Left In Lowell

Place Your Bets, Folk!

16 Responses to “Place Your Bets, Folk!”

1. JC Says:
   July 23rd, 2010 at 2:03 pm

   On Sunday 7/25 at precisely 3:41PM, the skies will open up and a deluge of historic (think biblical) proportions will descend upon the thronging multitudes as they scurry, scramble, and otherwise skedaddle seeking shelter from the wrathful inundation.

   Or…..maybe not!

   In any case, deluge or delightful, I will be found in close proximity to the Filipino food purveyors. If you observe their long line of patrons, over a period of a couple of hours - you’ll certainly spot me. I’ll be the only one going through the line four or perhaps five times in succession. After the third visit, I’ll be the patron making the hissing, belching, plantain instigated, digestive cacophony. If you think you’ve spotted me in that particular state of rapture, take my advice and do not approach! Just wave at me from afar. I’ll certainly wave back, weather permitting!

2. joe from Lowell Says:
   July 23rd, 2010 at 8:52 pm

   Friday night, as it turns out.

3. Anonymous Says:
   July 24th, 2010 at 6:42 pm

   Well, Saturday was a big day with great weather, although we just missed a mid-afternoon set of storms that passed south of the area.

   And it appears that the Festival is once again a big success with still a day to go. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate. For a little history of Folk Festivals, check out the link:

   http://www.loc.gov/folklife/news/news-text-spring2002.html

   And from that link, an excerpt that should make Lowell proud:

   “The National Folk Festival at Lowell was an immediate success. Over 150,000 people attended in 1987, the 49th festival, and the crowds got larger every year. In 1988, the National Folk Festival celebrated its fiftieth year, in healthier shape than it had ever been, a free event celebrating cultural diversity in the heart of a city noted for its diversity. The organization was, Joe Wilson has remarked, reinventing the folk festival as a joint effort between local organizations and the NCTA, and creating the largest audiences ever to attend such events in the process. When the National Folk Festival left Lowell, organizers feared that attendance at the new Lowell Folk Festival would drop, but during the1990s the Lowell Festival saw an increase in attendance. Under a continuing partnership with the NCTA, it has grown to become the largest and most respected event of its kind in the United States.”

4. Robby Says:
   July 25th, 2010 at 1:29 pm

   I have lived in Lowell throughout my life and have only been to the Folk Festival perhaps a handful of times, mostly when I was very young and don’t recall exactly what it was like. I walked though downtown briefly during the late evening at last years festival and remember being very dissapointed by the lack of music. It appeared that everything had already been shut down and was over.

   I decided this year to re-try by Folk Fest experience, this time would be a day trip. I was not about to pay the ridiculous $15 to park in one of the city garages. I was able to sneak a spot on Jackson St. right in front of what I beleieve is the charter school. Living in Lowell is good as you know where to go and park for free. Anyway, my experience this year was almost the same as last year. Very, very few bands were actually playing. I recall 3 playing at the time, 2 were at Boarding House Park. There was literally no place to even see the members; people had set up hundreds of chairs throughout the park and the vendors were blocking any possible view.

   I will admit my boyfriend and I only stayed for about 90 minutes, but I didn’t think there was any need to stay any longer. The festival just seemed like it is all vendors trying to sell things. It reminded me of a flea market scattered throughout downtown. I suppose if you don’t live here it must be more exciting.

   Perhaps it was due to the fact the it was extremely hot and humid, or the fact that it rained buckets the night before, or the fact that its beginning to dawn on me that the Red Sox aren’t going anywhere this season, but I just didn’t enjoy my time at the Fest this year. Between vendors blocking the view, people pushing you to buy thier frozen fried food, people even physcially pushing you out of thier way, I just didnt have a good time. Im sure I will be in the minority on this, as most everyone seems to enjoy the Fest every year.

   Yawn. Call me when the B-52’s come to the Boarding House Park in a few weeks! I’ll be there.

5. Prince Charming Says:
   July 25th, 2010 at 5:51 pm

   Robby, I don’t think you’re too far off the mark. I don’t go anymore, not because of the 15 dollar parking but because of the “cheesiness factor”. I realize that the fest is held in the middle of a business district, but I think the sidewalk sales are a bit much. If I like what I see in the window, I will go inside the store. The last time I was there it was more of a downtown carnival than a folk festival. I’ve always felt that the entertainment stages should go until 9 or 10pm Saturday night. Bars be damned. They once had an old guy who would police the fest and toss out any riff-raff (politicians), keep the vendors at a respectable distance and basically run the thing from a golf cart. Those were the good days, the first ten years of the festival. Now, ehh.

6. JC Says:
   July 25th, 2010 at 9:07 pm

   If this was cheesiness…so be it…slather on the cheese!

   If you go to an event like this filled with negativity…you certainly will fulfill those negative expectations.

