In about three weeks, Osage Beach Parkway West will become a speedway as the 2016 Lake Race week of activities kicks off with the inaugural Festival of Speed from 4-9 p.m. Thursday, June 2 in Osage Beach.
A true display of everything speed-related, including boats, racecars, hot rods, motorcycles, remote cars and much more, the Festival of Speed's vision will showcase the one support that ultimately helps bring in millions of dollars to the Lake's economy during the annual Lake Race - community businesses.
"It is a way to bring people over to show them what we have to offer as far as our services and products on the Osage Beach Parkway," said Cyndi Van Hook, Festival of Speed committee member and co-owner of Coral Reef Seafood, an Osage Beach Parkway West business."
Van Hook said she believes Phyllis Marose, Osage Beach alderman and owner of Putt 'N Stuff Family Fun Center, brought the idea of adding an additional Lake Race affiliated event to Osage Beach's west side. And, Lake Race Chairman Mike Shepherd shared his enthusiasm to add the Festival of Speed as part of the growing offshore powerboat race's week of activities June 2-5.
"Lake Race brings in $5 million to our Lake economy, and they (the Lake Race committee) is very proud of that act. (Shepherd) sees (the Festival of Speed) as just another avenue to bring more money into the Lake economy," Van Hook said. "It is a big thing to bring more events into the Lake Race to bring in more money to the Lake's economy. Who knows where the next event will be; maybe it will be in Sunrise Beach? (Shepherd) tries to keep track of all the monies generated from all the events surrounding Lake Race several of our businesses on the parkway have banded together to make this happen. The whole Lake Race event, all the monies made from Lake Race, is generated from the businesses in the area, which is unusual for a race like this."
With proceeds from the Festival of Speed going into the Lake Race purse for winners and a variety of local charitable organizations, the event will also draw in lots of spectators the free, family-friendly community-wide kick-off of 2016 Lake Race week.
As guests cruise into the Festival of Speed, they will have free parking in Lake of the Ozarks State Park with free shuttles running them to the pedestrian three-lane Festival of Speed "speedway track" on Osage Beach Parkway. This "track" will close two of the eastbound lanes of the Osage Beach Parkway West, including the center turn lane from the Lake of the Ozarks State Park Osage Beach entrance to Malibu Road just past Rapid Roberts.
Van Hook said the center turn lane will act as a barrier, creating a safety zone between traffic and pedestrians. Guests can view a variety of exhibitors including members of the Lake of the Ozarks Corvette Club, motorcycles, hot rods and boats from 2016 Lake Race title sponsor Performance Boats, PolyLift, Wake Effects, Village Marina, Big Thunder Marine, Iguana Watersports and Festival of Speed title sponsor Extreme Marine 26.
Several vendors, including on the city's west side, will also showcase products and services, as well as speed related activities. Van Hook said Festival of Speed triple crown sponsor Slumberland Furniture will set its "Speed to Sleep" display and give away some "amazing prizes." She also said other vendors will have Hot Wheels race track interactive displays and gold sponsor Precision Paint Worx plans to have boat races on a smaller scale for guests to enjoy.
Van Hook said a variety of local vendors have also signed up to participate including, Redhead Lakeside Grill, Coral Reef Seafood, Wicked Willy's, Wacky Knacky Diner, Sergio's Taqueria, Chevy's, Hy-Vee and many others. Well-known local DJ Leo Case will provide music and a sound system, and Springfield's Chris Daschitt, a knowledgeable powersports company owner and enthusiasts, will serve at the event emcee.
"We'll also have beer tents on the parkway at the event, with a food trailer offering more traditional hamburgers, hot dogs and goodies for the kids outside of local fare," she said. "Pirate's Cove is going to have a pirate walking around, Lake Ozark Fire Protection District has provided a dunk tank with Bella Donna Salon sponsoring, guests can enjoy pig races and horse rides from Forget Me Not (Horse Rescue and Sanctuary)."
With more than dozens of participants lined up and even more sponsors secured, the Festival of Speed committee says there is still time for businesses to support the event through a sponsorship and vendors and exhibitors to get in on the "speedway."
"We are still looking for exhibitors, vendors and sponsors. The nice thing about the sponsorships is you piggyback on the Lake Race's media frenzy, which has advertising across several states," Van Hook said, noting Lake Race itself draws in thousands of spectators from across the country each year.
Van Hook and her fellow committee members are excited to see this inaugural event take place on the city's west side, participate in the 2016 Lake Race week of activities and be able to showcase Parkway West businesses to residents of and visitors to Lake of the Ozarks. She said it takes approximately 75 volunteers to make Festival of Speed a success and shows the efforts put forth in the last several months to make this event happen.
For her, helping to organize this event has made the Parkway West businesses come together and consider organizing more events in the future, with the possibility of another car festival or a food truck festival next year.
"It really has brought awareness for and to our business community here. I have met so many business owners that I have never met before and was next door to for 15 years," she said. "Everyone is making time and getting along really well. We have great communication between all of us. We are getting everything done and it will be a great event for our businesses and the community as a whole."
Van Hook said there has been great support from the Lake Race committee and the city of Osage Beach. She also appreciates all the current sponsors of Festival of Speed, including (title) Extreme Marine 26; (triple crown) Slumberland Furniture; (gold) Precision Paint Worx, Lake Regional Health System, Lake Family Dentistry, Southtown Graphics, EZ Disposal, Arrowhead Development Group; (silver) Four Seasons Plumbing, Michael's Steak Chalet, Evers & Co., Naught Naught Insurance, Providence Bank; (bronze) Coral Reef Seafood, Paddle It Out with Becky, Bella Donna Salon, Beach Industries, LLC, ZZZZZZ's Sleep Shop, Lake Area Brazilian Ziu, Aye I Captain, LLC, Lakers Eagle Stop, Lake Hills Veterinary Clinic, Baymont Inn, Victoria Station, JC Mattress, Wacky Knacky Diner, Samco Transmissions, Lake Cleaner/Damsel Cleaners, Town & Country Motel, Inn at the Grand Glaize, Page & Brown, Garden Gate Estates, M&J Auto Sales, The Pancake House and Pirate's Cove.
For more information about this event or to inquire about participation, visit www.lakerace.com or contact Van Hook at [email protected], Joni Walden at [email protected] or Noelle Frazier at [email protected].