Log in

Scaled back festival draws big Saturday crowd

Posted

Two-day event draws estimated 10,000 visitors

The more things change, the more they stay the same. That saying has been around since the 1800's, but it has stuck for a reason.

Take the Old Florida Outdoor Festival for instance.

The City of Apopka has put on this event for six years now, but unlike the last five festivals, this edition had a different model. Among the significant changes were:

  • A two-day festival instead of three.
  • Free admission instead of a $25 admission fee.
  • A trimmed-down budget from last year.
  • A car show, helicopter rides and fireworks taking the place of other attractions.
  • A bigger feature on competitive barbecuing.

Despite the new look, the festival had a similar attendance mark (estimated at 8,000-10,000), and a very familiar feel to previous events.

The country music fans and festival-goers filled the amphitheater seating and extended to the grassy knoll behind the seats, which took on the look of a giant picnic, with folding chairs and blankets, and the visitors to the festival were just as country as the Country Music performers they came to see.

They wore cowboy hats and boots. They turned their baseball caps backward and drank beer. They brought their children and they brought their dogs. They ate steak on Friday night and barbecue on Saturday from award-winning grill masters. They took helicopter rides and watched a fireworks display.

But mostly they came for the music, which did not disappoint.

Jill's Cashbox opened the Festival lineup of performers on Friday night with the raw sound that has made them famous among country music fans. Despite being a relatively new band (they began playing together in 2011), they are a return to the roots of country music. Their songs tell a story and paint a picture of life as they see it, and the Apopka crowd loved this opening act.

On Saturday three bands - David Nail, Rodney Atkins, and Alex Hayes took the Amphitheater stage to a much larger, more raucous crowd.

Nail hammered the audience with his passionate performing style, combined with a wide-ranging voice that brought the audience to its feet many times. Nail's songwriting skills also got him a Grammy nomination in 2011.

The Academy of Country Music named Rodney Atkins as the top new male vocalist in 2006, and he showed why on Saturday. He brought an intensity to the stage he has been known for, and his new crop of songs displayed an edgy, vocal energy that electrified the audience.

Orlando-Based country artist, Alex Hayes, has played with many popular acts and has performed at various local venues throughout the area. He has also won the Battle of the Bands competition twice with two different bands. His country with a touch of rock sound was a big hit with the Amphitheater crowd.

Apopka Mayor Joe Kilsheimer was pleased with the turnout and the changes made to the festival.

"Our team is pleased with the feedback we are getting. We had a record number of barbecue and steak cook-off contestants. We continue to hear that our barbecue competition is the Daytona 500 of barbecue. It’s well-organized with the best facilities and best amenities of any barbecue competition in Florida. The car show was extremely well-organized and well-attended. I personally went around to every vendor and thanked them for being part of the Festival. I heard nothing but compliments about how well-done the Festival was. And finally, most of the feedback we’ve received has been about the free admission. Dozens of Apopka residents came out and enjoyed a family-friendly day of fun and entertainment, right here in Apopka. By that measure, it was a big success!"

Old Florida Outdoor Festival

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here