This article appeared in the November issue of The Fort Thomas Living
By Jessica Duke
Merchants and
Music by the Numbers:
Total
Merchants: 112
Festival
Goers: Estimated between 10,000-12,000
Musical Acts:
8
Stages:2
Total Beer
Sales: $33,497.25
Arrests: 0
One local
band, two stages, six nationally touring country groups, nine plus hours of
entertainment, 29 sponsors, 54 kegs of beer, nearly a 100 food and vendor
booths, 1,082 margaritas, and 12,000 people- add that all up and it makes for
one incredible day.
The 10th
annual Merchants and Music Festival was held on Saturday September 28 amidst
absolutely perfect weather, spirits, and conditions. Ashli Slawter, Chairman of the Fort Thomas
Renaissance Board, said “How do we spell success… great weather, great music,
great businesses […] what an awesome event!”
The day long
festival began at 2 pm on the second stage with a performance by Highlands High
School Sinfonia and then the local artists, The Carter New Band. Prior to this performance, up-and-coming
country talent Lyndsey Highlander performed an entire song for the Fox19 News
broadcast team. Other performers on the
second stage included The Sleepin’ Dogs and Aly’an.
On the main
stage, attendees from around the area got to see several major names and future
major names in country music, all free of charge thanks to the sponsoring
groups. In addition to Lyndsey
Highlander, Chris Janson, The Kentucky Headhunters, and John Michael
Montgomery, headliner, all performed.
Debbie Buckley, Economic Development Director of the City of Fort
Thomas, said when speaking about Janson, “If kindness, graciousness, and good
old fashioned goodness can make a star, Chris is already a [one].”
Mix in his
immense talent and it is easy to see why his autograph line stretched for what
seemed like miles.
Buckley also
fondly remembers Richard Young, guitarist for The Kentucky Headhunters, asking
for a ride to the cigar booth to purchase a Kentucky cigar and support the
local businesses and she commented on Montgomery’s approachability citing the
example of him signing a “NKY Hates Heroin” shirt for a swooning female fan.
Amy Andrews
Lantis Hawley, festival attendee, said, “Fort Thomas knows music festivals! The
vendors, the music, the venue, the ambiance, the night air…amazing!” Fellow attendee Kimberly Fitzpatrick-Wallace
called it the “the best organized event” and judging by the throng of happy
fans, this sentiment seemed to hold true.
However, such
an event cannot be successfully pulled off without planning and execution. Said Slawter, “We would like to thank Griffin
Industries along with our other sponsors and participants for making the event
possible.”
When asked
what she would change for next year’s event, Linda Slone, Renaissance Board
member, said, “Not a thing. It went off perfectly”. Slone went on to cite the success for the
businesses, “Fort Thomas Pizza completely sold out of everything and Anita’s
had to go back three times for more margaritas”.
Slone finished
with a Save-the-Date reminder: “Fourth Saturday of September in 2014”. Here’s to hoping they find a way to top
this. 54 kegs of beer says, “Good luck!”
