DelFest keeps on giving

May concerts a boon to area businesses; event foundation donates to several local charities

Kevin Spradlin
Cumberland Times-News
An aspen poplar tree’s leaves will tremble in even a hint of a breeze. The crowd at DelFest, however, will not shake.
Despite heavy thunderstorms during the Memorial Day weekend bluegrass extravaganza in 2009 that leveled campers’ tents, an estimated 20,000 people from 42 states made the best of it at the Allegany County Fairgrounds and enjoyed music by headliner Del McCoury and the Del McCoury band.
This year’s show begins May 27. Barb Buehl, tourism director for Allegany County, said the music festival is driven by a rare class of people that seeks to add to, and not take from, the local community.
“They’re not looking for what incentives they can get out of us,” she said.
In September, the DelFest Foundation distributed several thousand dollars to the Western Maryland Food Bank, the Salvation Army, Associated Charities and Allegany Health Right. The money came from revenue derived from concession sales at booths operated by volunteers and direct contributions from festivalgoers.
Buehl said local businesses, including restaurants, bars, hotels and gas stations, benefited from the event last year.
“They knew something big was in town,” Buehl said. More...