Organizers gushed over the accomplishments of the 2009 Trails West! as the annual festival wound down to its finale on Sunday.
One anecdote on the event's success, according to Allied Arts Council director Teresa Fankhauser, was found in the means that about a dozen out-of-towners discovered a route to Downtown St. Joseph. Several vehicles stopped at Love's Travel Stops on the South Side in hopes of landing directions. Someone offered to lead them straight to all of the activity.
"We want this weather every year," Ms. Fankhauser said as she surveyed the festival grounds on the last day. "I personally think it has gone very well."
A final tally of attendance for the three days was unavailable, but officials pointed to several major Trails West! drawing cards as indicators of a large crowd.
"I do know button sales were swift Saturday," Ms. Fankhauser said.
Saturday's gates clicked more than 20,000 spectators, she said.
Steering committee chairman Scott Johnson said buttons became a popular item throughout St. Joseph Friday and Saturday. Many of the out-of-town visitors hailed from Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Nebraska, he added.
A strong crowd was anticipated for a concert by 1980s rock band Loverboy. Attendance at the festival's last major music act could have potentially risen to around 10,000 to 12,000 people, Ms. Fankhauser said.
"Sunday's always hard to guess" because of a next-day return to work and school for most families, she said.
The quality of this year's array of artists is another factor that helped boost interest, she said.
"I think the artists have done really well," she added.
Steering committee volunteers were credited as another key through selflessness in spending hours to plan and organize Trails West! A total of 32 people ran the committee and various subcommittees.
"It's something the whole community can be proud of," Mr. Johnson said.
Plans for the 2010 edition have already gone to seed, although meetings will not convene until January.
"We really start on next year during the festival," Mr. Johnson said.
St. Joseph residents Dennis and Donna Milburn were among those browsing through the range of arts and crafts exhibits. The couple had not visited Trails West! for the past two years.
"It hasn't really changed much," Mrs. Milburn said. "Everybody's really friendly and nice."
Artist Klaus Kuntscher of Shawnee Mission, Kan., spent his 12th year at Trails West!
"The community makes a lot of effort to put on a nice show," he said. "We've had some years when it was brutally hot. We've had other years when we had rain."
The Munich, Germany, native said he travels 700 miles and makes about 20 such art shows annually.
Ray Scherer can be reached
at rscherer@npgco.com.
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carmon says...
A few years ago they said 100,000 plus people attended Trails west. Now only 20,000 on sat! does that mean 80,000 combined people attended on friday and sunday? And our taxdollars went to this according to the city council agenda! What a joke! Way to go st joe!
August 24, 2009 at 12:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jambreman says...
A few years ago there was no admission fee, so that may account for the drop in attendance. For a family of five it would cost $30 if you bought the buttons before the festival, plus you have to have some spending money, so it adds up.
August 24, 2009 at 7:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SavannahTigers says...
I am VERY thankful they charge admission. Most cities that host such an event do charge. NOt only is it a way to recoup some expense, but more importantly it keeps the rabble out. I would encourage "Parties on the Parkway" to also change a nominal admission. GREAT JOB to those responsible!!!!!
August 24, 2009 at 9:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
NWMOEntrepreneur says...
One of the largest crowds to attend an evening event at Trails West! (which is when the crowd is the largest) was to see Taylor Swift - that was the first year a button was required. The crowds have never been much higher than around 40,000 (give or take 10%) for the entire weekend.
This is a great event for St. Joseph. Where else can you spend less than $10/person for an entire weekend of entertainment? Best value possible!
August 24, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
forward2 says...
In a word, wow. I'm really proud of our city. We pulled off 3 outstanding musical acts, drawing in guests from all over the Midwest. I actually heard paople say "I can't believe what a great bargain this show is." If you have kids under the age of 12, they got in free. So, like us, you could have enjoyed 3 huge music acts for $12 for a family of 4, for the whole weekend! Thank you to everyone who made this possible. We had a blast. My kids are still dancing.
August 24, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
donaldo says...
when it first started it was billed as a free show, all could enjoy, and i would bet the sales were big in the food and beverage department also. i wouldn,t go anyway for a fee, but being in california for now i didnt have the choice anyway ,but i wouldn,t want the poor of st. joe left out and call them bad for this because of their finacial status. isnt it sepcial that we look down on poor people and call them rabble. they dont dress as nice as we do, let,s make them pay and they wont show up so we have to be amongst those kind.im sorry if i offended anyone, you know who you are , the rest of you, lets party.
