Casey Officials Praise ‘Incredible’ Popcorn Festival for Community Spirit, Economic Boost

Article Summary: Casey city officials lauded the recent Popcorn Festival as a major success, praising the organizing committee, volunteers, and city staff for their hard work. The event drew large crowds, was noted for its cleanliness and organization, and provided a significant economic boost to local businesses.

Casey Popcorn Festival Key Points:

• Elected officials, led by Mayor Pro Tem Tanner Brown, described the festival as “awesome” and “incredible.”

• Local businesses reported “fantastic sales,” with the Welcome Center logging 1,600 visitors in just four hours on Saturday.

• City departments and numerous volunteers were recognized for their extensive work, from festival prep to public safety during the event.

• The city’s financial support included a $25,000 donation to the festival, funded by motel tax revenue.

CASEY — The 2025 Casey Popcorn Festival was an overwhelming success, drawing widespread praise from city leaders at Tuesday’s council meeting for its smooth execution, positive atmosphere, and tangible economic benefits to the community.

With Mayor Mike Nichols absent, Alderman Tanner Brown led the meeting as Mayor Pro Tem and opened the celebratory remarks.

“Popcorn festival was awesome this year,” Brown said. “I’m very, very happy and I saw a lot of people that were very happy with the festival themselves. I heard lots of comments about how clean it was.”

The economic impact on the town was significant. Economic Development Director Tom Daughhetee said he “heard from multiple businesses that they had fantastic sales over the weekend.” He shared a specific example of the influx of visitors, noting that Assistant Tourism Director Chuck Mason tracked 1,600 people visiting the Welcome Center in just a four-hour window from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Alderman Carlene Richardson celebrated the festival’s growth while acknowledging the logistical challenges it creates. “That committee is so dedicated… I don’t think they know how much we all really appreciate it,” she said. “It’s getting bigger. We have to figure something else out. Not enough space is a horrible problem to have… They say it takes a village, and it really does. So, yay popcorn.”

EMA Director David Craig highlighted the inter-agency cooperation, thanking the Police Department, Clark County Ambulance, and the city’s Utility Department. He also gave special thanks to citizens Ronald Craig and Eland Spittler for donating the use of side-by-side carts for transports, and to J & K for providing a camper. He specifically named his volunteer crew for their holiday weekend service: Brandon Craig, Valerie Beaty, Shane Handley, Lyndsay Handley, Jerry Beasley, and Ian Budd.

Alderman Marcy Mumford, who helps with CIA’s 5K race, directed her praise to Craig’s team. “EMA takes such good care of the Casey in Action 5k Race,” she said. “They take such good care of us.”

Superintendent Shelby Biggs thanked the utility guys for weeks of preparation, including installing new electrical pedestals at the campground, bringing in millings for camper pads, stringing lights, and creating ADA-compliant walking pads.

The city’s commitment to the event was also reflected in its finances. Included in the nearly $1 million of bills approved Tuesday was a $25,000 payment to the Casey Popcorn Festival, a donation from the city’s motel tax fund.