Paul DeFiglia of the Avett Brothers does double duty on instruments.
G Fest 2017 WHEN: June 15-17. WHERE: Hatbox Field, Muskogee. INFO: www.gfestmuskogee.com
60 t Oklahoma River City Region
Scores of campers arrived a day ahead of time, securing prime spots in tent campgrounds and along a row of 153 RV electricity/water hookups. Norman music fan Tyler Shadid said “we moved out here as quickly as we could” as he set up his tent. He said he and his friends got their tickets in February. A small city sprang up to serve music fans. Muskogee County Emergency Medical Service and EASTAR Health System set up a mobile medical unit with 16 medics, four nurses, and a doctor. Blair said 350 to 400 volunteers — including many from service clubs — helped at the festival. “And I had a hard-working staff,” he said. Complex grounds became a food truck paradise, offering all sorts of foods and beverages. They included snow cones, po’ boy tacos, Philly cheese steaks and Everything Bacon. The Everything Bacon
food truck offered candied bacon and a gut-busting dish featuring french fries topped with macaroni and cheese with crumbled bacon. G Fest brought more to Muskogee than just music fans from 25 states, Blair said. Those fans likely made an economic impact of $4 million to $6 million on the area economy. “It also shows Hatbox as a viable venue for this kind of event,” Blair said. “Hatbox can become a premier festival player in the region — in the state.” Even so, Blair said there are “100 things we can do better.” For example, organizers are working to improve access to the main stage, he said. The gfestmuskogee.com countdown clock already is ticking off the days, hours, minutes and seconds to G Fest 2017. Those dates are June 15, 16 and 17. And Blair said to expect “more of the same — with improvements.”