Grandoozy Ready To Rock The Mile High City
DENVER (CBS4)- Grandoozy, Denver's newest music festival, was assembled and ready for show Thursday evening, just in time for the first annual event.
Three stages, named "Rock" "Paper" and "Scissors," now tower over the festival grounds located at Overland Trail Golf Course in southwest Denver.
"Denver didn't have something that was a similar format, or brand," said Rick Farman, co-founder of "Superfly," the producers of Grandoozy.
Founder said his company surveyed the nation for their next music festival's location, and Denver's golf course was the perfect venue and catered to the perfect clientele.
"Denver was the top on the list," Farman said.
The event also brings unique opportunities for local vendors to showcase their product to attendees. Some outdoor providers will even sell unique items, only found at Grandoozy, in a venue named "The Backyard."
Local food vendors and breweries, along with non-profits were also given booths at Grandoozy.
"All those different providers coming together, and expressing what is amazing about this community," Farman said.
The event was controversial, especially when first proposed. Some community members expressed deep concerns for the noise levels, and the damage the event could do towards the course.
"We are not using the tee boxes, we are not using the greens," Farman said.
Denver's Executive Director of Parks and Recreation, Happy Haynes, told CBS4's Dillon Thomas the city surveyed the options, and ultimately felt Superfly was taking the necessary steps to make the event great for the community.
She said she never envisioned a large-scale event, with headliners like Stevie Wonder, playing at a Denver golf course.
"I'm an avid golfer and I couldn't think of doing anything else out here besides hitting a white ball down the fairway," Haynes said.
Haynes said she was thrilled to see an event make its way to Denver, while also giving locals an opportunity to showcase their product.
"That is what we want this event to be. Something that is memorable. Something that reflects this community, and who we are in Denver," Haynes said.
For anyone with concerns about safety, noise levels, and more, Grandoozy set up a hotline. The number to report issues is (720) 669-8410.
LINK: Grandoozy
Dillon Thomas is a reporter at CBS4 and a Colorado native. He believes everyone has a story, and would love to share yours! You can find more of his stories by following him on Twitter, @DillonMThomas.
