Coca-Cola Days “The Right Choice” A Success!
The 2016 Coca-Cola Days “Coca-Cola—The Right Choice” presented by the Atlantic Bottling Company, was held this past weekend, September 23-24, in Downtown Atlantic.
“We really appreciate all the support from Atlantic Bottling Company for this event. They are very generous sponsors and have volunteers present throughout the entire event. Volunteers and sponsors keep events growing and improving every year,” Ouida Hargens, Executive Director of the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said
This year, there was a total of 92 registered Coca-Cola Collectors ranging from all around the country. To help welcome them into town, collectors and members of the community were treated to a Tailgate Party at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce. The Atlantic Bottling Company grilled burgers and provided side dishes and an ice cold Coca-Cola for everyone, serving 170 people.
“It was really fun to get to see different people from all over the country come together for such a great event,” Bailey Smith, Programs Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce said.
“The great thing about having a tailgate is it gives us the opportunity to meet the people that make this event happen,” mentioned Smith.
Local sponsors took part in the 2nd Annual Bottles on Parade. Decorated bottles were on display outside the following sponsors: Atlantic Coca-Cola Center & Museum, Cappels Ace Hardware, China Buffet and Nishna Valley Family YMCA. Community members and Coca-Cola Collectors spent the weeks leading up to Coca-Cola Days voting on their favorite bottle. Over 600 votes were collected. The Atlantic Coca-Cola Center & Museum took home the top prize with “Bobbette”.
“We were so thrilled to have the Atlantic Coca-Cola Center & Museum win the Bottles on Parade contest. This activity gave us the opportunity to highlight their business and have fun,” mentioned Hargens.
Also this year, the Coca-Cola Committee had a “Discover Atlantic” raffle with a Char-Broiled Grill, donated by Cappel’s Ace Hardware, filled with items donated from area businesses and a custom Coca-Cola Pop Machine, built by Bob Lansdown, being raffled off.
“We had a lot of people interested in the raffle this year,” Smith said.
“Giving two items away brought a lot of excitement to the event and got a lot of people eager to purchase a ticket. We appreciate Cappel’s Ace Hardware donating the grill, area businesses donating items and certificates and Bob Lansdown for taking the time to build a really great machine,” mentioned Smith.
The drawing took place at 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 24th at the close of the show: Swap and Sell, at the Herring Building. The winner of the Coca-Cola Pop Machine was Krysta Hart of Atlantic. The winner of the Char-Broil Grill was Cynthia Smith, also of Atlantic.
“Coca-Cola Days in 2016 was another great year. The Atlantic Area Chamber and Coca-Cola committee was able to enhance some traditional Coke Days activities like the tailgate, coloring contest and raffle item. We were also able to incorporate the community and sponsors more with this year’s Bottles on Parade,” mentioned Hargens.
You can find more information about Coca-Cola Days on www.cocacoladays.com or www.atlanticiowa.com. Coca-Cola Days will be celebrating 25 years September 22-23, 2017. If you have questions, comments or want to be a part of Coca-Cola Days, please contact the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce at 712-243-3017 or [email protected].