Krugerville rocked and rolled into the shade on Saturday.
Krugerville Economic Development Corporation President Rodney Cagle shifted the festivities into the shade to help beat the heat after Woodlands Park made the best of losing a pair of sick trees.
“Two crucial trees kept me from being in this location for a couple years,” Cagle said. “They were sick. I just needed the powers that be to agree to take them down. Two giant trees right in this view were gone, so it was a nobrainer.”
The sound of the main event shifted along with the location as Cagle brought some old-fashioned rock to the Woodlands.
“It was time to bring rock and roll,” Cagle said. “What better rock and roll than Stevie Ray Vaughan. I found the top-rated tribute band in Denton and sought them out.”
Headliner Texas Flood did the job, after an opening set from Buffalo Ruckus.
“We’ve had many opportunities to do things like this, and it’s great,” manager and bass player Steve Buckner said. “Typically, when we get these opportunities, everyone’s extremely nice and friendly, and it’s a great warm reception. We seem to make some fans, and as a musician, that’s what you’re looking for—people who appreciate what you’re doing.”
Lead vocalist Tommy Katona listed Stevie Ray Vaughan alongside Jimi Hendrix, ZZ Top, famous blues musicians and their own originals as the band’s repertoire.
“It’s a wonderful thing,” Katona said. “I’m just happy to see when new people show up, and we get to go to small places like this. I just want to see the smiles on faces, and that’s what usually happens.”
Ruckus frontman Jason Lovell said he hoped to be back after the town’s warm reception.
“I’m hoping to come back next year,” Lovell said. “I’m going to come out and check out some of the cars.”
The EDC moved the car show to later in the day this year, having it finish just before the music started.
“This year was a little bit different because we went ahead and did an afternoon show versus the morning show,” volunteer Viki Dunn said. “We were kind of afraid that having it later in the day, we would lose some, and we did, but not nearly as many as we thought. It was a great turnout.”
Cagle explained the music choice and later show was an attempt to retain some of the car show crowd later into the evening.
“I was targeting them,” Cagle said. “I did it on purpose. It was a test because the car show people like it earlier, but then there’s that big gap and people leave, so I wonder if they get back. I was trying to do a downbeat without people leaving, but they left. You’ve just got to try.”
Mayor Jeff Parrent complimented the work from Cagle and the EDC, though shared attendance numbers seemed down as the headliner prepared to play.
“There is a lot of effort that goes into this, and Rodney obviously does an amazing job,” Parrent said. “Being under the shade helped a lot this year, and as mayor, you can’t ask for anything better. It’s just good, clean fun. The true fans will show up, but the numbers are down this year. The first year we had about 800, last year was about 500, and I don’t know that we’re going to hit that this year.”
The shift to the shade was accompanied by a smaller stage, which Cagle explained meant more money in the budget to redistribute. He chose to do so with a massive water war earlier in the day.
“We had family water wars,” Cagle said. “A 1,000 balloon water fight and 50 water cannons that kids got to play with, shoot their parents with and take home. We didn’t keep anything— it was all for the community.”
He further explained this year marked an important milestone for Park Fest—one he hopes to keep capitalizing one as he hopes to grow the event each year.
“I’m tickled with this,” Cagle said. “Dawn and I founded this in 2019, and most festivals die in 3-5 years. They don’t go past five, and this is year six, so I want to cry. I got emotional onstage earlier. It’s community, and I love it so whatever you want, tell me. It’s my job to make it happen, and if you’re not going to tell me, I’m going to ask.”
Basil Gist/The Post-Signal
