DIGHTON'S BACKYARD BASH

" My brother Joe and I were laying around on our deck one day," says Caleb Schultz, "and we said Hey! Wouldn't it be cool to bring in something for the community?" That something turned into a big free community event, Dighton's Backyard Bash ( Ellis County Star 1998).  The two brothers and founders of the Backyard Bash at the time were Joe Schultz, age 18, and Caleb Schultz, age 24.  The event started out with two months of planning and fundraising.  The main attraction for the Bash were three live bands.  This was put together with the help of 22 sponsors, two radio stations, 1,000 flyers, 120 t-shirts, and the help of the newspapers. "We were told we might be lucky to get 20 people there.  We took that personal challenge," says Caleb and Joe, "and when the event ended we not only were asked to do it the next year but we had 200 people that came to the event." 

As the summer of 1999 rolled around so did the 2nd annual Dighton's Backyard Bash. Joe left his roll to Caleb and took off to live in Paris, France for the next two years. Needing help with the event, Caleb grabbed his younger brother Aaron to aid with the second year of the concert. Aaron and Caleb set out to increase the attendance and awareness of the Bash. "We really didn't have any idea that last years Bash was going to be as great as it was. You really don't know how something like this will go over," stated Aaron (Dighton Herald July 1999). But go over it did and in a big way. The two brothers upped the sponsors, doubled the radio stations, and printed more than 7,000 flyers. "The two brothers actually had sponsors calling them... and bands were asking to play at the Backyard Bash" (Dighton Herald July 1999). Even Marion Schultz (a fourth brother) got into the action the second year as he joined the band Zero Luck. "Our second year was great, we worked hard and it paid off with over 400 people at the outdoor concert!" Stated Aaron.

But lets jump ahead a few years as Dighton's Backyard Bash has now turned into its 9th summer (July 2006).  From 1998 when Joe and Caleb dreamed of having a concert on a hot summer night, it has turned into an annual event with more than 1000 people in attendence!!

Free swimming, free camping, a car show, skate board vendors, food vendors, Bash t-shirts, a moon walk, and free admission help to highlight this annual event in Dighton.  And with younger brother Aaron just returning from Argentina, Joe being back from Paris and sister Margo joining in, the Bash is well underway and still continues to move forward with the help of the City of Dighton, sponsors, and the Bash Crew.  "Each time we begin planning the Backyard Bash I ask myself, 'Is it worth it?' But at the end of July, when people start showing up, I'll know it is."  Aaron Schultz (The Tri-County Advocate July 2000).