Dean Kurtz revived Ridiculous Days

WASHINGTON — A decade ago, enthusiasm about Ridiculous Day festivities was on the decline.

A series of articles in the Washington Evening Journal quoted residents who thought the money was better spent elsewhere, as retail businesses moved away from the square, taking many sidewalk sales with them.

The Chamber of Commerce planned to discuss canceling the event, but stopped when Dean Kurtz stepped in.

“I happened to see the article in the paper and read it and go, ‘Well, I think this is wrong, I think there’s other people that want to see it continue,’” said Kurtz, who owned a musical instrument repair shop on the square that decade. “In less than a week, I had 20 people and $1,500 and walked into the Chamber meeting with the board and showed them that it wasn’t just me, other people were interested too.”

Kurtz had a big task ahead in reviving the event. The parade was down to around 10 floats per year, and family activities other than shopping the limited retailers left on the square were lacking.

“We started the superhero contest and a princess contest, and we had those things happening for kids on the bandstand, and some contests for kids of various ages,” he said. “We brought up food stands, and then we put … over a thousand rubber ducks in the central park fountain.”

The use of rubber ducks become somewhat iconic. The fire department diving team would suit up, enter the fountain, and throw the ducks out to children, who could go cash it in for money.

“It was a little bit sacrilegious of the fountain to do something like that,” Kurtz said. “That made it more humorous yet. And then the fountain was not in use, so that part quit for several years. The fountain was revived and working again, so it was something to get a crowd, and fun.”

Kurtz said fun was his motive to revive the Ridiculous Day festivities, plain and simple.

“When you were in the parade, you’d see nothing but smiling faces,” he said. “It’s a different type of fun, I guess, because you’re accomplishing something.”

While the meaning of Ridiculous Days have changed with time, Kurtz said he was proud of how far the event had come.

“We can still have fun in a little different way,” he said. “It doesn’t have as big an effect on merchants’ pocket books, which is why it was created … the whole bottom line is fun.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com