Downtown Bristol buzzes with excitement as In the Pines festival approaches

The city of Bristol is humming with anticipation as the annual In the Pines festival draws nearer. Set in the heart of downtown Bristol, it is an event that promises a wealth of excitement, tying together the threads of country music, local business, and community spirit. This year’s lineup features some of the best in country music and beyond, with stellar acts such as Dwight Yoakam, Elle King, Paul Cauthen, and Wyatt Flores, all set to grace the stage on Saturday, June 1st.

In the Pines promises surge in foot traffic to boost local businesses

As downtown Bristol comes alive with the preparations for the In the Pines festival, local businesses are eager for the influx of visitors the festival will bring. Brian Serway, owner of the popular Hollerhouse, believes the increase in foot traffic will be advantageous to his business, “Any event where we can have more foot traffic is always a good thing for us,” said Serway, “And I hope it’s something that continues annually.”

Recent downtown addition, Bristol Boo-Tique, has been thriving since its move to State Street and now has hopes of capitalizing on the wave of visitors the festival will bring. Angel Johnson, who works at the Boo-tique, is ebullient at the prospect, “Moving here has changed literally everything for us. We went from having about 45 vendors and now we’ve got 80 vendors and they’re all pretty much local,” Johnson said. “It’ll be awesome for people who wouldn’t have found us otherwise to come in and for the other businesses downtown too. And also, the music.”

A Yearning for Repeat of Previous Successes

The city’s businesses have seen significant surges in customers during past events like Rhythm and Roots, and there are high hopes that In the Pines will deliver similar results. “Being able to participate with things like Rhythm and Roots is going to change everything,” said Johnson. “People who wouldn’t have stumbled on us, like just looking in the window, they’re going to be like, ‘Oh, what’s that?’”

“Even when there’s a small event we try to accommodate and be open longer hours. Sometimes when there are events even at the paramount and things like that, we’ll stay open late,” added Serway. “We try to take advantage of that as much as possible and just let people know that we’re here. There’s something for everybody on State Street and we want to contribute to that.”

More Information on In the Pines

Downtown Bristol continues to bustle with anticipation as In the Pines draws nearer. The festival is not only a celebration of country music, but of Bristol’s thriving downtown scene and the businesses and individuals that contribute to it. For more information on In the Pines or to purchase tickets, visit the official festival website.