We Should Travel to Gadsden more Often!

Last night I traveled to Gadsden with a friend and co-worker, Shannon. Quick info about Shannon...She is originally from Tuscaloosa, she moved to Orlando to work for Disney after college, she moved back to the Salty about the same time I did, and she is a HUGE Sister Hazel Fan. Living in Florida, she was able to see them play quite frequently. Shannon is to Sister Hazel, as I am to Patty Griffin.


Shannon had approached me early last week to see if I would go with her to Riverfest in Gadsden to see SH play. I declined, as I was planning on heading down to Beeej's loft to see a concert. As the week went on the offer got more appealing. The final offer on table included Shannon driving to and from the concert and paying for my ticket, dinner, and drinks in the show (*Kind of...we'll get to that in a second). I have decided to post a DO and DON'T list for all of you that ever plan on heading to Riverfest in Gadsden and to highlight the evening.


DO make sure to pick up the correct directions to Riverfest off of the printer at work. Otherwise, you will be given directions to Greystone to visit a client and your co-worker will be following directions to Gadsden. (iPhone to the rescue, without one wrong turn.)


DON'T forget your rain gear. Luckily, Shannon had a medium sized umbrella in her car that she didn't care if it didn't make it back to the car with us.


DO remember to get cash from the ATM, as Gadsden does not have the capabilities to run phone lines to the middle of parking lots by the river. Shannon was shocked by this. Apparently, Disney has the capabilities to run phone lines for Scuba Divers to swipe credit cards 10,000 Leagues Under the Sea. As a seasoned Festavarian, I brought extra cash and my all expense paid trip to Gadsden turned into a trip that was fully funded by yours truly.*


DON'T forget your lawn chairs or you'll have to go MacGyver on the umbrella you brought in and have to rip it apart for the fabric to sit on.


DO make friends with the locals around you on the front row. They'll defend you when the Etowah County police threaten to arrest you because you are not sitting in lawn chairs and look like you snuck up to the front between the opening and closing bands.


DON'T forget to have someone spell check your signs and collateral if you are a vendor. You'll just end up like this:

DO make friends with the band while they are waiting in line for the porta potty by shamelessly dropping a friend's name that you know photographed a band member's wedding, thus getting a star struck Shannon introduced to SH.

DO smile for the camera while watching SH play. Somewhere in Gadsden, Shannon and I made the 10 o'clock news.

DON'T let the rain scare you away. Embrace it, tough it out, then dance in it...even if you aren't waterproff.