Fall Fest ahead?
Having lost what had become an annual event in mid-July — as the two-day MusicFest in West End Center was cancelled due to stormy weather — Shop Farragut/Farragut Business Alliance is heading into autumn with plans for a fall festival in October.
Successful with fall festivals in recent years, which have drawn “over 6,000 people” according to Alliance executive director Stephen Krempasky, “We have not done a fundraiser since pre-COVID, so we’re looking at trying to get some revenue — and how to do that,” he added. “What’s different and what makes sense for us to be involved in” should be the focus.
As for specifics, “The idea is to do some sort of food or beverage highlight. But how that’s done, we don’t know yet,” Krempasky said. “Candace (Viox, Alliance chair) mentioned something where we develop a fall festival that would feature, maybe, brewery or distillery samples, and people would get a wrist band that allows them, for one flat fee … to sample everything they like.
“And you would have food trucks and other entities that want to showcase, where they can sell or do a $5 admission and we do a kickback to them,” he added.
Additionally, he said other businesses could showcase their products and services with a small booth fee.
“The idea is to get the liquor all donated, which as a 501(c) 6, (businesses) can donate to us, and do the idea of a sampling,” Krempasky said.
“In the past, with the Taste of Farragut, one of the reasons we couldn’t do it as a restaurant was we were asked to donate all of our food and our labor and to man the booth to give away all of the product,” Viox said. “We’re trying to figure out a way … utilize some our local breweries, local alcohol and turn it more into a brewery-alcohol tasting event.”
As for hatching the fall fest idea, “We had a small meeting, Candace and I since our last board meeting, trying to identify something to do in the fall, before Countdown to Light the Park …,” Krempasky said.
Venue sites
Alliance members also discussed several possible venues, such as the parking lots of West End Center and Village Green shopping center, or inside of the former Stein Mart store at the shopping center.
“I talked to Tommy Vann (Farragut developer and partner in M&M Development, which owns West End Center), just to try to keep the event within what we consider the Town Center,” Krempasky said.
At West End, “the only time to do that is during fall break,” the executive director said.
He explained the event must happen there when it does not interfere with parents picking up their children after school at Farragut Intermediate and Farragut Middle schools.
Day of the week
“I thought maybe the Sunday before school starts back,” Krempasky suggested. “Certainly, the parking lot over at Village Green would be available and Stein Mart is a possibility until it gets leased.
“But I’m open for all ideas until we pull the trigger,” he added.
Krempasky suggested holding the event on a Sunday because of University of Tennessee Football being so popular on Saturdays. “And Sundays are actually very good for turnout,” he added.
However, Michelle Austin, an Alliance member, asked, “Do you think people would be comfortable with having a festival with beer on a Sunday?
“We’ve got a lot of people moving here from California,” Krempasky observed.
“I understand, but I’m saying we’re still in the South,” Austin said.
Viox said some people are angry they cannot buy alcohol on Sunday.
