One of the most anticipated annual events in the Wright City community will take on a different look this year, following a shakeup in the event’s organizers.

The Wright City Chamber of Commerce recently announced that it will discontinue its involvement in, and contribution toward, the Strassenbash Festival held in the city each fall. The Chamber’s board of directors voted unanimously to withdraw from its relationship with the event during a special meeting held on May 4.

“Over the last four or five years we have continued to exhaust all of our volunteer hours for an event that has not been prosperous,” said Chamber President Kim Arbuthnot. “We feel that we can put a focus on a golf tournament, as well as a bingo or trivia night, to allow us to increase our scholarship dollars with less of a stress on our members.”

As for Strassenbash, event co-organizer Michelle Heiliger says a group of community members have come together to ensure the festival will continue. While it has traditionally been held over two days beginning on a Friday evening, this year’s event will take place only on Saturday.

“People have asked about what was going to happen now,” said Heiliger. “We have a great relationship with the Chamber members. We’re going to have a lot to fall back on and guide us from their past involvement.”

Heiliger said 2021 Strassenbash is scheduled for Oct. 9 and will include a parade and live band performance by My Friend Mike on Saturday night. Activities in Diekroeger Park will also take place as usual, including children’s games, a corn hole tournament and possibly a chili cookoff. The Cattlemen’s Association will also again be a part of the event, and the Wright City Fire District will host its traditional pancake and sausage breakfast.

“We’re in the early planning stages of determining what we need money for and what else we can bring in, but we plan to keep it going,” said Heiliger, who has been encouraged by her recent involvement with the new Fridays on First Street festival. “It was so good to see people out enjoying themselves, and I think this is what the city needs right now.”

The Wright City Ambassador scholarship program will also be a part of the fall event, said organizer Heidi Halleman, with candidates being recognized at Strassenbash.

“I feel like with everything that the community has been through the past year and a half with COVID going on, I feel like it’s time for the city and community to get out and experience these types of events again. It’s important we still provide these types of events for our citizens,” Halleman said.

While the official relationship between the Chamber and Strassenbash has come to an end, both Arbuthnot and Heiliger remain dedicated to providing events and opportunities to bring the community together. 

“We really appreciate all of the time and energy the Chamber has given toward the event in the past. We’re lucky enough there are still people who are members of the Chamber helping with Strassenbash,” Heiliger commented.

The Chamber is also entertaining the idea of hosting a different event earlier in the year, at a time when there are fewer activities taking place in the community. 

“We see the growth happening all around us and we need to pick up on that momentum and do our part to help promote that,” said Arbuthnot. “Whether this be partnering with other organizations and our own city hall or speaking to our members to see what they need from us, this needs to become our focus and where our time and money will be better spent. Since we are not a public entity and are funded solely by our membership dollars, we felt it was time to invest back into our membership.”