Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival Kicks Off with Heavy Hearts as Co-Founder Remembered
The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is here, bringing music, fun, and friendship across 700 acres of farmland in Manchester. But this year, some hearts will be heavy as one of the festival’s co-founders recently passed away. Aaron Cantrell shares how locals are celebrating his legacy.
A Festival of Contrasts
Birds provide the background along East Main Street, but across town, it’s a different story. Thousands of people in their most free-spirited attire gather to kick off the annual event.
“I kind of look around and think, oh, my goodness, I cannot believe in Manchester. Still, it’s unbelievable,” says Katie Riddle, executive director of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. “A town of our size—around 13,000 people—will not just double but get up to 100,000 people.”
A Boost for Local Businesses
Riddle calls the festival “bizarre” in the best way, and she gets excited every year when the four-day event returns. It has become a major economic driver, boosting sales for local businesses like Common John Brewing Company.
This year, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard is one of the headliners, performing three different shows. The brewery even drew inspiration from the band for one of its drinks—a lizard in a wizard outfit led to the creation of “Lebron Hagrid’s Brew.”
Radiating Positivity
While the festival can bring some inconvenience to locals, its slogan, “Radiate Positivity,” resonates deeply. “To me, it brings way more good than any bad,” says Riddle.
The festival’s nonprofit arm, the Bonnaroo Works Fund, has given over $8 million since its inception to more than 250 organizations.
Remembering a Visionary
The community remains forever grateful to those who brought the festival to Manchester in 2002, including co-founder Jonathan Mayers, who recently passed away. Plans are in place to celebrate Mayers this weekend on the festival grounds.
“He’ll forever be remembered in the hearts of locals,” says Cantrell. “He didn’t just create a music festival—he created a community, an experience. He gave people a reason to assemble together year after year to celebrate music, positivity, and each other.”
In Manchester, Aaron Cantrell, News Channel 5, reports. Mayers was the creative force behind Bonnaroo.
For more updates, stay tuned.
Jenifer