   Business and scheduling conflicts kept me away for the last several years. This year, I was there in the evening and missed most of the billed acts.

   So what was left……plenty! New Orleans style, brass band parade through the streets of our hometown, friends, relatives, beer, ethnic foods, music on Merrimack Street with a Latino beat that would knock your socks off, fun, joy, and a great chance to kick back and just feel alive and connected to others - most of them complete strangers.

   Sorry to disagree but; I liked it, enjoyed it, support it, and look forward to the next one!

7. joe from Lowell Says:
   July 25th, 2010 at 10:06 pm

   I had a blast. Best time in years.

8. Lynne Says:
   July 26th, 2010 at 10:49 am

   Please, everyone, put in a nickname in the appropriate box with your comments. Thanks!

9. Robby Says:
   July 26th, 2010 at 6:52 pm

   Anyone by chance happen to have stats on exactly who attends the Fest every year? Id be interested to see how many Lowellians are actually at these events versus people that come here from out of town or even out of state. I wonder if anyone has somehow has a census of that sort of information. No one around here (Pawtucketville West Side) that I know of went, for a variety of reasons. The biggest issue I found was actually getting oneself into Downtown itself. I think more local residents would go if they could find parking without paying enourmous amounts. Why can’t residents of Lowell be charged in the garages per-hour like we always do?

   Anyway, others told me they were no longer interested in going because they simply have been to so many Fests that they are just over it. Although I have noticed most older folks who have actually lived in the city throughout have told me that the Fest used to be much better back in the day, when music was priority.

   Im just curious to know of all the people at the festival, who were residents of the city and state?

10. Ned Says:
    July 27th, 2010 at 9:26 am

    Interesting…by week, you’re anti gambling. As soon as the weekend comes around, you throw back a couple of wine coolers and solicit your readers for odds. Quite the double standard!

11. Lowell Resident Says:
    July 27th, 2010 at 12:12 pm

    Its funny to hear people complain about the Festival, I spent at least 24 hours there volunteering and I heard plenty of music and had a great time. Some of the more cheesier aspects aren’t my favorite aspects–i much prefer the ethnic food booths, but you know what it helps attract a larger audience. So some people spend 90 minutes there, apparently at night when there is always less going on, and decide that its a bust, but i was there for three days at least 6 hours a day and about 13 on Saturday and you know what? i enjoyed every minute. can’t wait until next year!

12. Tim Little Says:
    July 27th, 2010 at 4:34 pm

    Kudos to LTC for their coverage! I wasn’t able to make it downtown, but still got to enjoy some great music. (Joshua Nelson anyone? Amazing!)

    But *who* at the LRTA decided that the weeks on either side of the Folk Festival would be a good time for repairs at the parking garage at Gallagher Terminal. On a weekend when one could reasonably expect an increase in demand for parking — heck, they even advertised festival parking specifically at Gallagher Terminal — what sense does it make to close off 2 or 3 levels of parking? From what I’ve seen, I don’t get the sense that these repairs were needed due to imminent structural problems….

13. Lynne Says:
    July 27th, 2010 at 5:01 pm

    LOL@Ned. BTW I don’t drink wine coolers!

    RE: Lowellians who attend…if it’s any indication, I see so many people that I know in just a few simple hours there. Maybe I just know the right people, but I suspect that quite a number of families attend (free something-to-do right in your own backyard), and of course any music lovers (my cuz who lives in Billerica comes every year), and probably anyone within walking distance at least.

    I think logistically it’d be impossible to give a different rate to Lowellians for parking, though.

    However, if you are a local and don’t know where you can park in the city within reasonable walking distance, well…you need to do some more ’splorin.

14. Tom Says:
    July 28th, 2010 at 7:51 am

    The festival itself was great, as it is every year.
    My only concern was the public drinking at night. many bars had outdoor areas where things were some what out of control. People were walking the streets with beer, etc.
    Not coincidentally, there was a noticeable amount of vandalism this year. A great number of vehicles had their tires slashed late friday night. I saw that the Olive That and More storefront window was smashed in.
    I understand that there is a great deal of economic pressure to allow extended liquor licenses, but at what cost?

15. Lynne Says:
    July 28th, 2010 at 9:57 am

    Hmm, interesting thoughts Tom…wonder if that shouldn’t be up for discussion at some CC meeting or other, or at the commission who controls that. I assume there’s documentation (police docs if nothing else) and maybe comparisons with past years…to see if we’re headed into a problem?

16. Liz S Says:
    July 29th, 2010 at 11:10 am

    To the person who complained about the sidewalk sales in downtown…I think it is a fair trade to let businesses set up on the sidewalks and entice out-of-town customers, since the festival disrupts the normal flow of most of downtown for the better part of a week.

    As for the vandalism, I find it interesting that there was no mention of this in the Lowell Sun.

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