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Organizers prepare for packed weekend
Published 8/21/2010 in Local News
By RACHAEL GRAY
rgray@gctelegram.com
With a busy weekend in Garden City right around the corner, organizers are remaining optimistic that the local events will attract big crowds.
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Ryan Hitt of REO Speedwagon plays the drums in August 2009 during the bandÕs performance at the Finney County Fairgrounds during MosaicÕs Run Rock and Roll benefit.
Events next weekend include the Seventh Annual Garden City Hot Air Balloon Classic, Tumbleweed Festival and Mosaic's Creedence Clearwater Revisited concert.
Mosaic's annual Rock 'n Roll Rally will conclude Saturday with a poker run in the morning, a VIP party in the evening and a concert featuring Bipolar Echo, Foghat and Creedence Clearwater Revisited at night.
The hot air balloon festival will run from Friday evening, starting with a balloon flight at 6:15 p.m. at the Finney County Fairgrounds. The festival will conclude at 10 a.m. Sunday with an awards luncheon at Samy's Spirits and Steakhouse, 1911 E. Kansas Ave.
The Tumbleweed music festival will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday with seven different musical performers and several children's entertainers.
Willis Pracht, vice president of Tumbleweed Festival Inc., who had some concern about the music concert and festival being the same weekend, said he hopes the public will attend both events.
"While I believe it's unfortunate that everything was scheduled for the same time, I hope the public sees this as a tremendous opportunity to saturate themselves with music over the course of next weekend," he said.
Pracht said the festival organizers hold the event on the fourth weekend of August every year, and it's an event that has been going on for 19 years.
"The quality of entertainment we're putting on stage can hold its own against anybody," he said.
Pracht said it's a possibility that Tumbleweed goers will attend the Mosaic concert after the BarlowGirl performance Saturday, which ends at 8 p.m.
Rebecca Barlow, guitar player from BarlowGirl said she was excited about all of the events in Garden City this weekend, and that she plans to attend the Creedence Clearwater Revisited concert after hers.
"I've always wanted to go to a hot air balloon festival," she added.
Brian Schwindt, community relations manager for Mosaic, said last year's concert was scheduled for the last weekend in August, and last year's calendar gave August five Saturdays. Since Tumbleweed and Mosaic's concert was a week apart, Schwindt scheduled the event for the last weekend in August again.
Schwindt said he made several attempts to reschedule when he learned both events were the same weekend, but the fairgrounds weren't available any other weekend in August, he said.
"The worst case is that people will have to pick and choose," Schwindt said. "It's going to be a great weekend of events, and if you have a good plan, you can hit them all. It will be very busy," he said.
Schwindt mentioned the economic benefit of having all three events in the same weekend. He said last year's REO Speedwagon grossed $1.9 million for Garden City and area businesses.
"On top of the balloon festival and Tumbleweed, you could probably double that number. It's going to be a great weekend for events," he said.
Although ticket sales are down this year — with 24 percent of tickets sold, compared to last year's sales at this time at 40 percent, Schwindt is optimistic.
He said some people may opt for Tumbleweed, and some may think Creedence Clearwater Revisited is a tribute band.
"It's two of the original three members of Creedance Clearwater Revival," he said.
Schwindt said ticket sales have picked up this week, and he predicts they will again next week. Schwindt also said many people may wait until the day of the concert to see about the weather.
"It's Kansas, so it's always changing," he said.
Tumbleweed Festival
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday
Lee Richardson Zoo, 312 Finnup Drive
Adults $8 in advance, $10 at the gate
Children in Garden City, Holcomb and Sublette Elementary Schools are free with bracelets from the schools provided by sponsors.
Mosaic's Rock'n Roll Rally
* Poker Run
Finney County Fairgrounds Exhibition Building parking lot
Registration starts at 6:30 a.m., motorcycles are out at 8 a.m.
Return time set for between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Rider Registration fee $25. Rider and a passenger, $40.
Riders can ride directly into the concert with a $10 ticket purchased at Baker Boot or Dodge City Harley Davidson
* Creedence Clearwater Revisited
* VIP party
Finney County Fairgrounds Exhibition Building
5:45 p.m., $40
Gates for concert open at 6:30 p.m.
General admission $40, Reserved seats $70.
Tickets for reserved seats, bike passes, VIP passes and general admission available at Baker Boot, 211 W. Kansas Ave., and Dodge City Harley Davidson.
General admission tickets available at Dillons East, 1305 E. Kansas Ave., and Dillons West, 1211 Buffalo Jones Ave.
All proceeds benefit
Seventh Annual Hot Air Balloon Classic
Finney County Fairgrounds
6:15 p.m. Friday, evening flight (weather permitting)
7-7:30 a.m. Saturday, opening ceremony and balloon launch
8:30 p.m., balloon launch and glow and watermelon feed
Sunday, 7 a.m., balloon launch
The Sky's the Limit BBQ Classic competition will be held Friday evening and Saturday morning at the fairgrounds.
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