Online ticket sales for this year’s Bayfest are running roughly 50 percent ahead of last year’s pace, with buyers purchasing tickets from as far away as Hawaii, Scotland and England, festival organizers say.
Shana Jordan, a spokesperson for Bayfest, said the festival has been surprised and encouraged by the early demand. “We have seen an increase in ticket sales online,” Jordan said. “We have had sixteen states, as far away as Hawaii. We’ve had two countries, Scotland and England. We are very excited people come to Bayfest in Mobile, Alabama.”
A Possible Bounce-Back From the Oil Spill
Organizers believe part of the surge may be tied to this summer’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which kept many regular visitors away from Gulf Coast beaches for much of the season. Bayfest officials say some of those travelers may have simply delayed their coastal Alabama trip until October, opting to combine a visit with the festival instead of a beach trip earlier in the summer.
The oil spill hit tourism-dependent businesses across coastal Alabama hard in 2010, with hotels, restaurants and beach vendors all reporting steep drops in visitors during the peak summer season. A strong turnout for Bayfest would offer a bright spot for the region’s tourism and hospitality industries heading into the fall.
About This Year’s Festival
Now in its 16th year, Bayfest fills downtown Mobile with multiple stages and a wide mix of musical acts each fall. This year’s festival runs Friday, Oct. 1 through Sunday, Oct. 3, with a lineup that organizers have been rolling out in stages throughout the summer. Weekend and single-day passes are available through the festival’s website.