Spectators at the Greer Family Fest will be afforded a more advantageous view with the stage placed at the circular drive at the entrance of City Hall.
The stage Aaron Tippin will perform on at the 2012 Village Hospital Greer Family Fest will be located at the picturesque circular drive entrance to City Hall.
"This location affords more people to see Aaron Tippin perform and we're anticipating the biggest crowd ever to attend the festival," Mark Owens, Greer Chamber of Commerce Events Coordinator, said.
The festival is Friday, May 4 6-10 p.m. and Saturday, May 5 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. The chamber has nearly-finalized its logistics map and is beginning to fill in the spaces with sponsors and vendors.
The stage has been located in the front of city hall in the past and big screens were brought in for peripheral viewing.
The Nationwide Insurance Garfield Main Stage will be facing the wide expansive park that connects the food court and borders the vendors on Poinsett Street. "That is a big park and will accommodate a lot of people," Lynn Pascazio, Director of Marketing of the Chamber, said
It's anticipated the amphitheater will provide an additional venue opportunity for festival goers to sit and listen to Greer's popular hometown country star. Moving the stage also accommodates additional viewing on the side nearest the park's playground.
"We're excited with that location of the stage because the presence of the American flag will be overhead and reflects Tippin's connection with the armed services," Owens said. "This is a larger stage than we had in years past."
Tippin released a patriotic anthem, "Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly" soon after the Sept. 11, 2011 attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. It was his most successful crossover single. Tippin has remained an entertainment icon for soldiers, frequently going to Afghanistan to entertain the U.S. troops.
Custom Audio will provide the hydraulic stage and sound system. "They have provided sound with acts as large as Bruce Springsteen so we're confident there will be good sound quality the night of the concert," Owens said. "It will also pump music back toward the vendors at the festival."
The 28th Family Fest features, arts, crafts, food and business vendors and entertainment for two days.
The chamber has begun coordinating its volunteers. Churches, businesses, service clubs and students who need community service hours are invited to participate. Call Lynda Speakman or Patty Cornelius at 877-32312 or email [email protected] and Patty at [email protected].