No Burgoo: Annual fall festival in Utica generates tens of thousands of dollars

There will be no Burgoo Festival in Utica this year.

The La Salle County Historical Society issued a statement Friday confirming the Oct. 10-11 festival, the society’s 51st annual event, will not proceed because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. The statement further noted the society’s Canal Market season would be extended to include the first two weekends in October.

“These decisions were not easy, and we realize this is a tradition that many look forward to each year,” said Mary Holland, president of the society’s board. “We understand that this year will not be the same, but we hope to offer the extension of the Canal Market following the current recommendations.”

Holland thanked all parties for their understanding and said “we look forward to returning to full capacity with ‘business as usual’ for the 2021 Burgoo.”

Utica officials expressed some disappointment but uniformly supported the society’s decision to put safety ahead of all other concerns.

“I’m glad they waited as long as they could – they did try to go forward – but the health and safety of the public is the most important thing,” Mayor David Stewart said. “If canceling was the only way to keep everyone healthy and safe, I definitely commend their decision to go that route.”

Village Trustee Ron Pawlak said the sheer size of past crowds would have made it impossible to implement infection controls.

“The situation is shaky,” Pawlak said. “You don’t know what to do. To stay on the side of caution? I’d have done the same thing.”

The financial impact on the historical society and the village won’t be known for some time, but past disclosures indicate a sizable direct wallop for the society and an indirect one for Utica.

The society is a not-for-profit entity, and its tax returns are available for public inspection. Although the totals from the 2019 festival won’t be filed until the next summer, receipts from previous years’ festivals show that each two-day event since 2012 has averaged gross receipts of about $98,000 and net income of about $60,000.

As for the village, October consistently ranks as Utica’s second biggest sales month after July. The 2014 Burgoo Festival, for example, yielded a then-record $116,464 in gross receipts for the historical society, while the village pocketed a record $58,290 for its share of all October sales.

Business owners have endured a rollercoaster year since the pandemic – village sales dropped 20% in April, when the parks were completely closed – yet none of those interviewed objected to the decision to halt the festival.

Luke Goucher co-owns Lodi Tap House on Mill Street. He said he and his partners support the society’s decision in the interest of “the safety of the public and our staff.”

“We know it did not come easy,” he said. “We look forward to the days very soon when we can get back to fun social events which provide happiness in so many ways.”