Lucas Oil recognizes Marble Falls Lakefest as top event

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE STAFF

LAS VEGAS — While the saying “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” might hold true in some accounts, it doesn’t when applied to Marble Falls Lakefest.

In January, during the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series Banquet and Awards Presentation, officials named Lakefest the circuit’s 2012 Event of the Year.

“This is just a great honor,” said Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bill Rives. “This recognizes the efforts of our entire staff, our phenomenal volunteers and the entire community.”

Rives and Special Events Coordinator Julia Adams accepted the award during the series banquet.

Racing series Director Ken Dollar pointed out that while many event coordinators have about 11 months to plan and execute a race, Adams and Rives didn’t have that luxury. Rives joined the chamber as executive director in January of 2012 while Adams joined the staff about three month before Lakefest, which happens the second weekend in August.

“I think what this honor says to me is we blended staff such as Jeane (Eades), Gay (Bergman) and directors such as Judy Miller who have been here and have a tremendous knowledge of Lakefest with Julia who was fairly new to it. And they did a fantastic job,” Rives said. “We pulled off what was not only a very successful event, but one that Lucas Oil recognized as a tremendous race.”

Lakefest hosted 123 boats last August for the three-day event. Race series officials highlighted the way Lakefest brings racers and fans together during events such as Show and Shine.

“We were delighted and humbled to get this recognition,” Rives said. “Just imagine what we can do with a year to ramp up for Lakefest.”

The 2013 Lakefest is scheduled for Aug. 9-11 on Lake Marble Falls. This is the 22nd year of the event.

For more information on Lakefest, go to www.marblefallslakefest.com.

daniel@thepicayune.com