We are just a few short days away from the fifth annual Halfway to Everywhere Music and Arts Festival and with many changes to the format this year, founder and lead organizer Hank Osterhout says there is a lot of work still ahead.
Osterhout recently joined KVOE’s Morning Show to preview the upcoming festival which kicks off Friday evening and will continue until the late hours Saturday. Osterhout noted he and his team have things “pretty well in hand” ahead of the launch but that being said he noted there could be some new challenges that arise this year.
On top of expanding the Halfway schedule, as the festival has historically been a one-day event, the festival will also be shifting locations after having a nearly identical “footprint” in the 600 and 700 blocks of Commercial Street over the last four years.
This year, the festival will be located in the 800 and 900 blocks of Commercial Street with the main stage to be located in the new food truck plaza near 10th and Commercial. Additionally, this is the first year the festival will not be a free event as has been reported over the past several months.
The cost for general admission tickets is $25 for adults and $10 for youths ages 5-18, with VIP packages also available at $75 and $150. Youth under the age of 5 and Emporia State University students with a valid student ID will get in for free.
Also new this year will be greater use of the Granada Theatre which will host the first evening of performances Friday evening following the First Friday Artwalk which will feature a new busker stage for the festival and the start of the art market which will feature a two-day juried exhibition this year. The Granada will also serve as a VIP area throughout Saturday’s activities with a live stream of the festival available for those with VIP passes and tickets to watch.
We have a full list of Halfway to Everywhere performers available online with this story at KVOE.com. For more information on the festival including tickets or the schedule of events visit H2EFest.org.
