Today, the Three Rivers Festival Board of Directors announced Justin Shurley as its new Executive Director.
Three Rivers Festival Announces New ED, Event and Begins 2021 Festival Setup
New Executive Director Justin Shurley takes the lead in the organization for the 2022 Festival and beyondFort Wayne, Indiana (June 30, 2021) – After an exhaustive search, the Three Rivers Festival Board of Directors is excited to announce Justin Shurley as its new Executive Director. “Justin will be a great addition to the festival,” said John Nichter, President of the Three Rivers Festival Board of Directors. “His passion for this festival and connection to his community will lead us into our next chapter.”
Justin Shurley is a Fort Wayne resident, currently serves on the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Board of Directors and Fort Wayne Planning Commission. He previously worked at Purdue Fort Wayne and the Fort Wayne TinCaps. “I couldn’t be more excited to lead this organization,” said Justin. “The Three Rivers Festival has been an important part of our community for more than 50 years. As Executive Director, I’ll work closely with the board of directors to help it evolve for the next 50 years.”
In addition, the Three Rivers Festival announced a new event–Northeast Indiana’s Largest 50-50 Raffle at The Three Rivers Festival. “With a jackpot that could potentially rise into the tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars, this new Three Rivers Festival initiative will give someone an opportunity for a huge payday,” said John Nichter, President of the Three Rivers Festival Board of Directors. Similar events at other festivals have seen jackpots top one million dollars. Northeast Indiana’s Largest 50-50 also helps the Three Rivers Festival gain its financial footing back after its year off. “The pandemic was very hard on not-for-profit organizations; This event will help put our organization in a better position for success for the future.”
Finally, the setup began for the return of the nine-day Three Rivers Festival after its pandemic hiatus. “A lot of people don’t realize how much planning and setup goes into this celebrated community event,” said John Nichter, President of the Three Rivers Festival Board of Directors. “Our board of directors, volunteers, and sponsors are excited to bring this festival back. It’s part of our summer and part of getting back to normal in Northeast Indiana.”
The 2021 Three Rivers Festival, presented by Ruoff Mortgage, runs July 9-17, 2021. The nine-day festival takes place at Headwaters Park in downtown Fort Wayne with guest favorites returning, including Junk Food Alley, The Downtown Midway, Art in the Park, Children’s Fest, The Emporium, nightly entertainment, and more.
Stay connected with TRF on social media at https://www.facebook.com/ThreeRiversFestival/ and https://www.instagram.com/threeriversfestival/.
About Three Rivers Festival
Three Rivers Festival began in the summer of 1969 and has grown to be the second-largest summer festival in Indiana. This family-friendly, exciting nine-day celebration is held at Headwaters Park in downtown Fort Wayne and coordinates with several affiliated events during the festival. The Three Rivers Festival draws over half a million visitors from Northeast Indiana, Northwestern Ohio, and Southern Michigan. The Three Rivers Festival is an annual tradition to enjoy the fun, savor the delicious food and catch up with friends.
Three Rivers Festival is a not-for-profit organization funded entirely by vendor participation fees, souvenir sales, refreshments, entertainment ticket sales, and the generous sponsorship and support of area businesses.