August 24, 2009 at noon ( permalink | suggest removal )
DanielRLonergan says...
actually donaldo, rabble would consist of kids who go there to make trouble because their parents couldnt care less what theyre kids are out doing and also people who just want to go to cause other people problems i went friday and sunday and i seen people who didnt come close to dressing nice or didnt have nice things and they could afford the 6 or 8 dollar fee for a 3 day event and nowhere do i recall anyone calling poor people rabble
August 24, 2009 at 12:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LibertyOrDeath says...
Apparently, in all his improper use of commas, Donaldo does not distinguish between poor people and rabble. I'd like to think there can be, and is, a difference. More liberal thinking I guess.
In any case, the "poor" people have a whole year to save up $5, I don't think that's too much to ask. Especially considering I see those "poor" people at Speedy's buying endless fountain sodas on an EBT card. If you can't scratch up $5 to go to a festival in a one year time period then the festival isn't important to you or you have far more pressing matters than attending a 3 day festival - like maybe where your next meal is coming from.
In a liberal's mind everything should be free and given to everyone simply because they exist. Nevermind if someone actually positively contributes to their community. Even having a job is a contributor and I would bet the majority of those "unfortunate poor people" don't even have that going for them. But I guess that's not their fault because no one knocked on their door while they are watching daytime TV to offer them a job.
We need to do more for these leeches on society - is that your argument for free-attendance? So some lazy bum can waste a local artists' time and not buy anything?
Or maybe they don't need to buy something, but they want to take in the cultural aspects, huh? Will that make them more productive in society?
Listen, I think if you want to be poor, knock yourself out - just don't come to me for what you're capable of getting yourself.
August 24, 2009 at 12:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
donaldo says...
when did we say kids cant afford 6 or 8 dollars? i always had a way of making money at that age and wouldn,t dare do any rabble rousing for fear of a good wack from my dad.i agree the kids today are no way, the way we were. dont spank you children for fear of continueing the abuse factor. what? i cant imagine what kind of kid without the de tant factor of the fear my father instilled in me. along with good structuring and love, he also wouldn,t put up with that kind of rabble rousing you are refering too. lets make a profit, thats is what i was trying to imply.
August 24, 2009 at 12:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mr_America says...
My kingdom for an apostrophe!
August 24, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
donaldo says...
is this what you were after'.
August 24, 2009 at 1:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lbc says...
Those poor people that can't afford the $5 are probably busy on texmessages on their cell phone anyway....like they are down on Edmond in front of the food kitchen.
August 24, 2009 at 4:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Aries1313 says...
Forget Trails West! The Southside Fall Festival is SO much better! I'll spend my cash there!
August 24, 2009 at 6:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
donaldo says...
aries 1313, i agree, it is still free.and the people are soo much nicer.they dont have all the snob's that live in the east end of town.if in town when it is on ,i will see you there and we can share a snowcone.wait, what am i saying, i live in the east end. well, we are not all like IBC.
August 24, 2009 at 6:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Aries1313 says...
I just love the crafts they have there so much more!!! And the atmosphere is so much better! I don't think it matters if you're living in the east end, south end or the north end like myself.
August 24, 2009 at 6:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rabble_Rouser says...
6 bucks didn't keep this Rabble Rouser from Trails West.
August 24, 2009 at 8:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chara says...
i just don't undertand why we take a nice story about a festival and turn it into a moritorium on people who maybe by some bad luck happen to be a little worse off than you. when was it a crime to be poor. do they not have a right to attend.
if you listen to these post we just lump all poor pepole together and assumed there just out for themselves.
just remenber where all one bad accident from riches to rags. hope those on here would give a little more thought before we speak.
August 24, 2009 at 9:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_O says...
The saddest thing about these forums is people who want others to believe that they are FAR superior to everyone, just because of their education. How shallow can one be to Flaunt their High Dollar Education, and instruct us under educated peons in punctuation. I am praying for them that defy the Bible and Boast in themselves!
August 26, 2009 at 11:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_O says...
Chara,,, OR one $300,000 (NON-Elective) surgery !
August 26, 2009 at 11:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )