Whether it’s classical, rock or pop, music always has a way of uniting people and that’s exactly what happened at the first Pilot Point Jazz Fest on Saturday.
The event was a joint effort between Pilot Point’s Chamber of Commerce, which also hosted its Mint Julep Round Up, Pilot Point Main Street and Pilot Point Neighborhood Events.
Monica David was one of the main people who helped spearhead the event, with much support.
However, the idea, she said, had been brewing for years.
“Well, four years ago, when we started the Oktoberfest, … I told my business partner, … ‘You know, I really want to do a jazz fest,’” David said. “But then we thought, ‘Well, let’s get this under our belt first,’ … and then now that we have, I said, ‘OK, it’s time.’” The event was free to the public and David estimated that there were about 400 people in attendance, a number she’s grateful for.
“We’re just so blessed with the turnout and the support that the community is giving us because it just makes my heart happy to see this come to fruition,” David said.
Market on Main was held in front of Pilot Point City Hall with vendors lining both sides of the street.
It was a vision brought to life by Main Street Manager Jennifer Neal and Parks Director Jason Poncio.
“We wanted it to be a really intimate setting for our community,” Neal said.
She added that hosting the event on Main Street also allowed businesses on the square to attract people and help with parking.
“One of the pivotal things, too, is we were able to actually put the electric down Main Street, so we’re able to house 40 food trucks and 60 electric vendors, if need be,” Poncio said. “… As we do this first one, we get to see what we can add, what’s working, what’s not working, what we need to pivot and change, so this is pretty cool. It turned out to be a great event.”
It was a calm night with tasty food, drinks and shopping from vendors like Gather Grace and Graze, offering customizable charcuterie boards, wood-fired pizza from Tre Fiamme Pizza Napoletana, Casey & Co. Candles, and Sunshine and Company offering beaded jewelry and dreamcatchers.
There were also three wineries present: Edge of the Lake Vineyard, Eden Hill Winery and Bella Mia Winery.
For Laurie and Roberto Trevizo, owners of Bella Mia, the decision to be a festival vendor was an easy yes for the couple.
“Over the years, we’ve made a lot of friends, and what’s nice is that you get to see familiar faces, and you get to give a lot of hugs, and you get to share those moments with the people that you’ve grown to know over the past five or six years, and so, that’s what it’s about,” Laurie said.
That feeling is one of the things Christina King, owner of Christina’s Cosmic Kitchen, which makes freeze dried treats, noted at the festival.
“The band is wonderful,” King said. “The people are nice. Everybody seems like they kind of know each other. So, it’s really—it’s a nice networking opportunity.”
As the night went on, the streets thinned out and the seats filled up to listen to the jazz from Luke Bielfeldt Quartet, the Creekside Cats and headliner Joseph Vincelli.
Neighbors and friends Betsy Owens and Leslie Berryhill sat on their lawn chairs, chatting and listening to the music.
“We love this town,” Berryhill said. “I mean, it is the neatest little town. We walk this square all the time, and it’s kind of a hidden gem.”
Although the event had to stop early because of the weather, residents like Owens and Berryhill said they’re ready for the next Jazz Fest.
