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Streator Fest organizers expecting record crowds as festival returns this week · Illinois Valley - Shaw Local

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  Speaker 1: Streeterfest organizers expecting record crowds as festival returns this week.
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  Speaker 1: Written by Bill Frescos, this article is being read by
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  Speaker 1: an automated voice brought to you by Everlett. Coming off
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  Speaker 1: a year of record attendance, Streeterfest organizers are expecting another
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  Speaker 1: big year as the four day festival returns on Thursday,
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  Speaker 1: as volunteer crews prepared this week. Lead organizer Randy Dominic
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  Speaker 1: said attendance reached a record high in twenty twenty five,
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  Speaker 1: with twenty thousand attendees across all four days, and early
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  Speaker 1: ticket sales indicate those numbers could be surpassed. Last year,
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  Speaker 1: we had perfect weather, so it definitely played into us
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  Speaker 1: having that kind of attendance, Dominic said. This year, we're
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  Speaker 1: hoping it grows even more. Ticket sales have been strong,
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  Speaker 1: so we are again expecting record crowds. Several changes are
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  Speaker 1: planned this year to improve the overall experience for attendees.
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  Speaker 1: Dominic said. The festival's VIP area has been expanded, and
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  Speaker 1: organizers added a beer and beverage station near the food
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  Speaker 1: vendors after people in years past said they wanted easier
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  Speaker 1: access to drinks without purchasing a concert ticket, Street or
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  Speaker 1: Fest will feature approximately sixty commercial and craft vendors, which
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  Speaker 1: is a record for the event, along with about twenty
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  Speaker 1: food vendors. One of the biggest developments leading up to
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  Speaker 1: the festival came when Brett Michaels canceled his scheduled performance
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  Speaker 1: less than two weeks before the event. Dominic said organizers
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  Speaker 1: quickly worked with their promoter to secure the Gene Simmons
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  Speaker 1: Band as a replacement. Honestly, we couldn't have asked for
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  Speaker 1: a better replacement, Dominic SAIDs especially with it being our
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  Speaker 1: Saturday performance. If this happened for our Thursday show, we'd
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  Speaker 1: have been worried, but it wouldn't have been as big
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  Speaker 1: of a deal. Saturday is a different story, so we're
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  Speaker 1: glad to find such a quality replacement in such short time.
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  Speaker 1: He credited the promoter with identifying an opening in the
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  Speaker 1: band's tour schedule after a Wisconsin performance, allowing organizers to
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  Speaker 1: finalize the booking in just a few hours. On the
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  Speaker 1: same topic, when selecting acts for each year, Dominic said
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  Speaker 1: organizers must balance fan interest with budget constraints and artists
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  Speaker 1: touring schedules. You have to look at what's within your
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  Speaker 1: budget first. And foremost, he said, national music acts just
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  Speaker 1: keep going up in price. With that, he added that
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  Speaker 1: festival organizers work to keep ticket prices affordable while continuing
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  Speaker 1: to offer free parking, free shuttle buses on Friday and
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  Speaker 1: Saturday nights, and free admission to the festival grounds outside
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  Speaker 1: the concert area. Admission to the carnival, food vendors, and
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  Speaker 1: craft vendor areas also remains free, with concert tickets only
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  Speaker 1: required for entry into the venue. Unlike many music festivals
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  Speaker 1: at this size, Streeterfest is organized entirely by volunteers, something
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  Speaker 1: Dominic is very proud of and reflects the Streeter unity
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  Speaker 1: streator is a very giving community. People give what they
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  Speaker 1: can and a lot of people give their time. Dominic said,
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  Speaker 1: we have no paid employees. Everything we make goes right
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  Speaker 1: back into the festival. Dominic said that community support has
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  Speaker 1: helped the event grow into a source of local pride.
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  Speaker 1: I think Streeter Fest gives people some bragging rights. He said.
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  Speaker 1: They love talking about it with their friends and family
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  Speaker 1: that don't live in town. On top of the cultural impact,
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  Speaker 1: Dominic said, the annual fest continues to have a positive
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  Speaker 1: economic impact on Straeter. He brought up a study conducted
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  Speaker 1: after last year's festival that found increased local sales tax
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  Speaker 1: revenue during the event and said the festival provides a
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  Speaker 1: boost for area businesses. Country star Joe de Messina headlines
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  Speaker 1: opening night Thursday after performances by Tyson Schultz and Cole Goodwin.
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  Speaker 1: Friday's lineup features Emperors and Angels, Tim Montana, and the
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  Speaker 1: headliner will be rock band Skillet. Saturday includes performances from
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  Speaker 1: Rock City Machine Company, followed by The Iron Maidens leading
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  Speaker 1: up to the Gene Simmons Band later that night. Sunday's
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  Speaker 1: free show begins with performances by Brigata Nortena Band, Arperina,
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  Speaker 1: Icons of Country, and Maid in America, followed by the
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  Speaker 1: festival's fireworks display. The festival also will feature fantasy amusements,
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  Speaker 1: offering about twenty five carnival rides. The carnival opens at
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  Speaker 1: five pm Thursday and Friday and at one pm Saturday
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  Speaker 1: and Sunday. It closes at eleven pm Thursday through Saturday
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  Speaker 1: and nine pm Sunday. For more information and updates, visit
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  Speaker 1: Street Or Fest's website or Facebook page.