M.C. Tourism approves contract with Monster Message for use during Blueberry Festival

Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 2:05 AM

By Kathy Bottorff

This week the Marshall County Tourism Commission approved a contract with Monster Message out of Elkhart for the use of two trucks for 48 hours during the Blueberry Festival.

Monster Message will provide a single-sided truck with a screen that is 8.5 feet tall and 21 feet wide. This giant screen will be used on Friday night during the festival for a free kids’ movie that will be provided by The REES. The same vehicle will also be located at the Beer Garden on Saturday with college football.

The 3-sided truck will be stationed on Randolph Street going into and out of the festival between the bridge and soccer fields. It will also be in the parade on Monday morning.

There was lots of discussion about the revolving content that will be on the giant screens. Commission members have decided there will be non-profits and events happening around Marshall County in the coming weeks and months.

Commission president, Brian Teall said Marshall County United Way will be selling Half-Pot tickets and the screen can be updated to tell how much is in the pot. Other ideas included a welcome to the Blueberry Festival video, happenings for the festival, promoting events around the county including the Holy Walk in Bremen, Culver’s Fall Fest, the annual 4-H fish Fry, Marshall County Senior Expo in Plymouth and more.

The commission will seek out events from the area chambers and town boards. The timeline will be short for accepting submissions so the commission can approve them, and they can be input into the revolving display.

The initial cost for the two vehicles was $17,275 but with some in-kind donation to the Blueberry Festival the final cost was $12,500. The commission also approved up to $1,000 for someone to assist with creating the content for the displays.