The festival is set to be held on Dec. 16 at 3:30 p.m. inside the church located at 1597 Allen St. Springfield.
David Ewen, a local film producer and author, is welcoming the community to take part in the free Springfield Community Festival, which will take place on Dec. 16 at 3:30 p.m. inside the church located at 1597 Allen St. Springfield..
SPRINGFIELD- Although many people might be skeptical of someone offering a free day of family fun, David Ewen promises that when it comes to the Springfield Community Festival, there are no strings attached.
"It is a little hard to stand on your soapbox and tell people that the whole event is free and there are no catches, but that's the truth," Ewen said. "We just wanted to offer a holiday event as a gift to the city of Springfield, and give people a day of rest and relaxation before the busy Christmas season and the cold sets in."
The Springfield Community Festival is the third of such free events, with the first two coming in the wake of the June 2011 tornado and the October 2011 snow storm. But unlike its predecessors, this incarnation will be held in the Resurrection Center of the Christ Presbyterian Church, which can hold more people than the Bing Arts Center in Forest Park, which hosted the first festivals.
Ewen, an author, film producer and college professor, said that the event, which is scheduled to take place on Dec. 16 at 3:30 p.m., will feature music, local authors leading book discussions and center around a variety of locally-produced movies.
"And we will have a huge buffet dinner courtesy of the church's members," Ewen said. "People can leave their cash and credit cards at home and just bring the whole family for a good time. Everyone deserves a day of rest."
Ewen said that although the event is being hosted at a Christian church, the festival is not inherently religious, beyond the singing of Christmas songs. He stressed that all are welcome.