The Georgetown Rocks the Equinox Music Festival, which drew 3,500 to 4,000 people to the city this past Saturday, was a big success and it went smoothly, organizers say.
Al Joseph, president of the Georgetown Business Association, the group in charge of the event, said he was very pleased with the turnout for this first-time event held from 2 to 11 p.m.
“By 6 p.m. the crowds increased and Front Street was packed for the last couple of hours,” Joseph said.
“We plan to make this an annual event and I don’t perceive any huge changes for next year’s festival.”
Public comments
Some people attending the festival said they really enjoyed themselves.
Roger and Jennifer Clyde of Surfside Beach attended the festival with their three daughters, Haley, 5, Lindsey, 9, and Ashley, 13, spending the night at the Jameson Inn in Georgetown.
“This is awesome,” Roger Clyde said during the event. “This is a beautiful venue for an event like this and it brings locals and visitors together.”
Ed of Georgetown and Paul of Pawleys Island both agreed.
“Let’s do it some more,” Ed said. “We need to promote Georgetown and local businesses more. Let’s keep Georgetown rocking.”
“Events like the Wooden Boat Show are great, but this is Rock-n-Roll,” Paul said.
Promoting businesses
One of the main focusses of the event was to promote downtown businesses, Joseph said.
“The reason we had two stages, one on Screven Street and one on Orange Street, was so people would walk up and down the street and go into the shops and restaurants,” Joseph said.
“The preliminary comments we’ve gotten from talking to folks are positive and some merchants have said business was booming.”
He added that no one has told him anything negative about the effects of the festival.
“If there had been some negative things, I think we would have heard about it,” Joseph said. “We just want to thank Georgetown and everyone who came out.”
No incidents
Georgetown Police Chief Paul Gardner said organizers planned the event well and there were no incidents the whole day, thanks to volunteers and police officers.
“The public conducted themselves appropriately and everyone was well prepared,” Gardner said. “It was a beautiful day for a great cause.”
Tara Hall
The proceeds from the event, which Joseph said have not yet been calculated, will go to Tara Hall Home for Boys.
Jim Dumm, director of Tara Hall since 1978, said no matter how much was raised, the exposure the boys’ home received from being the beneficiary of the event was very helpful.
“People who hadn’t heard of us before know who we are now,” Dumm said. “It was really a great affair and it was good for Georgetown.”
He said money from the music festival will go to the Tara Hall general operating fund.
“It goes to our light bill and milk bill,” Dumm said. “That is our biggest need, operational funds.”
Anyone who would like to donate to Tara Hall Home for Boys can call 843-546-3000, or visit tarahall.org.
By Clayton Stairs
cstairs@gtowntimes.com