Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

May 3, 2007 issue


MerleFest 2007 Attracts Big Crowds and Big Spenders

Story by David Brewer

Graced by a second consecutive year of predominately rain-free weather, the twentieth edition of MerleFest again welcomed tens of thousand of music pilgrims to the campus of Wilkes Community College for a wonderful weekend of Americana bliss.

Local performers The Forget-Me-Nots and The Worthless Son-In-Laws performed successfully while local songwriter Laura Kaufman placed second in the gospel category of the Chris Austin Songwriting Competition.

With preliminary total participation figures showing an estimate of 76,558 festivalgoers, musicians, volunteers and staffers, the festival’s actual paid attendance was down nearly five percent from 2006. According to a press release from festival organizers, the decrease was due primarily to an intentional decrease in unpaid participation, as well as guests buying single-day tickets rather than three- and four-day passes.

Ticket sales, however, were up on both Friday and Saturday, with Saturday attendance being the second largest single-day attendance in MerleFest history. According to MerleFest Stage Manager Randy Kelly, the festival’s single biggest day was during Dolly Parton’s appearance at MerleFest in 2001.

Preliminary financial calculations estimate that the regional economic impact of MerleFest 2007 will set a record with a total impact of $17,144,109.70, nearly $2 million more than the 2006 record.

Wilkes Community College will present MerleFest 2008 next April 24 to 27.