It's official: 2015 was a record-breaking year for Treefort Music Fest. In their fourth year, organizers of the five-day long indie event met their goal of breaking even. Sales Director Drew Lorona – who helped found Treefort four years ago – says that financial success ensures the festival will continue in 2016.
"It's the first time that we've had the festival generate enough income on its own as a functioning business to kickstart the next year's festival," Lorona says.
He says a record 8,000 people bought tickets to Treefort this year, which also offered events for techies, film lovers and yoga practitioners. More bands played than ever before (433) in more downtown venues (27). Twenty-six percent of attendees came from out-of-state. People from Washington, Oregon and California led the pack in visiting Boise the week of Treefort.
Lorona says there was also a jump in the sales of five-day passes.
"Now that Treefort's been around for awhile, people are understanding how the festival works and what the best ways are to enjoy Treefort and Boise during that weekend," says Lorona. "And so I think that's translated into more people going with the five-day pass."
More sponsors took part in backing the festival than ever before, which prides itself on being a community-built event.
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