Story by Mary Whitfill
Features Editor
Video by Tara Henry
Coppell’s Oak Fest shines again this year as it drew hundreds of Coppell residents to Andy Brown Park for an evening of music, food and fun. The tradition is sure to carry on for years to come, connecting Coppell generations past, present and future.
Local food vendors applied for a temporary food permit from the City of Coppell in order to set up a booth and sell their product to the hundreds of waiting connoisseurs. Setting up a booth at the event was not only a great way to help sustain the hungry visitors, but it also allowed for each company to promote their business and hopefully draw in future customers.
“We serve about 200 people each year,” Fat Daddy’s employee Kourtney Kennedy said. “Our booth is always very busy because we are a place that people know and trust.”
But local restaurants and fast food chains were not the only ones who used the opportunity to be noticed. Local clubs and organizations also hopped to recruit members as they set up informational booths just across from the waiting family activities. The strategic placement and eye catching displays helped to draw in residents in hopes of spreading the word about their cause.
“This is a great opportunity for us to really draw some attention,” Coppell Republicans Club spokesperson David Bitterman said. “We are always looking for new members and new voices.”
The festival came at a good time for this particular club, as the crowds gathered just 17 days before one of the biggest voting days of the year. On November 2 of this year, Texas residents will vote for a new Governor and will watch closely as 37 congressional seats are filled by representatives of other states.
Aside from the many vendors and educational opportunities presented by the Oak Fest, free family activities and entertainment also filled up the walkways and open green space of the park. Miniature train rides, face painting, bounce houses and clowns were all available for Coppell families to enjoy. The evenings featured entertainers were local band Limelight and The Side Street Circus.
“My favorite thing was the circus,” Town Center Elementary fourth grader Amanda Traywick said. “The magic tricks were awesome!”
Throughout the day, Coppell residents were able to participate in these events, all the while enjoying the social aspect and getting to see some of the better parts of the Coppell community. The cities finest wandered through the park as the Coppell Police Department allowed children to try on their equipment belts and learn about their motorcycles. In addition to the CPD, the Coppell Fire Department set up a mobile flu shot center, vaccinating residents as the cold and flu season fast approaches.
The annual Oak Fest presents the perfect event year after year, promising great food and endless entertaining activities.
