Jon Riggs – Bristol Homecoming Festival

“I’ll be coordinating the crafters and vendors this year for the Bristol Homecoming Festival,” says Jon Riggs, 55, who works for Jayco in Middlebury, Indiana. “Last year my role as a volunteer at the festival was sort of the jack of all trades; doing different things to help out. But one of our dedicated volunteers is out with a medical issue, and there was a need this year for someone to help coordinate the crafters and vendors.

And so I stepped up to the plate and accepted the position.

I was born at Elkhart General Hospital and was raised here in Bristol, and I’ve lived here all my life. My wife of 31 years first got me involved in volunteering at the festival – she wanted to participate as a way to give back to the community. That first year she volunteered, and I did not – but by the end of the festival that year I was pretty much fully on-board. Been doing it ever since; I’ve been volunteering at the festival for the past 26 or 27 years.

I’m also in charge of food this year – I’ve been able to work with the previous person handling that to get caught up and I’m trying to get my feet wet. But so far so good – I like the idea of helping out with the food. I’ve been coming to this festival since I was a kid. I still remember just how good those elephant ears and strawberry sundaes tasted. This year we’ll have Papa’s Dippin Donuts, out of Middlebury, and a taco truck and all sorts of other great food.

This is just a great little festival. It’s just a lot of fun – rides, food, a parade on Saturday, fireworks. Also we do our annual queen pageant and we’ll have some great entertainment. Over the years I’ve been volunteering for this, I’ve served in a lot of different roles – and sometimes it can be hard work. What makes it worth it for me is that I know my service is helping other people enjoy themselves; it feels like giving back to the community, and it also just feels like you’re playing a part in bringing everyone together.

And then we’ve always got the kids play area for both nights of the festival – and to see the kids all running around and playing in a safe, fun space, getting their faces painted and doing the rides and all sorts of activities – that also just makes you feel good, to be a part of making that happen.

This is a great town, and I don’t want to be someone who’s just always ‘taking’; you know, showing up and enjoying what everyone else has worked hard to produce. I want to be someone who returns the favor by giving my time and volunteering and helping make sure our residents – and our families and kids – enjoy this great festival and make great memories the same way I was able to.”