Best Festival of Discovery Yet

“There is no question that the ninth annual Festival of Discovery set the bar,” Barrineau said. “Over the next month we will begin compiling hotel room nights and hospitality sales and Web-generated hits and things like that. Just from the pictures we’ve seen, there was just a sea of people Uptown, particularly Friday night and then Saturday from noon until 2. You could hardly move with all the people. All the restaurants downtown, all the blues venues, were full.

Greenwood-based Divine Smoke team members, from left, Dennis Dill, David A. Hord and Debbie Dill prepare their chicken entry Saturday as the Food Network records the action. (Staff photo by T.M. James)

“The trickle-down effect of this festival, when we start putting some numbers to it, is going to be unbelievable.”

Barrineau estimated a minimum of 20,000 people attended the festival Thursday through Saturday. He said the economic impact would likely come in somewhere between $800,000 and $1 million. Barrineau added 10,200 Taster’s Choice tickets were sold at the event.

Jones said she also will be compiling hard numbers on the economic impact of the festival in the coming months, and added local hotels were crowded throughout the weekend.

“I have heard from several hotels that they were booked out solid,” Jones said. “I am trying to compile some numbers to see exactly how many rooms were rented out during the time period. I have heard rooms were tough to come by.”

Barrineau said numerous agencies helped in making the festival a success.

“The Greenwood CPW was tremendous,” he said. “The amount of temporary water and power needed for this event is substantial. It’s almost like setting up a mini-neighborhood for a three-day event. All their linemen deserve a lot of credit.

“EMBARQ is another one, with all that they did to make sure we had the wireless system. Those little things mean a lot.”

One of the highlights of the weekend was the fact Food Network was in town throughout the festival shooting an episode of Food Network Challenge with Keegan Gerhard.

Jones said the logistics behind having a national cable network in town were not cumbersome.

“I knew that there would be a lot of different things they would need in regards to filming the event,” Jones said. “But their crew was a pleasure to work with. They tried not to hinder our event in any way and wanted the event to go on as it should.”

Barrineau said the city and Food Network worked well together.

“Having Food Network in definitely presented a lot of challenges,” Barrineau said. “I think we met every request that they had. They wanted to take a lot of what they called ‘beauty shots,’ where they had a background that is colorful. They used our green landscaping in the downtown, they used our fountain.

“I think they got what they wanted. Obviously we won’t know until the spring of 2010 (when the show is set to air).”

Jones said Greenwood should take pride in being chosen by Food Network.

“I’m proud for Greenwood,” she said. “ I think it speaks volumes for Greenwood that they chose us over many, many other venues they could have gone to.”

Barrineau said he expects the Festival of Discovery to continue to grow in different ways.

“To be honest, I think the barbecue is maxed out,” he said. “We have to remember that the foundation of our event is that Southern hospitality, that friendship, that family. If we grow the barbecue anymore, we lose that. But, I think we still have plenty of room to grow the (Blues Cruise).

“I know there are people who say that eight venues is a lot of music. But, all those venues were standing room only. We’ve got room to add four or five more blues venues.

“I think now, with the investments we’ve made in the Emerald Triangle, on Oregon and on Maxwell, we can really focus on the artisan and cultural district.”