Key Facts
- Event
- Spiedie Fest
- Location
- Otsiningo Park, Binghamton, N.Y.
- Dates
- Friday, August 7 through Sunday
- Founders
- Rob Salamida and Paul Van Savage
- First-year attendance
- About 11,000 people
- First-year contest entries
- Roughly 100
Background
Spiedie Fest is returning to Otsiningo Park this Friday, August 7, bringing food, entertainment and thousands of visitors to the Southern Tier for a multi-day event that has grown from a single-day gathering into a regional tradition spanning more than four decades.
Rob Salamida, founder and president of the Rob Salamida Company, co-founded Spiedie Fest with Paul Van Savage more than 40 years ago with the goal of celebrating something already unique to Binghamton. Salamida said the idea began with a conversation about doing something for Spiedies, leading to a cooking contest.
The first year drew about 11,000 people to the park and included roughly 100 entries in a Spiedie cooking contest. The event also had a charitable component from the start, with the first year raising money for Agent Orange victims and a different charity selected each year after that.
Current Situation
The festival now draws visitors from Buffalo, Syracuse and beyond, with many attendees using the event as a family reunion. Salamida said preparation involves Dave Pessagno, event coordinator for the Spiedie Fest Festival and Balloon Rally, volunteers and Broome County workers, along with the police department.
The spiedie sandwich has also gained recognition well outside Broome County, with the Rob Salamida Company having done trade shows in Chicago, New York City and Miami. Salamida noted that people recognize the product across the country, calling it a tribute to Binghamton and Broome County.
Spiedie Fest kicks off Friday and runs through Sunday at Otsiningo Park. The festival also brings hundreds of thousands of dollars in economic impact to Broome County businesses.
Impacts
The festival brings hundreds of thousands of dollars in economic impact to Broome County businesses. Salamida said the event's size has required a growing network of support, with many volunteers contributing to its success.
The event serves as a community gathering, with Salamida noting that attendees may see someone they haven't seen in five or ten years. It benefits not just vendors but also the sense of community, and it attracts people from all over the country, including high school reunions and Binghamton University alumni.
Salamida said the festival stands apart from other regional festivals because of its variety of offerings, including hot air balloons, concerts, and a large park that allows visitors to walk around without feeling crowded.
Future Outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
Salamida said he never anticipated the event would reach its current scale, noting that as it got bigger, it brought more people in. The festival's continued return is rooted in community and the value of in-person connection.
If the festival continues to draw large crowds and maintain its community focus, it may keep growing in scale and economic impact. However, if preparation challenges increase or volunteer support wanes, the event could face difficulties in maintaining its current size.
The original vision behind the festival remains unchanged, with Salamida emphasizing that everyone contributes and that it is a community event celebrating not just the Spiedie sandwich but the ability to gather in a beautiful park.
Source: wbng.com
