Youth Voices Help Shape This Year’s Hoover’s Hometown Days

After hearing feedback from last year’s festival surveys asking for more activities aimed at teens and tweens, the Hoover’s Hometown Days Volunteer Committee knew it was time to take action. This year, we launched our first-ever Youth Advisory Board (YAB) to give local students a chance to help plan and shape parts of the festival experience.

We held open applications in the spring and selected five enthusiastic youth volunteers to serve on the 2025 YAB: Alison Gade (Class of 2026), Lauren Keeler (Class of 2026), Tori Vikel (Class of 2027), Cameron Waters (Class of 2028), and Halia Gade (Class of 2028).

The YAB began their work by surveying both the middle and high school, collecting an impressive 149 responses from middle school students and 121 from the high school. They reviewed the feedback to identify ways to better engage their age group and enhance the festival experience for their peers.

One of their main contributions was selecting this year’s bounce houses and inflatables. With a focus on high-energy fun, they added more “extreme attractions” like an additional obstacle course and a mechanical bull. They also coordinated a brand-new feature: the Youth Chill Zone, a space designed specifically for teens and tweens to gather, cool off, and hang out during the festival. This new zone will be located at the southeast corner of Village Green and will include lawn chairs, shade, water, sunscreen, yard games, board games, and a scavenger hunt. A heartfelt thank you to our generous sponsors who help make the music—and the entire festival—possible. Platinum Sponsors: Heritage Hill (Rentals in West Branch) and the City of West Branch. Gold Sponsors: Martin Agency Insurance Services Inc. and Nordex. See the full list of supporters at hooverdays.org/support.

We’re proud to give local youth a seat at the table and are grateful for the energy and insight they’ve brought to this year’s planning. Their ideas are helping us make Hoover’s Hometown Days even more fun and welcoming for all ages. Find the full schedule at hooverdays.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for sneak peeks!