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Expanded BridgeFest pulls in 18,000 fans
By Nicole Dow - Sun Herald, May 23, 2011
BAY ST. LOUIS -- About 18,000 visitors attended Bay BridgeFest over the weekend, making it the largest turnout in the event’s five-year run.
“It was electric. The city of Bay St. Louis really put its best foot forward,” said Tish Williams, executive director of the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, the agency that produced the festival.
“It was a huge success,” said Bay St. Louis Mayor Les Fillingame. “It was probably the best community therapy I’ve seen since Hurricane Katrina.”
Bay BridgeFest started in 2007 to celebrate the opening of the Bay St. Louis Bridge. Williams said it experienced significant growth outside of the number of attendees.
“Everything about it was expanded,” Williams said.
This year, it grew from a one-day to a two-day event. The festival went from having one stage to three, increasing the number of musical acts from about eight to 25, Williams said. The number of artists who entered the festival’s juried art show doubled to 42, she said, and more children’s activities were added.
Even the footprint of the festival in Old Town Bay St. Louis was larger. This year’s celebration extended to include City Park, Williams said.
To help parking issues, shuttles brought folks who parked at Hollywood Casino.
“Everything came together really nicely,” Williams said.
She said she hopes the changes to the festival will carry on to next year’s event, but it depends on the sponsors. Bay BridgeFest is free to attendees and Williams said everything that they are able to do each year is a reflection of the support from sponsors.
The feedback Williams received from attendees and local businesses has been positive.
“I had people coming up to me and saying, ‘Thank you so much. You don’t know how much we needed this,’” she said.
For those who can’t wait until next May for another Hancock County festival, Williams said the Chamber will be holding a Craft Beer Fest in Kiln on Oct. 22. The inaugural event will celebrate Kiln’s own Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company.
BAY ST. LOUIS -- About 18,000 visitors attended Bay BridgeFest over the weekend, making it the largest turnout in the event’s five-year run.
“It was electric. The city of Bay St. Louis really put its best foot forward,” said Tish Williams, executive director of the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, the agency that produced the festival.
“It was a huge success,” said Bay St. Louis Mayor Les Fillingame. “It was probably the best community therapy I’ve seen since Hurricane Katrina.”
Bay BridgeFest started in 2007 to celebrate the opening of the Bay St. Louis Bridge. Williams said it experienced significant growth outside of the number of attendees.
“Everything about it was expanded,” Williams said.
This year, it grew from a one-day to a two-day event. The festival went from having one stage to three, increasing the number of musical acts from about eight to 25, Williams said. The number of artists who entered the festival’s juried art show doubled to 42, she said, and more children’s activities were added.
Even the footprint of the festival in Old Town Bay St. Louis was larger. This year’s celebration extended to include City Park, Williams said.
To help parking issues, shuttles brought folks who parked at Hollywood Casino.
“Everything came together really nicely,” Williams said.
She said she hopes the changes to the festival will carry on to next year’s event, but it depends on the sponsors. Bay BridgeFest is free to attendees and Williams said everything that they are able to do each year is a reflection of the support from sponsors.
The feedback Williams received from attendees and local businesses has been positive.
“I had people coming up to me and saying, ‘Thank you so much. You don’t know how much we needed this,’” she said.
For those who can’t wait until next May for another Hancock County festival, Williams said the Chamber will be holding a Craft Beer Fest in Kiln on Oct. 22. The inaugural event will celebrate Kiln’s own Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company.
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