Saluda honors organizer for festival work

SALUDA — Despite the rain this year, the city of Saluda profited about $1,200 off Coon Dog Day last month.

The Saluda Board of Commissioners met Monday and presented a plaque to Coon Dog Day organizer Tangie Morgan.

The plaque reads, “Thank you Tangie Morgan for your Doggone Awesome Dedication to Coon Dog Day.”

Saluda Finance Director Julie O’Steen said the city received its final vendor payment Monday, which put the total revenue for Coon Dog Day at $27,652, which is about a $1,200 profit.

Mayor Fred Baisden said his wife, Terry, and Morgan took over the organization of Coon Dog Day three years ago.

Morgan said she is glad the city finally made some money.

Baisden said Morgan has worked very hard with vendors, and got advertisements from radio and television stations for the festival.

“Other towns put festivals like this together and know they are going to spend money and not make any money,” Baisden said.  “So to put on a festival for 10,000 to 20,000 people and break even, it’s a major accomplishment.”

Morgan said without Terry Baisden and all the volunteers, they could not have gotten all of it done. She also thanked the police department for its work on the festival.

This year’s Coon Dog Day was held on July 7 in downtown Saluda, and was the city’s 55th year holding the festival.

The all-day festival included a parade, food, live music, crafts and a street dance. The festival began as a chicken supper fundraiser for the local coon club, and has grown to an annual festival, always held the Saturday following July 4, that draws over 10,000 people.