Girls just wanna have fun… and so does everyone else when it involves an 80s band, beer garden and tons of merchants doing fun things.
Waverly’s last summer concert was on August 17 and it was a hit - breaking any previous concert attendance record we’d held with over 1,200 people in attendance throughout the night. People were all for getting into the groove, dancing in the dark and whipping it real good. Okay, I promise to stop with the 80s song references… for now.
In all seriousness, it was a blast. Of course, this concert follows the concert we had to reschedule due to inclement weather (read all about that and how to keep your cool in a similar situation by clicking here). Luckily, this time the weather was on our side, and for an August day in the south, it wasn’t even unbearably hot!
I think this concert was particularly special to people because it was the end of summer. There were so many families out for the evening, enjoying the night before kids went back to school. The fact that it was closer to the end of the summer may have meant fewer people were on vacation.
Of course, I’d like to think the previous concert we held at Waverly this summer for the community also helped, since they each held the attendance record before this 80s concert hit it out of the park.
The band, The Breakfast Club, made sure no one was going to forget about them and played great all evening. There were so many in attendance, many ended up sitting in the street, which was closed off for the event. The splash pad was open, so kids could have a blast and cool off while parents enjoyed the music and some local beer.
For this concert we moved the beer garden where those drinking had to stay right near Waverly’s splash pad. This was a smart move on our part because it limited the number of people trying to leave the beer garden with their drinks. Instead, parents were able to keep an eye on their young ones while enjoying a cold one from The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery or Sugar Creek Brewing Company.
If there was one hiccup to the evening, it’s that we had no idea over 1,200 people would attend. Only 15 minutes before the event ended we ran out of beer. Since it was so close to the end of the event, no one really noticed.
In addition to the delicious beer we had, Firehouse Subs, a Waverly merchant, participated by boxed meals and bottled water so guests could enjoy some dinner during the concert.
Looking to next year, I’m extremely excited to see these concerts draw even more people in. Some changes I’ll be instituting is rotating the stage ever so slightly so large crowds sitting in the road can have a better view of the band and extending the beer garden because it’s so popular.
Don’t stop believin’ y’all. Next year’s Waverly Concert Series will be even better.
Participating merchants:
Vendors:
Photographer: Ashley Roberts
Rentals: Party Reflections
Band: The Breakfast Club
Beer: The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery and Sugar Creek Brewing Company
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