Boots in the Park boosts Fresno’s economy with star-studded weekend

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Bryce Leatherwood was one of the supporting acts for headliner Blake Shelton at Boots in the Park on Saturday.

This year, organizers have opted for a new twist on the weekend festivities, adding Party in the Park on Sunday with music superstar Pitbull.

“You can come and see Blake Shelton and Brett Young one day and Pitbull and Lil Jon the next. And they sound like they’re really far apart in genres, but really they’re both super fun, you’ll know every song,” Bonnie Marquez with Boots in the Park said.

Organizers say since its inception almost a decade ago in Fresno, the festival event has grown significantly, demanding big names and touring across the country.

Since then, it’s become a well-oiled machine.

“Every year we try to just get a little better,” Marquez said. “We learned from each show, so whether it’s adding more activities or more food or whatever it is, or changing things up, we’re always trying to improve upon our ourselves.”

One new feature for the event is the Woodward Sports Bar. A space for festival goers to enjoy a cool beverage while having access to sports games.

Owner of Woodward Grill Lewis Everk says Boots in the Park not only brings in thousands of people to the area but also offers an economic boost.

“I think typically most area restaurants and eateries in the area should anticipate about a 25 to 35% bump in their normal sales, week over week,” he said. “I mean, when you’re bringing 15,000 people two days in a row to the area, it’s really going to help out this local economy.”

Everk says the weekend has proven to be so successful in the past, he’s deciding to soft launch his new nightclub Azara on Saturday night after Blake Shelton wraps up his set.

If you don’t have tickets, there’s still time for tomorrow. Organizers say there’s still room for people to come out and enjoy Pitbull tomorrow.

Click here to learn more about how to buy last-minute tickets.

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