The Foothills Festival in Jasper has once again proven to be a massive success, with attendance numbers exceeding expectations.
City Planner Brent McCarver shared some data from Placer AI, an analytics group associated with Alabama Power, during the Tuesday, Oct. 17 Jasper City Council Meeting. McCarver provided The Community Journal with even more information than he mentioned during the meeting via email.
The festival, which took place from Sept. 15-16, spanned the area between 18th and 20th Streets from Corona Avenue to 6th Avenue. A staggering 44,636 foot traffic visits were recorded during the event, with 36,540 unique devices indicating actual attendance. This figure represents a remarkable 230% increase compared to the previous year and a 297% increase compared to two years ago. In fact, the attendance numbers have soared by an astonishing 441% over the past three years. The 2022 festival saw a total of 28,725 attendees, making this year’s turnout even more impressive.
The festival’s peak attendance occurred on Friday at 8 p.m., with 19,207 people flocking to the event. Saturday’s peak attendance was even higher, reaching an impressive 25,249 individuals. In comparison, the 2022 festival saw 14,129 attendees on Friday and 20,497 on Saturday.
The busiest period during the festival was between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday, with foot traffic peaking at 17,901 to 25,249 visitors. That was during the time period when Vertical Horizon, Tonic and Scott Stapp were performing. This mirrors the trend observed in 2022, where foot traffic during the same time frame ranged from 14,006 to 15,214.
Furthermore, an overwhelming 98% of unique visitors traveled from within a 250-mile radius, with 47% of them coming from distances greater than 50 miles.
“Having 37000 people attend an event in our city is incredible,” Jasper Mayor David O’Mary said. “The event is about having fun, but a major off shoot is the positive impact it has on our image.”
The impact of the Foothills Festival on the city of Jasper cannot be overstated. The festival continues to grow in popularity, attracting visitors from near and far. With its remarkable success this year, it is even more clear that the festival has become a highlight of the city’s cultural calendar, and its impact will be felt for years to come.
“This is amazing for our city, an amazing impact in so many ways – and not possible without the City of Jasper and the private partnerships others provide,” McCarver said. “Foothills Festival is well worth the investment, the time and the work.”
