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CigarFest ’05 – Home of the world’s largest cigar cloud. |
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Unbelievably, a year has already passed since the first annual CigarFest, America’s Mega-Herf. Once again, cigar enthusiasts across the nation rallied to join us in sunny Pennsylvania to attend what could go down as the largest Herf™ this side of the hemisphere, ever! On Saturday, April 9th, over 1,500 cigar enthusiasts (read: lunatics) from across the nation gathered to enjoy a historical day that represented the epitome of our happy little group.
Inside the PA Expo Center, the festivities began at 3. But outside, attendees began tailgating well before noon. The lines leading into the event were joyous and long, as Mr. Blunt made his rounds greeting as many people as he could, handing out prizes along the way. A pre-event longest ash contest helped set the tone, putting 20 participants against a fierce wind from the east to win CAO Black cigars and a signed print of Ann Schlegel’s ”The Cigar Shoppe”. Once inside, attendees flooded the PA Expo Center floor. Masses swarmed the various cigar, liquor and microbrew booths, while others headed straight for the food – an old fashioned pig roast with all the fixins. Throughout the event, the Jake Kaligis Band entertained the crowd with live music, while comedian Matt Gallagher made sure attendees were all smiles. And, due to popular demand, the beautiful Playboy Playmate Lindsey Vuolo returned for a photo op and to sign autographs. A number of impressive raffle prizes were handout out, including countless boxes of cigars, humidors, ashtrays, cigar art, cutters and lighters. Each manufacturer donated a handful of prizes. Featured prizes included a fully-stocked 3,000 capacity cabinet humidor courtesy of Drew Estate, a trip to Honduras from Rocky Patel and Indian Tabac and a custom humidor valued at $800 from CAO, along with a box of cigars from each of their 7 top-selling lines. All of the proceeds went to LifePath, a local organization that serves mentally handicapped children and adults. Representing the organization was Ed Zablocki, CFO of LifePath and a lifelong friend of Cigars International. As expected, the cigar makers were the main attraction. Those that attended included:
Live music, beer samplers, scotch and tequila tasting, gorgeous models, prizes, and the best damn premium cigars in all the land. But, best of all, 1,500 friends sharing one common theme. Everyone in attendance demonstrated a genuine display of politeness and good-hearted friendliness. We really couldn’t ask for anything more, and would like to extend a very special thank you to everyone that attended, manufacturers and customers alike. Another learning experience is in the books, and we look forward to hosting an even better CigarFest in 2006! - Steve Row |
