Music festival helps businesses, vendors

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) -  

Thousands flocked to downtown Mobile with wallets stacked full of cash for the BayFest Music Festival.

Some BayFest attendees said they’re trying to spend less than $100 per day at the music festival and the reasonable price of tickets for the number of acts helps.

Others, however, are splurging on the weekend.

“We spent $45 for the tickets, about $200 for the hotel and we spent quite a bit of money on Dauphin Street last night so, probably $350 dollars,” said Roy Stone.

Businesses on Dauphin St. said they were slammed this weekend, some bars reaching full capacity.

“It’s a huge weekend. You can only get so many people in and so many drinks across the bar and as long as we hit those numbers it’s a good thing,” said Mike Piercy, the owner of Pat's Downtown.

He said this year is about average compared to others. In the 12 years he has been open, he said this weekend ranked in the top three or four for BayFest business.

Photos: BayFest begins

Vendors also had success raking in some money. They say the business has been a steady flow: this wasn't their best year but not the worst either.

They said it's hard because you're competing with everyone else selling the same product but the cash flow is helpful.