Victoria Helling, Executive Director, Boone County Chamber of Commerce Announces 2026 Pufferbilly Days Theme, Grand Marshalls, and Entertainment, April, 20, 2026

Today in our program we are visiting with Victoria Helling the executive director of the Boone County Chamber of Commerce You're saying she was just here. I was just here not that long ago, but The big thing is we're getting well five months away from Puffer Billy days and last time We touched a little bit on it but a lot of things were coming together for our Puffer Billy days 50th anniversary this year so kind of a Big push at least and you're you're pretty new you're a month and a half in now or so, right? And got a lot of things to do, but you have a pretty active Puffer Billy committee. Yes. Yes, we do we have Things that we're working on yes, so big announcements up today Let's I'll let you start with what do you want to go with first? Absolutely, so today is our first official announcement to about Puffer Billy days 2026 so this year is actually going to be the 50th anniversary of Puffer Billy started in 1976 We are going to be announcing the Theme for the event the theme this year is going to be through the decades Which feels appropriate as we celebrate 70s 80s 90s and today The events set to take place on Friday September 18th through Sunday September 20th 2026 And we are actually going to be talking about also Who our grand marshals are and also about our Saturday mainline? entertainment So at this point in time committee just really working on getting the preliminary things out here because Five months goes pretty quick. It goes in a flash It goes in a flash. All right, so we're you're coming out with this Let's go probably the big thing that lets the theme through the decades Was it Puffer Billy through the decades? So it's going to be called through the decades. So yes. Yes, and We're working off that. Do you have logo yet still working? Yes, so we do have a logo. It's almost been finalized We're doing the last final tweaks on it. So that will be coming soon and that will be all announced on our Facebook page If you're not following Puffer Billy days on Facebook, we have a page that will be dedicated to all of the events coming up as well as information on volunteering on vendors vendor applications So that is really the page that you want to follow for the most up-to-date information Easiest way to get it out right away. Absolutely. Absolutely and website is a whole nother challenge Takes more time correct correct and there will be a tab on the website You guys can go see it right now at booncountychamber.com It says Puffer Billy on it and that will be updated soon here within the next few weeks with with information But yeah for now the Facebook is really where you want to keep your attention on So that's where all the new things will be coming up. So let's go again grand marshals, I'm sure the committee sat there and kind of put their heads together and Did you extend an offer to somebody? We did we are actually going to have two grand marshals this year Holly Larson and Stan Moffitt are going to be our grand marshals So Holly is actually one of the originators of the festival 50 years ago Yes, you what isn't that amazing? So we thought it would be so appropriate to bring her back To celebrate this milestone for Boone So for those of you don't know she was the owner of Holly's clothing store in downtown Boone for decades and the valued member of the festival Committee as well for many years. Holly can remember back when it was October and it was cold. Oh my gosh Oh my goodness, so yeah, and it's who's gone through a lot of changes since then too. So anyway, so Holly Stan on the other hand. He's varied most of the grand marshals through the parade Absolutely, so Stan is a long-time businessman here in Boone and just such a great community supporter His family business is Moffitt Ford in Boone And yeah, so he's excited to be joining us as well. So I feel like we have two Amazing individuals who are going to be you know, lead leading that parade. So they'll be the Good so now everybody knows who that is. All right, and we go from there to Let's talk about your location and stuff now really you're still looking pretty much say in the same area Without too many changes There are going to be some changes that are coming up It is going to be in the downtown Boone area, but we are going to be moving With we're going to be on story as well as keeler. So there will be more information on the maps coming Okay, so you'll be shifting things around a little bit. We're going to be reorganizing it. So everything is very accessible So I think it's going to be a big improvement on you know, every you know, the accessibility especially during the entertainment portion To make sure that the the beer tent is is is close enough And then the food is going to be in a central location as well So we got a long way to go to get there, but again only five months. It's not a long time All right, so let's talk the big thing is always the entertainment and they have I know from some of the board members They had already been talking. Okay. Yeah, we got some ideas and working on that. So who do we have for entertainment? So this year we are going to actually have a double performance on Saturday night They're going to be two bands that are be are going to be playing on Saturday It's going to be back in black and at 90s rock show. I cannot wait to tell you about these bands I feel like we're going to hit on all the decades. It's so So appropriate with our theme this year I feel like there's going to be something for everyone this year So back in black is the number one AC DC cover band in the country with over 50,000 followers They actually had their singer AC DC auditioned their singer who's Darren Caperna To replace Brian Johnson for their current world tour that was in 2016 so this is a Legendary band that's played all over the country They're actually out of Dallas-Fort Worth area. So they will be traveling to us and we're going to feel You know that raw raw power and excitement of AC DC. So they are You know authentic authentic they also shared this this had a documentary on Netflix Where you know their singer shares this experience for actually being auditioned by AC DC and them flying him out and Getting to have that experience. It's it's called the my stupid tribute band. It was released in 2023 And it's an award-winning music documentary on Netflix. It's out there. Yes. Yes and so that will be the The first part of the show and then the second part will be 90s rock show like I said We wanted to hit all the decades right and really celebrate this rich history So it's a 90s tribute band and it has a live string section. This is something rare It's the only 