Published: October 09, 2009 06:47 pm      

Business as usual: Party goes on during Harvest Homecoming luncheon

Hundreds of people attend annual event at New Albany Riverfront

Stretched out alongside the Ohio River, a pale canopy sheltered a sizable crowd Friday for one of Harvest Homecoming’s signature events.

The annual business luncheon not only survived the seemingly endless rainfall, it thrived with some organizers saying preliminary head counts pointed to an increase in attendance by about 10 percent from 2008.

Joe Happel has stood at the entrance of the tent and collected tickets for several business luncheons. He said the rainfall actually prompted attendees to arrive on time for the event this year.

“The rain hasn’t kept them away,” he said. “Everyone has flooded in here.”

Flooded was a sensitive word Friday, with some luncheon-goers jesting the event should possibly have been moved to the other side of the levy with so much precipitation. Harvest Homecoming President Billy Greenwell said confidently Thursday that festival activities would resume Friday despite heavy rains that forced the early closure of downtown booths on day one.

Though more rain was forecasted for Friday, Greenwell seemed right as tables were packed with people inside the business luncheon. Walking atop the lengthy runway that was situated in the middle of the tent, Greenwell thanked Mayor Doug England and the city for pushing downtown progress.

“What a beautiful riverfront,” Greenwell exclaimed, gesturing toward the newly refurbished amphitheater.

Then it was time to party.

Everything about the luncheon is festive, from the suggestive skits to the dressed down business leaders who loosened their ties and relaxed while music blared.

Ladies sipped beer while guys shouted to their friends. Some hid nervously behind their table mates while shirtless men walked down the runway with mock dresses painted on their protruding chests.

The theme of the luncheon was “Festivals Around the World” and even the emcee primed the entertainment by asking the crowd if “you all are drunk for this.”

Actors impersonated what performers might look like at various festivals in places like China, Texas and New Orleans. They took the stage to dance and sing while many in the crowd clapped and shouted.

But the somewhat provocative nature of the luncheon didn’t keep politicians from attending. England was joined by Deputy Mayor Carl Malysz, and State Rep. Ed Clere was also in attendance.

Food for the luncheon was provided by the Floyds Knobs’ business Terri Lynn’s Catering by Design, Inc.