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The heat at Riverbend may have been miserable early on, but festival attendees and organizers alike said they made it through without losing their cool.
“It’s just been hot, but I don’t think it’s been hurting attendance because people have just been coming a little later,” said festival hospitality manager Bill Geisenhoffer early in the day Thursday. “Everything seems to be running pretty smooth right now.”
Pin prices increased slightly this year, from $28 to $30 when bought before the festival and $37 to $40 at the gate. Despite the price bump, the nine-day festival is a steal, attendees said.
“As far as I’m concerned, Riverbend is one of the best bargains anywhere,” said East Ridge resident Wallace Scoggins, who has been coming to the festival since its inception 29 years ago. “I’m happy with ticket prices … these are relatively a giveaway.”
Riverbend Executive Director Chip Baker said this year has been his favorite so far because of how smoothly things have gone.
“I think going in the relationships that we have developed with the city and the county are as good as I’ve ever seen and everyone has worked well together,” he said.
People in the community, including businesses along the Tennessee River, approached Riverbend with collaborative ideas, Mr. Baker said.
“We don’t claim to know all the right solutions, so when people bring us solutions, we love that,” he said, citing Southern Belle officials, who suggested turning the riverboat into a club during the festival.
“We will continue to work on that idea next year,” he added.
Attendance and vending sales appear to be up over last year, although actual figures won’t be available until later this week, Mr. Baker said
Veteran and newcomer concession vendors said they generally were pleased at the pace of their sales, which got off to a strong start that helped overcome a slight dip Sunday and Tuesday.
Mexican restaurant Rio Picante opened its first stand this year. Saurin Patel, who worked there every night for his uncle, said there’s been a mutual benefit between the onsite sales and those at the restaurant, which is on Second Street, just outside the main gate.
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“Because of Riverbend, we had tremendous sales,” he said. “We see a lot of people in a rush right before Riverbend and then again after Riverbend on the rooftop bar.”
West Palm Beach, Fla., natives Terrell and Gina Evans, also new to the festival vending game, added alligator- and conch-based items to the menu at their Taste and Tell stand.
Crowds jumped at the chance to try something exotic, Mr. Evans said.
“We sold out (of gator) on the first night, so we were scrambling to get more gator in here to sell,” he said. “So many people have been willing to try new things that it makes it go pretty good.”