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Marketing group proposes $45K for events

A mushroom forager shows off a prize find during the 2013 Eagle Wild Mushroom and Wine Festival.
Enterprise file photo |

Beginning in late April and continuing on through late November, Eagle has a slate of community events planned with funding from the town’s lodging occupation tax.

All told, the Eagle Marketing and Events Advisory Committee has proposed a $45,000 budget for 2014 with events highlighting everything from mountain biking to yoga to mushroom foraging.

“We determined that we had between $40,000 and $45,000 to allocate and we had $64,000 in requests,” said Eagle Marketing and Events Coordinator Amy Cassidy. “As much as we would love to be able to fund everything to the full extent of the requests, we just don’t have the budget to do so. But we do have a really well-rounded events calendar that goes from early spring to late fall.”



Cassidy noted the committee members reached unanimous consensus regarding its funding recommendation. While some events such as the Colorado High School Cycling League race and the Eagle Outside Festival received the full amount requested, other events such as the Eagle Wild Mushroom and Wine Festival received less than asked, combined with a promise for in-kind services from the town.

As its name suggests, the MEAC doesn’t make the final call regarding allocation of marketing money. The Eagle Town Board gave its final approval to the MEAC funding recommendation Tuesday night. The money will go to:

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Eagle Outside Festival — $15,000

Eagle 80 MRB Race — $7,500

Colorado High School Cycling League — $5,000

Eagle Wild Mushroom and Wine Festival — $5,000

Eagle Yoga Festival — $5,000

Cycle Effect Haymaker Races — $4,500

Eagle Trails Grand Opening — $2,500

Vail Recreation District Boneyard Boogie — $500

Signature event

Cassidy said the MEAC members supported the $15,000 payment for the Eagle Outside Festival with the expectation that the event will be self supporting by next year.

“We really believe it has potential to be a signature event for Eagle,” said Cassidy.” I think this event is just about ready to turn the corner.”

The Eagle Outdoor Festival is planned May 16-18 and combines mountain bike racing with equipment demos and other social activities. Additionally, the Vail Recreation District’s Boneyard Boogie trail run is planned that same weekend with the $450 MEAC funding recommendation earmarked toward U.S. Bureau of Land Management fees for the race.

The Eagle Trails Grand Opening April 19-20 round out the spring schedule for the town with the Roaring Fork Valley AKC Dog Show coming to town in July. Aug. 22-24, forest foragers will come to town for the Eagle Wild Mushroom and Wine Festival

Fall promises to be busy in Eagle with the Cycle Effect Haymaker Races planned Sept. 12-13 and TransRockies planning the Eagle 80 MTB race Oct. 4-5. The Eagle Yoga Fest is slated that same weekend. The Colorado High School Cycling League will return to town Oct. 19-20. In November some of the games n the VEHA Hockey Tournament will be played at the Eagle Pool and Ice Rink.


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