BY KAROLINE PFEIL
What they’re saying
back—that part was amazing.” Additionally, Niles City Knives owner Donnie Bowman said that the festival was a success. “That’s the most sales we’ve ever done at a show, for Pecan. … It was easier to get my stu in there and unload. It normally costs us around $300 for the weekend to park down there, so we saved on that,” Bowman said.
River Jane & Co. owner Mia Todd attended her rst Pecan Street Festival event this year and said that the event was a positive experience for her overall. “What was bene cial for us as vendors is that they had security there all night long, sweeping the area,” Todd said. “They were taking care of everything and I left all of my items there. We didn’t even have to break down, take [our items]
We were really worried with the new venue that we would not get a quarter of the crowd that we normally get. But for us, it was one of our biggest shows we’ve done for [Pecan Street Festival]. DONNIE BOWMAN, OWNER OF NILES CITY KNIVES
What’s next?
The bene ts
Sorting out details
Aside from increased safety and parking spaces, relocating to Bee Cave meant that festival producers were able to tap into demographics typically not accessed by Pecan Street festivals held in Austin, such as children and older age groups, Pecan Street Festival Executive Producer Luis Zapata said. “I did see a lot more kids at this venue than I’ve ever seen at Pecan,” Bowman said of the Bee Cave festival. “For me personally, I wouldn’t take my kids down to the Pecan festival [on Sixth Street].”
Following the May festival, the city of Austin has expressed interest in bringing the biannual event back downtown this fall. “This is going to be [Pecan Street Festival’s] 50th commemorative year, and so we’re excited to work with them,” said Anthony Segura, Austin’s interim director of the Economic Development Department.
In order to host the festival in Bee Cave, festival producers worked with the city and the Hill Country Galleria to coordinate the event. One concern shared by the city was the overlap of voting day May 3 with festi- val activities. In order to avoid disruptions, the city alerted residents of the issue ahead of time. “Thanks to close coordination between multiple city departments and event organizers, the Pecan Street Festival in Bee Cave was a safe and successful event,” Bee Cave Director of Communications Crystal Cotti said. In addition to touring the festival, some attendees shopped in local stores, bringing money into the city. “The city of Bee Cave is proud that we could provide a warm welcome for this beloved tradition and hopes everyone who visited felt right at home,” Cotti said.
The impact
Festival proceeds bene t local nonpro t and aid groups through the Pecan Street Association and range from $5,000- $15,000 annually.
Age demographics
Post-attendance surveys from previous years show that under 20% of attendees were under 25.
• Austin Fire Department • Boy Scouts of America • Austin Pets Alive
<25
25-36
37+
• Habitat for Humanity • American Red Cross • Meals on Wheels Central Texas
39%
42%
NOTE: THIS LIST IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE.
19%
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