Chickfest is coming to Charles City Saturday

By Thomas Nelson, tnelson@charlescitypress.com

Charles City’s largest retail shopping day is almost here.

The first Saturday of April is the first day of April and Chickfest 2017.

Businesses from all over Charles City will be participating in Chickfest and offering deals and events for shoppers.

Chickfest was designed in Charles City for women to have a day of shopping.

“Other main streets had a ladies-day-out program,” said Tami Vetter, owner and operator of The Rustic Corner.

Chickfest is an event for all ages, Vetter said.

“You can go with your friends and family,” said Erica Wipperling, Charles City Community Development events coordinator. “Spend a day of shopping.”

Men are welcome as well, Wipperling said.

“It’s a great way to pick up a chick,” Vetter said.

Anyone and everyone is encouraged to attend Chickfest, Vetter said.

“It’s just a fun retail day,” Wipperling said.

“I think it’s just people have cabin fever, and they want to get out in the spring,” Wipperling said. “It’s probably the biggest turnout for retail events.”

Chickfest has been happening in Charles City since 2008. It starts at 9 a.m. and goes until 4 p.m. all around the city.

At 9 a.m., participants can go to the Charles City Chamber of Commerce and collect a swag bag that has deals and items from stores around the city. The bags are only available for the first 150 people to show up.

“In the bag is little goodies from stores that are participating and want to bring customers through their doors,” Wipperling said.

She urged shoppers to look through their bags prior to going out because some of the deals will only be available that day.

“The bags are gone very fast,” Wipperling said.

A couple of participating business will be offering classes for shoppers, Wipperling said.

There are 19 business directly participating with more indirectly participating, Vetter said.

The 19 businesses are: Charles City Electronics, Comet Bowl, Darbe and Co. Boutique, First Citizens Bank, The Furniture Barn, Hy-Vee, Kim’s Cupcakery, Lidd and Cordray, LuLaRue Retailer Hannah Pogemille, North Iowa Coins, Otto’s Oasis, R.M. Granet and Co., Rejuvanent with Joy, The Rustic Corner, Saxony, Schiller’s Fine Art Gallery and Framing, Schueth Ace Hardware, Stitches and Tupperware by SHAZAM! ENTERPRISE.

There are two ways for businesses to get involved with Chickfest.  They can pay to be an official participants, like the 19 businesses, or have an outlying event going on the same day as Chickfest, Vetter said.

Otto’s Oasis, a participating business, will be hosting a class on miniature gardening at 10 a.m., an hour after Chickfest begins.

This is one of the biggest retail events for Otto’s Oasis, said Lori Otto, a co-owner.

“This year we have a lot more gift items, more than we usually have,” she said.

Otto said she enjoys seeing the women going shopping and having the opportunity to take her daughter out as well.

“They take advantage, in a good way, of the opportunity the Chamber has brought to the retailers,” Vetter said.

The Rustic Corner and Otto’s Oasis have participated every year that there has been a Chickfest.

Chickfest grows every year, Vetter said.

“It beats Christmas, it beats all other events,” Vetter said. “It truly is the Rustic Corner’s busiest event.”

Every year Vetter sees more women bring more friends and family to the event, she said.

The Rustic Corner will be starting a day early by having a painting class the night prior to Chickfest on Friday, Vetter said.

“We’ve expanded our events to include Friday night as well,” Vetter said. “It’s a great way for our retail community to welcome people to Charles City.”

According to the National Weather Service, Saturday is scheduled to be partly sunny with a high of 53 degrees.