|
Festival #5: April 24, 25, 1981 Dave Maynard of Tampa and Martin Decato of Lakeland jam a little on the banjo while waiting for their turn to perform during the annual Auburndale Florida State Bluegrass championships |
AUBURNDALE
- The first place prize may have been double that of
last year's, but it wasn't enough to attract the bands
expected for this weekend's Florida State Championship
Bluegrass Festival on Lake Ariana.
"You
could say I'm a little disappointed", said promoter
Leonard Needham.
Instea
d of the expected 20 bands, only eight performed
-
the same number that played last year when first
prize was $500 and the festival was held at Auburndale's
downtown city park.
The
crowd also was disappointing.
He
hoped for 5,000 people. Instead, an estimated 1,000
people turned out for the two-day event .
Needham
complained of the same problem Auburndale's city
fathers aired last year - the festival is a losing
venture.
"I'd
say I'm out $1,500 already," Needham said Saturday.
This
weekend's fifth annual Auburndale bluegrass competition
almost never happened.
The
Auburndale City Commissioners decided in January
not to sponsor the festival because it didn't make
enough money. Last year, it netted about $2,000.
Needham,
an independent Eagle Lake promoter, agreed in March
to cosponsor this year's competition with Auburndale
resident Carl Allen after several people complained
of the festival's death.
Why
back a known money loser?
"I
did it to help the senior citizens," Needham said.
The
$1,000 Needham advanced Auburndale for use of the
city beach, and a 25 percent cut on ticket sales
are earmarked for improvements to the Auburndale
senior citizen building.
 |
The
Black Mountain Cloggers of Auburndale danced up
a storm. News Chief photos by Brad Soft |
It
appears the senior citizens will be the only winners.
Needham doubted Saturday whether he would make a
profit.
Some
spectators speculated why more people and bands didn't
attend.
A
bluegrass enthusiast from Tampa said another festival
this weekend in Lawtey probably attracted many people who
otherwise might have come to Auburndale.
Cost
was another factor.
An
Auburndale resident, who didn't want to be identified,
said the festival may have been too expensive.
But
the people who came to the festival said they enjoyed
the show. The weather was beautiful and there was
nonstop bluegrass music.
