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The sun won.

After two unusually cold days for the 2009 Foothills Fall Festival, the clouds parted on Sunday, and while they didn't dissipate, it was enough for the sun to throw down a few rays of warmth on the final day of Maryville's largest annual event.

“We just appreciate everyone who stood by us and came out in spite of the cold and wet weather, and we're really thankful to have some sun today,” said Jane Groff, events coordinator for the City of Maryville and the principal planner for the festival. “It feels warmer today, and with any luck, the sun make it more comfortable for everyone.”
Despite whatever discomfort concert-goers at Theater in the Park may have felt on Friday and Saturday, they still turned out in droves — for Alan Jackson, festival officials estimate that a crowd of 10,000 turned out. Despite the numbers, there were no reports of problems other than minor foot traffic and overcrowding along the walking paths.

Sunday's crowds were a bit more modest, but by the time classic country-rock outfit Sawyer Brown went on stage, Theater in the Park once again began to fill up. In fact, several attendees came out just to see Sunday's lineup, which included country star Rodney Atkins.

“It's our first day, and we came just for Rodney,” said Diann Wolfe of Powell, enjoying homemade peach ice cream in the food court with her friend Jerry Sexton of Fountain City. “He sings about the people, he's got love for the Lord and he's a good family man.”

The frigid temperatures didn't altogether halt sales of ice cream, shaved ice and other warm-weather treats — after all, “it's never too cold for ice cream,” Wolfe added — but for every cone sold, 10 gallons of something hot was being sold by various other vendors. According to Christi Silliman of the Texas Roadhouse booth, her crew had sold roughly 160 gallons of hot chocolate and 50 gallons of chili by Sunday afternoon.

Brisk business

Business had been brisk, she added, but she planned to take time out on Sunday night to see Sawyer Brown.

“They're the reason I bought tickets,” she said. “I don't care if we shut down; I'm seeing Sawyer Brown tonight.”

Throughout the festival, concert-goers took a cue from Saturday night's bitter temperatures in preparing for the cold after sundown on Sunday. Jeff Allen of Maryville was dressed in thermals and a double-layer jacket; his wife, Sarah, lamented that her own thermals wouldn't fit beneath her jeans. Justin Latham and Alexia Amburn, students at Pellissippi State who live in Knoxville, were equally bundled, with Amburn decked out in camouflage overalls.

“It was bad (Saturday) night, and we couldn't get warm, but we sat through it,” Latham said.

Amburn warmed a little, she said, when country singer Justin Moore performed.

“He's hot!” she said.

“That's all I heard about — Justin's looks,” Latham added.

A number of fans got to meet Moore on Saturday night when he visited the barricade separating the backstage area from the food vendors, including Maryville High School freshman Dustin Beets. Beets can usually be found during the festival posted by the barricade; it's where he's met a number of festival performers and gotten their autographs. Saturday, he obtained those of Justin Moore and the members of Trailer Choir; in years past, he's gotten artists Kellie Pickler, Jason Michael Carroll, Bucky Covington and Trent Tomlinson to sign memorabilia.

“I just stand back there in front of the buses and wait,” said Beets, who's been to every Foothills Fall Festival “since I can remember.”

“I don't always see them on stage, because I want to get their autographs,” he added. “If I see them get off their bus and they're not too far away, I'll yell or try to get their attention. Most of them are really nice and don't mind signing stuff for you.”

Hopeful fans

Throughout the weekend, fans hopeful of meeting their idols waited by that barricade, and on Sunday afternoon, the Allens were among them. Because of Jeff's work schedule, the couple had to miss the Friday and Saturday concerts, but they were enthusiastic about Sunday night's performance by Rodney Atkins. The father of two daughters, Allen said he hoped Atkins would play the song “Cleaning This Gun (Come On In, Boy),” about a protective father greeting his little girl's suitor.

Atkins wasn't reclusive during the festival. Fans were buzzing about him walking the ArtWay along Broadway Avenue with his son, Elijah, who also rode his bike and walked the family's dog around the backstage area. Several times he left his tour bus and entered the hospitality tent, dining on pot roast prior to Sawyer Brown's performance.

A hundred yards away, John Russell and Glenda Evans of Maryville were entering the food court in search of sustenance themselves. This year marked the sixth or seventh Foothills Fall Festival that Russell has attended, and country star Alan Jackson has been one of the high points of them all, he said.

“Last night's concert was really good,” he said. “I think everybody enjoyed every song he sang.”

And while the concerts have been the main draw over the past 10 years, there's more than just music at Theater in the Park, Russell said — there's community, and it's a big part of why the festival has endured.

“I've met a lot of people here,” he said. “I got to know one of my best friends today at the Foothills Fall Festival a few years ago. Last night, we met a lady who's seen Alan Jackson 94 times over the past four years, and watching her have such a good time was great.

“We see people like that every year, from all over the country. Everybody I talk to knows about the Foothills Fall Festival, and I plan my schedule around coming every year. These are three days I take off from work.”
Relaxation. Community. Friendship. Enjoyment. These are words that concert-goers associate with the Foothills Fall Festival, as much as they do the music that's played there. It's the reason that folks like Faye Nichols of Maryville, age 63, have been to every single one and will continue to come back in the future.

“I haven't missed a one, and I wouldn't have missed this one for the world,” Nichols said. “I'm a real fan of Alan Jackson's. He's my favorite singer, and I slept in the car on Friday night so I could get in and get good seats for him.

“I meet a lot of people here, and it's such a nice thing for Maryville. It's really put Maryville on the map, and I'm
going to keep coming back as long as I'm alive.”