The Chamber of Commerce has decided that next year, the Swedish Festival will be only two days instead of the traditional three. Sunday's festivities have been canceled.

This past May, record-breaking triple-digit heat is believed to have been the cause of a significantly low turnout at the Swedish Festival.

In honor of Kingsburg's centennial year, special events had been planned for Sunday, but the turnout was disappointing.

Jess Chambers, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, said that the chamber's board of directors has been forced to take a look at how to make the best of things during tough times.

"We're taking long, hard looks at all of our events, and that's a reality that comes from economics," Chambers said.

During the recent follow-up meeting about this year's Swedish Festival, the board made the decision to downsize the 2009 festival. Chambers said that because many vendors make the trip to the festival from out of town, asking them to stay through Sunday incurs extra expenses for them because many have to pay for overnight lodging.

Traditionally, the festival has started on Friday evening with the Swedish Smorgasbord. The parade takes place Saturday morning, followed by an afternoon full of downtown activities. Sunday has usually been more a day for people to shop at the booths of craft vendors and enjoy various entertainment.

At this year's festival, the Viking Ship Bed Races were introduced for the first time on Sunday, and were a huge hit. Chambers said that the plan is to move the bed races to Saturday afternoon, in hopes that the event will keep people in town after the parade.

In the wake of a festival plagued by unbearable heat, some residents have questioned why the festival remains downtown instead of being moved back to Memorial Park, where it was held for years. In 2002, the chamber board decided to move the festival downtown in hopes of boosting business for local merchants.

But during years when the temperatures soar, the hot pavement and lack of shade keeps people away, creating a double-edged sword, say some.

Chambers said that the idea of moving the festival back to the park is always being debated.

"It was brought downtown to help the merchants, but some years it's a hard call," he said.

He said that ultimately, it would be up the board of directors to change the location.

"At this point, they stand behind having it as a street fair downtown," Chambers said.

As has been seen in recent weeks with the Crayfish and Jazz Festival, corporate sponsorships are hard to come by these days, as businesses worry about their own financial well-being. Kingsburg is not alone, as festivals around the country are feeling the pinch.

Chamber members recently provided news reports of other chambers of commerce downsizing their events the country.

For the first time in more than 20 years, the organizers of the Harbor Fest musical festival in Racine, Wis., were forced to cancel their seminal summertime event on the shores of Lake Michigan. Rising costs and a 40 percent drop in corporate sponsorship dealt the final blow.

From a hot air balloon festival in Jackson, Mich., to parades in Clearwater, Fla. to a seafood festival in Annapolis, Md., organizers grappling with the effects of a weakening economy are calling it quits. Or at least putting off their events until next year.

The economic impact is big for the communities who hold them, with festivals generating revenue for organizers, many of which are nonprofit. They also boost local businesses, including hotels, restaurants and retailers. Chambers said that some local non-profits have asked to have their vendor fees waived, but Chambers said that people need to remember that the Chamber of Commerce is also a non-profit. Because they rely largely on festivals to support them, they have to make fiscal decisions that will carry them into the future.

"It's a financial operation, it's a business venture, and we're looking at everything -- period," Chambers said.

When Kingsburg was forced to cancel the July 4 fireworks celebration this year due to construction at the high school bowl, the chamber was once again hit in the pocketbook.

The chamber's next big event is the fall season of the downtown farmer's markets, which kicks off on Aug. 7 and will last through November. Chambers is in the process of dreaming up fun activities which he hopes will draw locals downtown to support local farmers and merchants.

"As a community-spirited thing, we're looking for people to perform and ways to fill the slots on Thursday evening," he said.

Anyone with suggestions may call the chamber at 897-1111.

Plans for August's markets have not yet been finalized, but in September, the chamber will be hosting the first annual "Kingsburg Idol" competition, modeled after "American Idol," the popular Fox reality singing competition. Performers of all ages will be invited to perform on Sept. 4, 11 and 18. The winner and runner-up will perform at the Sept. 20 Crayfish and Jazz Festival.

The October and November farmer's markets will feature an Octoberfest celebration, a "Best Pizza in Town" competition, a pumpkin festival, and a community pep rally.

Chambers' focus is on providing entertaining, local events that won't break the bank for local residents.

"We're taking long, hard, critical looks at our festivals to fit with the economy to make them fun and desirable," Chambers said.

Now it's up to the community to get out and support them.