Bucky and Rocky Covington perform at Fallfest in Overlook Community Campus in Manheim Township on Sund...(more)

 

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After 16 seasons at Long's Park, organizers uprooted the country music showcase from the only home it had ever known and moved it to Overlook Community Campus in Manheim Township.

Not a small task, considering the event traditionally attracts around 40,000 people.

But shortly after the first performer took the stage at noon, any hesitation had been put to rest.

"It's daggone awesome," Justin Bigler said, as he raised his cowboy hat to the sky. "I've been coming to this for the last eight years, and this is the best it's ever been. It was definitely a good move — I hope they stay here."

Organizers were equally convinced.

"This is our new home," Bob Adams, general manager of WIOV, said as California-born country singer Heidi Newfield wrapped her set with "Knocked Up."

"It takes a lot to organize an event this size, and when you're so used to one particular venue … we were confident but also keeping our fingers crossed that things would run smoothly today," Adams said. "And I think there's no question. We're very, very pleased."

At midafternoon he said he could not venture a guess as to how many people were in attendance but said it's "well beyond what we normally see."

But the real highlight of the free event, WIOV program manager "Big" Al Brock said, was the lineup, which included Jeremy McComb, Adam Gregory, Newfield, Bucky Covington and headliner Jo Dee Messina.

"I think it's one of the strongest lineups we've ever had," Brock said. "There is some real talent here, and it's also a very diverse group. We're always looking for the next up-and-comer."

In the past, the event has featured artists who went on to country superstardom such as Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith and Keith Urban.

Kim Harnish of Washington Boro said she remembers seeing country singer Toby Keith several years ago "before anyone really knew who he was."

"You never know who's going to go on to do what," she said. "You never know who is going to be the next Kenny Chesney, and it's cool to be able to say, 'I saw him when.' "

Harnish said she found the Overlook site to be a much more enjoyable venue than Long's Park.

"The park is nice. It's quaint, and you had the shade of the trees," she said. "But here you can really spread out. You can play football, there's plenty of room for kids to run around — you don't feel like you're on top of the people sitting next to you."

Brenda Dolph of New Holland, who attended her third Fallfest Sunday with her husband, Randy, agreed that the show was much more relaxing than in previous years.

"I absolutely love it, and I hope they continue to have it here," she said. "I love the openness. The sound is better, and the jumbo screen is great. They never had that before, and for people like us who don't want to be right up front, it's nice to be able to see what's going on."

For some, the excitement of the day was marred by a few distractions — namely, Philadelphia's two sports teams, who played games that began around 1 p.m.

Eagles jerseys were about as common a sight as cowboy hats Sunday, and for one man — well, he simply brought the Phils along with him.

"I promised my wife I would come today," Walt Unger of Mountville said as he strained to hear a small portable radio broadcasting National League Division Series Game 4 between the the Phils and the Milwaukee Brewers. "But I couldn't miss the game. So I made her a deal. I would come, but I had to be able to listen to the game, too. I think it worked out for both of us."

E-mail: jtodd@lnpnews.com