Wakarusa pulls large, diverse crowd; eager for 2012

story by Peter Lewis
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Another hot, sunny weekend come and another successful Wakarusa gone.

While Wakarusa organizers are still counting through the box-office receipts, festival director Brett Mossiman said the attendance was well over 20,000 this year, adding that “it was the best year ever in terms of ticket sales.”

The 8th annual Wakarusa Music Festival was held June 2-5 just north of Ozark on Mulberry Mountain. After its start in Lawrence, Kan., in 2004, Wakarusa made the move in 2009 to its new home nestled in the Ozarks.

Mossiman expects an official number to be announced at some point next week. Even without that number, however, he was confident in assessing the festival as a success, both financially and beyond. Noting that the festival seemed to be “remarkably laid back this year,” with very few major incidents.

The sentiments of Mosiman were echoed by many festival attendees.

Elizabeth Manney, a Fayetteville-based political consultant, was in attendance for the second straight year with some fellow Arkansans, but noted that they met folks from all over the U.S. Manney said the wide-ranging geographic pull was further proof Wakarusa is a truly noteworthy event, not only for music lovers, but as an advertisement for the scenic beauty of Arkansas itself.

It was Ali McIntosh’s first year at Wakarusa, but the Fort Smith native was ecstatic when asked to recap her experiences.

“It was the most fun weekend I have had in years,” she said.

She offered a slight caveat, noting that the experience of Wakarusa was similar to the pain experienced during childbirth being counteracted by the joy of their child.

“It was so amazing that by the time I made it home I had already forgotten about the misery of the heat!” she explained.

When asked what makes the festival stand out amongst so many other options around the United States, McIntosh said the sense of camaraderie amongst attendees.

“I think part of the beauty of the festival is the kind and playful spirits of everyone there. I didn’t know most of the people at my campsite when I arrived, but three days later and a group of 12 from six different cities were all planning when we could get together again,” she said.

Part of that “playful” spirit brought out other attendants.

Brett Robinson, a graphic designer and stand-up comedian based out of Northwest Arkansas, admitted he was there largely for the “people watching.” When pressed to elaborate on his experience, he deadpanned, “Wakarusa was fun. There was a ferris wheel, good food, interesting people, and glo sticks. Oh, and there was music.”

And with the throngs of elaborately dressed mixing with the scantily clad, it’s easy to forget that Wakarusa is in fact a world class music festival and not some free-spirit carnival. But that’s part of the draw. And a vibe that seems explicitly cultivated by the event organizers and festival-goers alike.

With the 2011 festival in their rearview mirror, Mossiman and others begin the focus on Harvest Fest, set to take place Oct. 13-16. But Mossiman noted that they’re already looking toward Wakarusa 2012 as well. No doubt seeking to ensure that folks like Manney and McIntosh will once again have their expectations met. Because both plan on attending.

“I absolutely can’t wait until next time,” said McIntosh.

Manney noted, “I will for sure be there in 2012.”