CareFest already breaking records
By Donnie A. Lucas
Ticket holders for the fifth annual CareFest concert set for Saturday will get an extra dose of stage time from headliners Pat Green and Kevin Fowler after another country artist had to pull out of the event late last week.
Seven performers were originally slated to take the stage; however, Cooder Graw and his band had to cancel due to a medical situation with a key band member.
“Unfortunately, Cooder Graw had to pull out, but Pat Green and Kevin Fowler both agreed to extend their sets by 30 minutes each to make up the time,” said co-organizer Ragan Riley. “We are hoping to have Cooder Graw come next year, and fortunately, others were flexible and added time to their performances.”
Ticket sales and sponsorships are at the highest level in the history of the event, with organizers warning that while there isn’t a limit on general admission tickets, parking passes are in short supply due to the overwhelming response this year.
Tickets are available online through Friday for $60 each, plus $20 each for parking and cooler passes.
“The cost of a ticket will increase on Saturday to $70, and no parking passes will be sold at the gate,” Riley said. “We recommend that anyone planning to attend to go online to purchase tickets and passes by Friday.”
Only cash and credit cards will be accepted at the gate.
The event will be held at the Happy Life, Happy Wife Weddings and Event venue located just west of town on FM 1084.
Gates will open at 4:00 p.m.
Tickets are on sale at www.outhousetickets.com, which also has a link on the festival’s new website www.resourcecarefest.com.
“If we run out of parking passes, we will have to close ticket sales,” Riley said. “This is by far the biggest year we have had. Our profits have already doubled over last year.”
In addition to ticket sales, CareFest has attracted 72 sponsors this year, also a record. Sponsorships ranged from $500 to $20,000, helping fund various aspects of producing the music festival.
Carefest benefits several programs sponsored by ResourceCare across six Big Country communities including Albany, Breckenridge, Baird, Clyde, Cross Plains, and Merkel.
Ticket holders should have their online digital tickets printed out or ready to show on a phone.
Proceeds from the event this year will be used primarily to purchase a car for workers to use for client transfers to the doctor or even taking them to the grocery store.
“If we raise enough money, we could possibly buy two cars,” Riley said. “We have used our personal vehicles to do transports in the past, but that is no longer allowed due to insurance concerns.”
CareFest Schedule
This year’s acts and performance times include Della Rose – 5:00 p.m., Mike McClure – 6:00 p.m., Cody Canada and the Departed – 7:00 p.m., Cory Morrow – 8:00 p.m., Kevin Fowler – 9:00 p.m., and Pat Green 10:30 p.m.
Proceeds help serve communities through programs such as Vittles by Vehicle, ASPIRE (an after school program located in 6 school districts), Day Camp (a two week camp for children ages 3 years to 6th grade; Day Camp employees over 50 junior high and high school students), Senior Citizen Day, Christmas for Teens, Toys for Tots, Christmas for the Senior Citizens, and the Emergency Assistant Program that helps those that are struggling financially.
Heat Related Info
Everyone attending the event should prepare for the 100 degree plus temperatures experienced lately and expected on Saturday.
“We are taking the heat into consideration,” Riley said. “API is providing free bottled water throughout the concert, and we are installing some misting machines to help cool people off.”
Ticket holders are urged to bring plenty of non-alcoholic drinks to help keep hydrated. Beverages that include alcohol can speed up dehydration, but if alternated with plenty of water hydration can be managed during extremely intense heat.
Visitors can also bring battery-operated fans. Passes for tent sites sold out several weeks ago.
Food trucks will be at the event selling food items and non-alcoholic beverages. Melissa’s Mexican Food, Bowman’s Barbecue, and Happy Grill will be set up, along with Tea-to-Go trailer. No outside food will be allowed into the venue.
Lunch on the Lawn
The festivities will kick off in downtown Albany at 11:00 a.m. at the Bank Park with at least one of the food trucks and an acoustic performance by Della Rose from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
Downtown merchants will give away entry forms on Friday and Saturday for a drawing to be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday for a pair of lifetime general admission passes for the 2023 show and all future CareFest events.
“When a customer spends $20 or more in a store, they will be given a ticket to enter the drawing,” she said. “It will be up to the customers to fill it out and bring it to the Bank Park to place in the hopper before the drawing. The food trucks that are there will also give out tickets for purchases of $20 or more.”
