Preston plans 'Dynamite' fest

PRESTON, Idaho — This quiet southeastern Idaho town of about 5,000 residents will explode with activity on the weekend of June 24 and 25 when it hosts the Napoleon Dynamite Festival 2005.

Long famous for its rodeos and festival of lights, Preston has gained national attention recently as the setting of the popular "Napoleon Dynamite" movie. This quirky 86-minute movie, released last summer, was about a gawky Preston high schooler named Napoleon Dynamite (played by Jon Heder).

Look-alike and impersonation contests, plus a Tater Tot eating event and showings of the movie will highlight the two days of activities. There will also be a "Happy Hands Club" performance in the high school auditorium.

Between 5,000 and 10,000 people are expected to participate in the festival, according to Pennie Christensen, executive director of the Preston Chamber of Commerce, based on interest generated from fans across the nation.

"Our motels are pretty booked up," Christensen said, explaining that the chamber's Web site lists campgrounds and other possible lodging areas within an hour's drive of town. The chamber is also exploring other possible places where visitors might pitch their tents.

"We're testing the waters. . . . We're hoping it will be really fun," Christensen said. Of course, whether it will become an annual event depends on the success of this one. Several hundred visitors are reportedly planning their entire summer vacations around the event.

This e-mail from Bryce Kelly, of Olympic, Wash., is fairly typical: "I read in the Seattle Times yesterday that Preston is having a 'Napoleon Dynamite' Festival! I have one thing to say to that: 'Heck yes!' I will be coming and looking forward to it. I will be bringing a van load from western Washington. I wanted to get my hair cut at the Cuttin' Corral."

Some Preston natives who appeared in the movie will be on hand to sign autographs, but there are no firm commitments from any of the film's stars about making appearances. "It depends on their schedules," Christensen said.

The Preston Chamber office, 49 N. State, has attracted 6,000 visitors since Jan. 1, compared to less than 400 last year. Christensen's office, which only averaged two visitors per day last year, saw the number skyrocket to a high of 230 in a single day earlier this spring. Last Tuesday, the office had entertained more than 76 visitors by 3 p.m.

"Some days it's quiet," Christensen said, "but all our visitors think Preston's beautiful."