Duct Tape Festival is being held in Avon, Ohio on June 19-20
Jan. 16, 2004, 11:03PM
Saluting `dad's best friend'
Adherents of duct tape will stage festival in Ohio town
By CATHERINE GABE
Copyright 2004 The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer
FACTS THAT STICK
AVON, Ohio -- Towns around the country celebrate virtually everything in fairs and fetes.
But duct tape?
This town near Cleveland is planning what could be the first ever -- anywhere -- duct tape festival. The Avon Heritage Duct Tape Festival is to take place Father's Day weekend -- June 19-20.
"Hey, we're the duct tape capital of the U.S.," said Avon Mayor Jim Smith. "It's true. Sixty percent of the duct tape goes through Avon."
The city is home to the world headquarters for Henkel Consumer Adhesives, which makes the Duck brand of the tape.
So when the town was looking for a sponsor for a celebration, they turned to their largest employer -- Henkel.
The idea, er, stuck.
Why Father's Day weekend?
"A lot of dads use duct tape," said Melanie Amato, Henkel's director of advertising. "Of course, a lot of moms do too, but the fact that it's Father's Day weekend, the focus is on dads."
Details for the Duct Tape Dad of the Year contest are still being tweaked, said Amato, whose company hosts a duct tape prom outfit contest in which contestants vie for scholarships.
"Duct tape is offbeat, quirky," Amato admitted. Callers to the company's 800 line provide testimony to unusual duct tape applications. Among them: mending a pet turtle's broken shell, lashing oneself high in a tree to avoid dangerous animals and whipping up a quick rose for a sweetie on Valentine's Day.
There are now about five manufacturers of duct tape, but Henkel is the largest, Amato said.
People got serious about their duct tape last February after the Department of Homeland Security said the product was among items households should have in case of a terrorist attack.
Duct Tape Festival is being held in Avon, Ohio on June 19-20 
BET NRAJOE...... 
PIPE DOWN!!! 
