Studer Community Institute

Foo Foo Festival wraps up successful first year this weekend

November 14, 2014
/ Mike Ensley
/ community-dashboard

The first Foo Foo Festival completes its 2014 run this weekend with several events, and if the previous week’s events are any indication, the weekend will be busy. “Community response has been great,” said David Bear, president of Arts, Culture and Entertainment Inc., the festival’s organizer. “We’ve seen awesome turnout at events and heard nothing but positive feedback.” Bear cites a record turnout for the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show and The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival, both marketed heavily under the Foo Foo Festival banner this year. Other organizations have seen growth as well, Bear said. “I heard from First City Arts Center that their event (Foo Foo on Fire) drew more than double the number of people who normally attend their events and triple the revenue,” Bear said. Local hotels have also seen an increase in business. “I have heard personally from people who said they have had a hard time finding a place to stay,” Bear said. “That’s a good thing to hear as it means people are coming in for the events.” Foo Foo Festival received funding from a variety of state and local sources, including BP grant money. Even without the corporation’s relief funding next year, the Foo Foo Festival will go on. “The buzz we’ve created around this first year event and the successes we’ve seen will definitely keep this effort going next year,” Bear said. “We see this going on long into the future.” Many events still are on tap for the weekend, including the culmination of the weeklong Back on the Block Festival in the historic Belmont-Devilliers neighborhood. It concludes on Saturday with a Block Party featuring music and dance. “The Back on the Block Festival has been a great success,” Bear said. “It is such an honor to help showcase the rich history and culture of that neighborhood.” Bear himself will be especially busy, as he is competing in the Pensacola Eggfest at Blue Wahoos stadium. The event, which benefits the local youth leadership group Chain Reaction is a grilling contest featuring the Big Green Egg cookers. “I’ll be grilling on Saturday,” Bear said. “I hope everyone will come down and vote for me!” Other events scheduled this weekend include comedian Jerry Seinfeld at the Saenger Theatre, the Japanese Film Festival, the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival, Pensacola Craft Beer Festival and the Pensacola Pop Expo. For a complete day-by-day lineup, visit the Foo Foo Festival website at www.foofoofest.com.

Back to Blogs

Foo Foo Festival wraps up successful first year this weekend

Recent Posts