As many as 1,000 expected for 2021 CareFest to start Saturday at 1 pm
By Donnie A. Lucas
Upwards of 1,000 people are expected on Saturday, Aug. 28 for the third CareFest fundraiser at Happy Wife, Happy Life event venue three miles northwest of Albany.
As of Monday there were only eight VIP tickets to the event remaining, but $60 general admission tickets and some preferred $125 admission tickets can still be purchased online at outhousetickets.com.
Some general admission tickets may still be available at the gate on Saturday, but organizers are recommending purchasing tickets in advance.
All ticket holders are urged to either print out tickets purchased online or have the tickets pulled up on a phone to speed up the entry process at the gate.
Nine bands and musicians will be featured this year including Roger Creager, Stoney Larue, Giovannie and the Hired Guns, Dylan Wheeler, Shea Abshier, Randy Brown, 360 Band, Cole Barnhill, and Jeff Martin.
According to one of the organizers, Ragan Riley, the number of $60 general admission tickets available at the gate will be based on available parking.
“There is a limited amount of parking space, so once that is filled up we have to stop selling general admission tickets at the gate,” she said. “Also, VIP ticket holders have a separate parking lot and a separate entrance this year to stop congestion at the gate. However, even the VIP parking will only be guaranteed until 7:00 p.m.
The gates will open at 1:00 p.m., with bands playing until 2:00 p.m. on two main stages.
Riley said that about 100 VIP tickets at $250 each were sold, but up to 300 more VIP passes were handed out to sponsors of the event.
“Counting the VIP tickets given to sponsors, we have 400 VIP ticketholders and 500 preferred and general admission,” she said. “We are getting close to 1,000 people attending.”
People with VIP tickets are given front row stage access, access to the outdoor VIP tent, full access to the air-conditioned barn venue, which includes food and beverages, along with front row parking.
Preferred tickets also have access to the VIP tent and front row seats.
Only bag coolers will be allowed in to the event, which is included in the VIP package. Otherwise, a cooler pass must be purchased for $20. A parking pass is $20.
Food trucks will provide food to purchase throughout the event, with no outside food allowed.
“We are encouraging everyone to bring lawn chairs and wear comfortable clothing,” co-chairman Mindy Ary said.
CareFest is a fundraising event organized by Resource Care, with proceeds going towards outreach program that the non-profit provide through clinics in six area communities.
One change noted was the cancelling of “meet and greet” sessions in the barn with band members for VIP ticket holders.
“Due to COVID, some of the performers have cancelled their ‘meet and greet’ times, but they may provide acoustic performances for VIPs in the lounge area,” Riley said.
