Utica Music & Arts Fest: September 16-18

Utica’s annual celebration of music and arts is scheduled - and performers, as well as vendors and venues, are busily preparing for the big event. For the third year in a row, the City of Utica will host thousands of visitors, share our beauty, and reap the rewards of an event that is twelve months in the planning and three years in the making.

HISTORY: In 2008, three Uticans, Joe Sweet, Anthony “Zee” Donaldson, and Damon Call, first dreamed of an event that would draw artists from the northeast to Utica, then took action. The Utica Music Fest was born. With few resources and a lot of enthusiasm, the team put the event on the map – attracting a lot of attention. Attendees were entertained by performers from 13 states and 4 countries in 25 venues throughout our city.

In 2009, fueled by the successes of the inaugural event, numerous individuals stepped up and volunteered their skills to support the 2nd event. The burgeoning energy, fueled by the successes of the first event, enabled the event to expand to include additional components, including an “Arts Fest, a “Green’s Fest”, and a “Tattoo Fest”, as well as charity fund raisers and more. In addition to all the new elements, the music component took a leap forward as the event drew a record number of applicants, filling the venueschedule to capacity. By all measures, the freshly updated Utica Music & Arts Fest was a huge success.

SUCCESS: There are many ways to define “success”. The organizers deemed the event a success due to a full musical roster, increased attendance, expanded events, and successful venues. Artists and musicians succeeded by performing in front of large audiences of new fans. Attendees enjoyed the opportunity to experience hundreds of musicians and artists during an efficient three-day period. Venues succeeded by attracting large numbers of both new and existing customers to their establishments.

According to Utica Mayor Roefaro:

“The economic impact (of the Utica Music & Arts Fest) is remarkable.”

“It serves as an economic stimulus package. Everybody benefitted from the Festival’s influence.”

According to the Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce:

A total of $277,800 of new revenue and 1,092 additional man hours for employees currently on area employer payrolls was the resulting economic impact created from the UMAF. Furthermore, the quality of life within the region is helped by this type of event and related events throughout the year. The Utica Music and Arts Festival, in only its second year of operation, is proving itself to be important from an economic, and quality of life perspective.

The Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce would like to support the UMAF with all of its future efforts. The UMAF is an excellent venue for creating new economic development, improving the quality of life and; for attracting and retaining a young, innovative, and tolerant workforce to the Mohawk Valley.

NEW FOR 2010: In addition to the rapidly-growing music and arts components, the 2010 Utica Music& Arts Fest has added a SOCIAL CHARITY element. In a series of pre-Fest events, held throughout the Spring and Summer, Utica Music & Arts Fest performers are staging fund raising events to support Utica’s Peacemaker Program, YWCA of the Mohawk Valley, the American Red Cross of the Mohawk Valley, the Utica-based National Brain Injury Foundation, Move Along, the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica, and the United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica.

Now is the time to get your business involved with this rapidly-growing, hugely-successful annual event. Learn more at www.uticamusicfest.net.