Turkey Rama feathers were ruffled the past two years with a partial name change and a perceived rift between the McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce and the McMinnville Downtown Association. But the two organizations, which have worked well together in the past, are working together again to make Turkey Rama 2010 the best community celebration in recent memory.

We think that’s a smart decision.

The iconic festival will return to complete Chamber of Commerce oversight, and that organization will contract with the MDA to manage the downtown portion of the celebration. The event’s steering committee includes members from both organizations, and they are meeting weekly to coordinate logistics for the two-day festival to be held July 9 and 10.

While the Turkey barbecue had record sales and attendance last year, opinions varied about changes downtown. Many merchants liked the spacious feel in front of their businesses created by moving booths to the center of the street, and many brought sale merchandise out onto their sidewalks. Talented musical performers and entertainment drew big crowds.

But vociferous complaints about lackluster merchandise in the street booths, a crowded food court and no carnival flooded the websites of both organizations and the online comments section of this newspaper. Some long-time residents even felt the event had become “too snobbish.”

Unfortunately for some and happily for others, the carnival is gone from downtown forever. There just isn’t room for it any more.

However, concentrated efforts to vary booth merchandise and improve the eating area are high priorities for 2010.

There are plans in the works to revamp the Biggest Turkey Contest and bring it back downtown, with the chamber overseeing contestant recruitment.

As a festival finale, the chamber wants to bring back a community dance similar to one held a few years ago in the Granary District.

We applaud these two organizations for joining forces once again to present Turkey Rama to our community. As one steering committee member said recently, outsiders may not understand our crazy homage to turkeys, but it’s our celebration and we love it.

It’s possible that the MDA will work toward a new, more upscale event at a different time of year to showcase the ever-evolving downtown area. But it won’t compete with the half-century, melting pot traditions of Turkey Rama.

We couldn’t agree more.