Festival on the Border planned as new area music event (Updated)

Editor’s note: A statement from festival organizers is at the end of this report.

A new music event designed to possibly replace the now defunct Fort Smith Classic and the Celebrity Classic has been named the Festival on the Border and will be held Sept. 8-10.

The Fort Smith Classic was part of a professional golf tour held for 13 years at Hardscrabble Country Club in Fort Smith. It failed after not attracting a presenting sponsor.

Reports are mixed as to why the Celebrity Classic event was cancelled. Some say area hospitals declined to renew major funding, while a note to volunteers suggested the Classic board was looking for something new.

“The Celebrity Classic was looking for a new event, as we felt the past 16 years had run its course for what we have been doing.  We are excited about this new event, and want you all to get involved,” according to a note from Jackie Garrett to former Classic board members and volunteers.

The Celebrity Classic began in 1992 to raise money for selected local, health-related charities. Between 1992 and 2009, the Celebrity Classic donated more than $2.2 million to their designated charities.

An e-mail message from Joan McCoy, president of the Classic Charitable Foundation, and Jackie Garrett, former event chair, provided details to past and present foundation board members and volunteers.

“Festival on the Border will come under our existing Classic Charitable Foundation just like Celebrity Classic did,” noted the e-mail. “It will be held in early September with well known entertainment names (currently in the process of booking them and will be announced later). The focus will be on our community and our charities.”

John Speck, advertising director at the Times Record, will be the new chairman of the event.

The three venues for the new festival will be at the campus green at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, the Fort Smith Convention Center and the Riverfront Park. Ticket prices are expected to range between $10 and $20.

“We do not have any acts yet, but should have them next month,” Garrett noted in her e-mail dated Jan. 28. “We plan to sell tickets online and hope to draw from Tulsa, Little Rock and other area towns. We think this could grow into something really big for Fort Smith and hope to add events as we grow. While all details have not been worked out yet, we envision arts and vendors being a part of it.”

Following is a statement released late Friday by festival organizers.
A new event combining music of several genres is in its creation stage.

The Festival on the Border will be held at Harry E. Kelley Park (River Park), and Fort Smith Convention Center Thursday through Saturday, September 8, 9 and 10, 2011.

Plans are to bring in headline acts for each day of the festival, with efforts to include classic and modern rock, country, blues, jazz and the Fort Smith Symphony among the featured styles.

Last summer, when it was determined that the Fort Smith Classic golf tournament would cease to exist, discussions took place among a small group of volunteers and sponsors as to what could be done to raise funds for charitable organizations that depended on previous donations from the tournament.

Supporters and organizers of the Celebrity Classic were also involved in early discussions to determine interest in the possibility of combining forces to create a single large community event to replace both.

Earlier this week the Classic Charitable Foundation board gave its approval for the Festival on the Border to be the foundation’s designated event, clearing the way for sponsors and attendees to count funds given to the event as charitable donations through the foundation’s 501(c)3.

John Speck, Advertising Director of the Times Record, has accepted the role of Event Chairman, and has assembled a team of committee chairmen who have experience in various aspects of events, including volunteer organization, contracting for talent, fundraising, marketing and charity outreach.

Sponsorship packages have been created, with the intent that sponsorships would cover the costs of production, promotion and entertainment, so all ticket revenue would be available to support local charities.

Ticket prices for the majority of the individual venues will be $10-$20. A full festival armband to be available as well, covering admission to all venues and days.
The group intends to announce a slate of scheduled musical groups and venues by March 1.

For more information, contact John Speck (479) 353-1202 (cell) or (479) 785-7726 (office).