Festivals and community events have grown to extreme popularity in the Midwest, bringing people together in both the most and least populated communities. In Diamond Bluff, a group of volunteers have worked together to help with these events in the community. 

Kari Furlong of Furlong Design Studio, Emily Dosdall of Echo Valley Ranch and many of the town’s volunteers put on an Easter egg hunt the Saturday before Easter with plans of making it an annual event. The volunteers push for events that can be enjoyable for people of all ages and from anywhere in the area. 
“We love Diamond Bluff, and we are trying to be more involved in our community,” Dosdall said. “Children-focused events are probably our favorite.” 

For the Easter event, Dosdall said they spent over $1,200 on candy and prizes, put together a volunteer day to help stuff the eggs and Dosdall set up a petting zoo. 

Dosdall said they want to host free events that are welcoming to not just the Diamond Bluff community, but for anyone, without spending money. 

The people are willing to help out in Diamond Bluff because they know if they need help, someone from the area will give it to them. Dosdall said Diamond Bluff is the perfect town. 

“This is the place that I call home,” Dosdall, who has lived in Diamond Bluff for almost 17 years, said. “It’s a very close-knit community. Take care of your neighbor type of place that would be your, what would you call, the perfect small town, other than we don’t have a gas station.” 

The Easter event is not alone in receiving help from volunteers, as there are plenty of people willing to chip in around the Fourth of July as well. With events including a parade and a firework show put on by local tavern the Nauti Hawg, the event brought the area together again. 

Dosdall said the Nauti Hawg has historically footed the bill for a firework show on July 3, and believes it should be changed to a community event so it does not “rest solely on their shoulders.” Dosdall said they are looking to fundraise to continue the tradition without one company paying for it.  

Raising the money may prove to be a tall task to most communities, but Diamond Bluff’s volunteering nature may bring this goal to a reality in the near future.