Organizers said Monday that although this year's Riverfest didn't break any attendance records, the event went "smoother" than any in recent memory. Only a contract dispute remains to be dealt with.
Riverfest, which dates back to a 1978 symphony performance on the banks of the Arkansas River, ended late Sunday after a three-day run that drew about 235,000 people to the Riverfront Park area for food, music, and various vendors and artists, Riverfest Committee Chairman Krista Thomas said.
"We were thrilled with the crowds. There were great crowds during the day, and the Kids Zone was filled," Thomas said. "It went smoother this year, and that was awesome."
The 235,000 visitors fell short of last year's event, which drew more than 250,000. But Rob Bell, chairman of the event's board, said the drop is a part of the "ebb and flow" that most events of this size encounter and isn't a cause for concern.
"Across the nation, a lot of festivals are dying," Bell said. "But we're consistent. We've grown a bit each year, we maintain things. ... And we've been able to keep our prices low because we rely on a lot of volunteers."
In all, more than 3,000 people volunteered to work the event, Bell said.
Not everything ran according to plan, however. Headliner CeeLo Green was not paid in full for his Saturday night performance because it was shorter than the time agreed upon in his contract, Riverfest board member Cheddy Wiggington said.
Green had agreed to perform for between 75 and 90 minutes, but spent only about 40 minutes on stage, Wigginton said. Green was more than 30 minutes late for his scheduled show time at 9:45 p.m.
"We believe that he didn't fulfill his contractual obligation," Wiggington said.
Green already received nearly half of his compensation, however. Riverfest performers receive between 10 percent and 50 percent of their payment up front as a deposit, and headliners like Green receive deposits on the "higher end" of that range, Wiggington said.
Green is the first performer in Riverfest's 37-year history to not receive full payment because of an abbreviated performance, Wiggington said.
Most Riverfest performers sign contracts to perform for between 60 and 90 minutes.
Veteran rock band Chicago agreed to play for at least 75 minutes Friday night but turned in a performance that lasted 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Sunday was the festival's most successful day, drawing 88,000 -- up from 75,000 the day before. Thomas credited Sunday night's main musical acts, country musician Hank Williams Jr. and rock group The Fray.
"The crowds were phenomenal," Thomas said.
Thomas said sales figures were still being tallied but that it appeared that vendors did well over the holiday weekend, which was unmarred by rain or extreme heat.
Despite a steady flow of bodies, Thomas said she was unaware of any public safety problems, including crime, that occurred at the event.
Riverfest has often been hit by crime, typically in the downtown blocks surrounding the event gates. In 2011, a large-scale fight ended in a nonfatal shooting.
A combination of private security guards and local police officers provided security both inside and outside the park. Although Little Rock Police Department officials were not reached for comment Monday, arrest records showed that there were no major arrests in the River Market or Riverfront area.
In April, the Little Rock Board of Directors approved a contract with Riverfest, making this year's event the first to not operate in city parks under temporary permits.
As a result, Thomas said, organizers enforced the city's smoking ban in parks for the event and said her committee hadn't heard any complaints about the enforcement.
Thomas said it only took a few hours to tear down and clean up the park in "record time," an effort that started as soon as the last guest left the park's gates.
The quick cleanup was the result of an experienced volunteer base, one that has grown with the event and become expert in making sure things run without a hitch.
"We've really become a well-oiled machine," Thomas said." Our volunteers are really on everything. If something popped up, someone hopped on it immediately. It was one of the smoothest years we've ever had. Everything clicked."
The event's contract with the city is scheduled to last five years, with an automatic renewal for 25 years if neither the event organizers nor the city objects.
Metro on 05/27/2014