Visitor attractions focus of Tourism Development Forum

Columbia has plenty of attractions — most visible are its university and colleges and the cultural and sports opportunities they provide — but there’s always room for more.
That was the consensus among participants of the monthly Tourism Development Forum, which was held July 14 at the food court in Columbia Mall. Nearly 20 business owners and managers and representatives of city government, including Mayor Bob McDavid, discussed current and potential visitor attractions in the city.

Sean Spence of the North Village Arts District Farmers and Artisans Market started the discussion by telling the group how the new market, held every Sunday until late fall, has already attracted local attention and is now becoming known regionally.
“As we continue to grow the North Village Arts District, we envision being a statewide attraction, something akin to the Plaza in Kansas City,” Spence said. “We want to be a destination location for the state, and we’re getting there.”
Spence said the North Village Arts District also has events planned with the University of Missouri and Stephens College.
Carrie Gartner of The District said her office has received numerous calls over the years for a farmers market in downtown Columbia. “It definitely was a big need in downtown, and thanks to Sean and others, it’s now here,” she said.

In addition to another farmers market, Columbia already has a number of attractions in place, said Amy Schneider, acting director of the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Even when there isn’t a festival or other event, there’s still plenty to do,” she said. “You can take kids to the ARC, and there’s the Chocolate Factory, where you can see them make chocolate. And we have a lot of art galleries; we have a lot of those, and they’re fantastic.”
Betsy Farris of Thumper Entertainment shared its schedule of summer and fall events with forum participants. “We recently had a regional talent competition at The Blue Note that will bring winners of the battle of the bands from Kansas City, Springfield and St. Louis to Columbia to compete in the final showdown,” Farris said. “We’re bringing people in from those areas to really shine a spotlight on our city and its talent.”
Farris also told the group that for the first time there will be a wedding at the Roots N Blues N BBQ festival in September. “There’s a couple in their 50s from Iowa who love blues, and they asked if they could be married during the festival,” Farris said. “They’re going to be married on stage on Saturday.”

Last year Roots N Blues N BBQ attracted blues fans from 24 states. “Our goal is to keep this event going in some form all year long,” Farris said. The Blues and Schools Program, she said, will provide through donations 20 guitars to Columbia Public Schools to travel among the elementary schools to “give kids the gift of music.”
Mike Denehy of Off Track Events, who described himself to forum participants as an organizer of fun, quirky events, shared his experiences with cross-country bicycle rides in other states and information about the upcoming ’80s Run on Aug. 13 and the Monster Bike Bash, a bike ride on the MKT Trail from Columbia to Rocheport on Oct. 29. “These themed rides always draw a good-sized crowd,” he said.
As for other new attractions, Schneider said the CVB has an attraction development fund that helped to bring the Columbia Star Dinner Train to the city. “Its purpose is to help create new attractions, so we want to use those funds as much as possible,” she said.

Columbia Mayor Bob McDavid told forum participants about a new video being produced by the International City Management Association that can be used to promote the city to prospective companies that consider locating in the community. “There’s a lot in Columbia that we need to highlight, and this creative video, as a collaboration of many talented people, will bring together all that we have to offer and show why we are different,” he said.