Title
Discuss moving the Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival to an indoor facility and City sponsorship opportunities.
Body
REQUESTOR:
Economic Development, Tourism, and Planning Department
BACKGROUND:
The Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival began in 2010 and has continued until today. It is held the third full week in October at the Farmers Branch Historical Park. Throughout its history, the largest number of attendees was 10,000 in 2017.
The Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival has been nominated four (4) times for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Event of the Year (2013, 2017, 2019, 2020). In 2024, this event won the Distinguished Achievement Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association, which the City will be presented with on September 26, 2024, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
In prior years, the Hotel/Motel Fund has sponsored Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival with an average budget of $200,000 from the Hotel/Motel fund. Additionally, the event costs the City over $100,000 in overtime for Public Safety and Parks and Recreation, which was paid by the General Fund. Attendance numbers have decreased from the highest of 10,000 to average 4,500. The event date will change to end of July, beginning of August from its original October date. This date would be better suited inside due to the weather and is the timeframe when no other events are being held.
The event is proposed to be moved to the Doubletree Hotel located near the Galleria. This venue will seat approximately 500 people and will save over $150,000 by bringing the event indoors. The event will still host the amazing headliners it has in the past and will accommodate weather and/or climate.
DISCUSSION:
To discuss the interest in moving this event to an indoor hotel facility and provide HOT fund City Sponsorship.
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Presentation