Downtown Welcome Fest a Huge Hit to Start Corvette Funfest

(A HUGE NUMBER OF CORVETTES PARTICIPATED IN THE ANNUAL ROAD TOUR TO KICK THE DOWNTOWN WELCOME FEST AND FUNFEST FOR 2016)

What one Yager family member said was the largest number of Corvettes yet to attend a Funfest Welcome Fest visited downtown Effingham Thursday night.

The Welcome Fests sponsored by the City of Effingham's Tourism Office mark the official welcome by the City to Funfest enthusiasts. 

Mid America Motorworks Chief Cheerleader Mike Yager and Laurie Yager are sponsoring Funfest for the 23rd year to Corvette owners from more than 40 states and several foreign countries. A variety of events including a Saturday night concert by Dennis DeYoung of Styx fame will add luster to the weekend.

(CHIEF CHEERLEADER MIKE YAGER HEADS IN HIS GATOR FROM ONE GATE TO THE NEXT WITH ASSORTED PASSENGERS, INCLUDING OUR OWN GREG SAPP SEEN IN THE MIRROR TAKING PICTURES WHILE HANGING ON)

This year's Fun Run Road Tour was conducted differently, with the Corvettes leaving the Mid America Motorworks campus on North Route 45 in three shifts to lessen the traffic delays for other motorists. After the 45-mile tour, the Corvette owners hit downtown about 5:30pm and parked around the Courthouse square to take in the festivities. Events included a variety of food items, music by Russ Howard, a performance by Cayla's Power Tumbling and various giveaways.

(MIKE AND LAURIE YAGER EACH USED SIGNS TO REMIND CORVETTE ROAD TOUR ENTHUSIASTS THAT MUSIC AND PROGRAMMING ON 979XFM WAS TAILORED TO THEM)

A host of Corvette-themed activities are planned throughout the weekend on the Mid America campus, but a reminder that almost all of those activities including Saturday night's concert are also open to residents of the Effingham area.

(SOME OF THE CORVETTE BEAUTIES SEEN DOWNTOWN AFTER THE ROAD TOUR DURING THE WELCOME FEST)