a success!” said FOX 50 Art Director I Gayle Hardy. “We took over all of Pullen Park and for it being the first year, I thought it went well. Obviously, with a park that big there’s room to expand! And Sunday’s event at ATC was successful as well. By the time the Duck Decorating Contest and the Duck Race rolled around, ATC was packed with lots of families enjoying the good weather and the free fun. There were bounce houses, live animals – which are always a hit – and lots of swag given away. We’ve already gotten commitments from some of our vendors to be a part of next year’s Family Fest.”

Max (son of FOX 50’s Don & WRAL-TV’s Kimberly Ursich) gets his face painted at FOX 50’s Family Fest.

FOX 50’s interactive car, Zu, attended the events, taking pictures of festival goers in front of a giant ‘X Factor’ inflatable. Check out some of Zu’s photography here.

“Each of the days had their own unique stamp on Family Fest,” said FOX 50 Producer/ Social Media Coordinator Don Ursich. He enjoyed the event from two vantage points. He both worked at the event in his capacity as a FOX 50 staffer, and he got a chance to play at the event with his wife, Kimberly, and their son, Max.

“The rides, petting zoo & of course face painting was a big hit with our little guy on Saturday!” said Ursich. “The festivities Sunday at ATC were just as exciting with more fun activities including the duck race & family photos taken by FOX 50 & Zu!”

Getting Creative with Signage
FOX 50 got green in a fun way for the 2013 Family Fest. FOX 50 Art Director I Gayle Hardy and FOX 50 Special Revenue Projects Manager Sylvia Lanier were trying to figure out how to save money on signage and came up with a creative idea.

FOX 50 staffers created the designs on these re-usable signs. Creators are (from l to r): Niel Sollod, Marc Derro, Gayle Hardy & Terri Overby. (click on photo for larger view)

“We were spending TONS of money for signs and banners that were only good for one day and that was such a waste on so many levels,” said Hardy.

So the pair came up with signage that can be re-used year after year. The signs are sandwich boards with surfaces similar to white boards.

“The surface is slick and you use ‘liquid chalk’ on them,” explained Hardy. “Once it dries, it can scratch but not smear and can be totally ‘erased’ by water.”

FOX 50’s Gayle Hardy drew this re-usable sign by hand.

Several FOX 50’s staffers got into the spirit and created designs for the new sandwich boards. Each employee completed their drawing by hand, coming up with their own designs for both sides.

“The best part is that they can be used for many events are we’ve kept lots of vinyl banners and foam core materials out of the landfill,” said Hardy.

Thanks to FOX 50’s Gayle Hardy for photos of these Family Fest signs.