90s tribute band that has a live string section. They're actually out of Orange County, California And they're gonna be bringing us alternative and you know grunge hits of the 90s from bands like Nirvana No doubt a Lannis Morse at Pearl Jam Soundgarden Stone Temple So I feel like you know, I need to lace up my Doc Martens and then Experience that journey So that we're gonna have two bands on Saturday night So it's gonna be quite the experience a lot of Opportunities for people to come out and enjoy themselves to you. So it's early I know that and we touched on a few things that these are just the initial announcements really to get folks started Buffer is coming 50th anniversary. We've got a lot of work yet to do Absolutely, and so we will have more information coming on volunteer applications vendor applications for both the craft show And aren't in the park coming Like I said to follow that Facebook page because that's where everything will be posted up to date And then the Puffer Billy days tab that's gonna be on the website will be added here shortly. I know and People are gonna want to know right away You know what why when could we sign up and what's going on, you know Still have Remain calm you still have time But I will tell you that the Puffer Billy committee is meeting every couple weeks now So we are really ramping up our efforts and this is going to be an incredible event I feel like I even have to say legendary event right because now we're looking at this 50th celebration So and I know parade's always huge. That's a big one and stuff like that. There will be Ample applications available once you once we get the website up to date What other I mean as far as the committee goes Individual committees they do have others that work underneath some of them Do you have the people? How did they get on there? And is that going to be just follow along on the Facebook? Absolutely, so we have we have a committee already established that we each have our own Task and different, you know things that we are planning for and we're meeting like I said currently But what's what we really need is some really amazing volunteers for the day of and the day before to help us set up You know to help us tear down And then also be involved in all the activities. So, you know, if you would love to be involved We would love to have you Like I said a volunteer application will be coming soon with a sign-up genius where you can You know pick what you would like to participate in and I figure there's some that might have ideas What have you thought about doing? And again as things start to go up and come together. Yes, there will be opportunities for people to make Come and say hey, have you thought about doing something like this? Yes, absolutely I've actually had a couple people already stopped by the Chamber office to share some ideas that we are going to be implementing So we do have a general email at the chamber. It's info at boomcountychamber.com Feel free to send any ideas our way Through that through that email and again, we'll just start putting everything together There's five months does go very quickly. It sure does. It sure does. So we've got to at least the beginning part here The dates which we know September 18th 19th 20th, there will be art in the park. Yes, and that's planned working on coordinating all of that and People that might be interested you don't worry you're gonna have an opportunity to be a part of it too Theme through the decades through the decades. Yes, and again Grand Marshalls Holly Larson and Stan Moffitt That'll be good. Yes Exactly And then the entertainment again, I'll let you say Back in black and 90s rock show these rock show will be going on. All right Well, now remember folks best way to follow along at this time. Anyway, it's gonna be Facebook Just is it just puffer Billy? So when you type in puffer Billy days, it will come it will come right up So yes puffer Billy days and a lot of the information will be available there be looking at that There will be links that let you know when you start going to the website and being able to find Vendor applications all kinds of things like that. The more details I'm guessing is we have our regular visits Yes, I was about to say I think Jim will be seeing me We have those regular meetings that'll be Let's see. I might even have another one already scheduled. Oh, yes. As a matter of fact, you'll be here back on the 7th So so I'll have more great information to share with you then as well And all the other stuff you're still working on too, so absolutely. We do have the golf classic that's coming up on June 12th We're working on that website to get registration going for that It should be up this week. So stay tuned. So if you were a a golfer would like to be involved or get a team together That will that information will be up this week and will you be sending out? I know one of the things with the transition in staffing. Yes, obviously trying to get Communications and operations back you get that position filled but that's where a lot of the things have been going out to the membership Correct, correct. So yes, and we did post on our Facebook page an application for To apply on indeed a job posting and we have already received quite a few applications So we are just starting to kind of go through those And so hopefully within the next couple weeks we will be interviewing and then we will have I will have a New friend to help me Move forward. Yes, absolutely a lot of things happening. So your first puffer Billy days This is you know, so I have attended Yeah, the show for the past two years because I've been here for three years But I was about to say this is my first time to be involved and to help Plan it so and I love planning events. So this is I was telling Jim before we went on that this is the fun part This is the fun part of my job Yes, getting it all put together and looking forward to it again puffer Billy days we are literally five months away and Lot lot of work yet to do so and again having a good puffer Billy committee, which is Couldn't do without them there. They're an amazing team. So I feel Very very lucky to have them as we move forward and we look forward to the release of the information about the logo coming up Yes, yes, and that will be coming We're doing the final tweaks on the logo and so that what we'll be coming within the next couple weeks as well Victoria Helling on our program today executive director of our Boone County Chamber of Commerce Thanks so much for bringing all the breaking news in and again grand marshals Holly Larson Stan Moffitt Back in black and 90s rock show 90s rock show will be the entertainment for this year's Offer Billy days through the decades, correct. Thank you for joining us. Thank you