For Immediate Release – Wednesday,
March 3, 2004
Contact: 740-435-3335
SUPPORT
GROWS FOR DEERASSIC CLASSIC EVENT
CAMBRIDGE, OH – Exciting new entertainment, an expanded format, and a record crowd expected, were some of the announcements made on March 3 when regional leaders joined forces with leadership of the Deerassic Park Education Center.
An expanded format for two days of fun and outdoor entertainment was announced regarding the Deerassic Classic scheduled for August 6-7 at the spacious facility near Salt Fork State Park. Nashville and television star Irlene Mandrell will headline the entertainment aspects of the two-day festival.
The Classic last year attracted 11,500 spectators from all over Ohio and from more than 20 other states. This created a weekend economic impact of $3.7 million on a wide region of Ohio. Regional Tourism and Chamber of Commerce officials at the recent briefing lauded the immediate economic impact and tourism value of the Classic and related Deerassic Park Education Center programs.
A limited supply of 10,000 Classic tickets is now available, and 5,500 have already been sold as of March 3. Call 740-435-9500 for the Classic Information Hotline. Tickets and information are also available on line at www.deerassic.com . Walk-in customers can obtain tickets at Dunning Motors on Route 209 in Cambridge.
The Classic is the primary fund-raising event of the year
for the non-profit National Whitetail Deer Education Foundation.
Proceeds are needed to support an innovative outdoor education programs
for school children. The most
recent school programs visits in the East Muskingum School District (near New
Concord) were a success on Feb. 23-24. School
programs at Orrville, Dover, Granville and elsewhere around the state are
scheduled in the coming weeks.
Additional work continues leading to the ultimate construction of a multi-million dollar Ohio Whitetail Hall of Fame museum and educational facility at Deerassic Park.
“We are excited about many new developments such as bringing Irlene Mandrell here to help us with our cause,” NWDEF Founder Dean Ziegler said. “The expansion of the Classic event into a Friday-Saturday format really gives us opportunities to increase our entertainment value for spectators.”
“I am confident that all 10,000 Classic tickets will quickly be gone by the end of March and we will see about 15,000 people, including a big walk-up crowd helped by good weather, here in August,” Ziegler said. “This has quickly become one of the largest events of this nature in the entire state if not the nation.”
More than 225 prizes will be given away to spectators at the Classic including a Hummer, six other premium vehicles exclusively from Dunning Motors in Cambridge, and $50,000 in cash.
-30-