Staff Writer
Jillian Stevenson

The weather on Dec. 31 in Rochester is always dicey.  It never stops the party, though, and it didn't stop more than

2,500 people from gathering on the Main Street Bridge downtown, kazoos in hand, all in the name of helping one of the area's most well-known charitable organizations.  

Every year during the holiday season, Camp Good Days and Special Times, Inc. kicks off "Kazoofest", one of its most successful fundraising campaigns.  The organization, which provides free programs and opportunities to those affected by cancer and other life challenges, works in conjunction with area businesses in an effort to sell kazoos in the name of helping families in need. 

The former Kaufmann's, now Macy's, worked with Camp Good Days for several years. 
"We hoped Macy's would continue this tradition, but they waited until the last minute to tell us they couldn't do it,"

Camp Good Days' volunteer coordinator Betsy Nagel said. "Thankfully, we had other businesses willing to participate,"

Despite this setback, over 4,300 kazoos were sold at local mall kiosks, Tom Wahls, Bill Grays, Hegedorns and Lord & Taylor.

Kazoos were also sold at the combination ticket event of the New Year's Eve Rochester Razorsharks game and the Teddy Geiger concert.  This year, the Kazoofest culminated with a special event:  "Kazoo in the New Year," an attempt to break the world record for the largest kazoo ensemble.  And it looks like Rochester just might make it into the record books.

The old record of 1,791 kazoos was set by the Quincy Park Band, of Quincy, Ill., on June 30, 2004.  Nagel said documentation had been sent to the Guinness Book of World Records in London, including the required signatures of participants and that Camp Good Days was awaiting confirmation. 

Of the 2,679 people who signed their names, Fisher senior Bill Lang was on the list.
"My mom had bought the kazoo ahead of time at Bill Grays.  [My girlfriend and I] were numbers 1,888 and 1,889," Lang said.

Hovering in the cold rain and led by Rochester mayor Bob Duffy, and the organization's founder and Fisher football coach Gary Mervis, the kazoo holders united for 10 minutes in a medley of traditional Christmas songs, just prior to the holiday fireworks.  The festivities continued on at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center, with singing and a concert by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. 

Lang attended the event, looking for something to do. 

"It was a good time," Lang said. "I was surprised how many people were there, with the rain."

Nagel added that over $50,000 had been raised by Kazoofest this year.