Commemorative buttons celebrating the 45th year of the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival debut this year for $3 in multiple area locations to benefit the Young Artists Concert.
“The idea was from when I came here and saw what a strong community involvement there was, with people not even jazz fans,” Steve Remington, executive director of the festival said. “I started thinking of my experiences in festival field and of a program that might materialize the spirit they have of the festival.”
Remington said he wanted the program to emulate a similar button program he saw at the Pegasus Kentucky Derby Festival where the buttons were a large part of the event.
“It’s a physical way to show support and involve the businesses in the community,” Remington said.
The button program is a way for people to participate in the festival, he said, even if they might not like the musical line-up that year or are not interested in jazz.
This year the buttons function as a discount at many local businesses, including the VandalStore, Moscow Co-Op, local coffee shops and Happy Day restaurants, said James Brownson, director of development and marketing for the festival. Although buttons are on sale now, these discounts will only be offered during February.
Those who purchase a button are also eligible to win two lift tickets to Schweitzer Mountain, or two round trip tickets to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.
Remington said 4,000 buttons are available for purchase, and depending on sales they might print more around Feb. 15, but might also remain sold out if the situation arises.
Remington said he has plans for the future of the button program.
“We might, in the future, have the pin become a mechanistic part of the program admission,” Remington said.
This idea has more similarities to the Kentucky festival. The button could become an essential part of the program, allowing admission to events and other festival perks.
“But it’s the first year, so we are just trying to see (what happens),” Remington said.