Opinion: 2024 Soirée an Exemplary Festival

The Anderson Soirée is once again in full bloom.

The return of the Soirée in 2022, after 13 years in mothballs, was overdue. The City of Anderson’ signature festival was missed, as we watched other communities enjoy their annual festivals in the Spring and Fall.

The first two years were years of growing pains. The city made excellent moves by upgrading the infrastructure needed to have musical performances across downtown. The committee rallied volunteers around what was, other than in name only, a new festival.

But the hiccups of the first two years of the festival’s return were gone this year. The Soirée committee, city council and others involved took the complaints and suggestions seriously, and the results were spectacular. The city and Soirée committee listened and made changes this year, something that is deserving of a round of applause.

The decision to bring a headline act to kick of the festival was met with one of the largest crowds to pack downtown in decades.

Putting tables out for local restaurants and keeping their storefronts open and accessible was also met with choruses of praise both from owners and patrons. And it added to the ambience of the event, seeing so many customers eating al fresco. A really good look downtown, and one that can hopefully be recreated in a series of smaller downtown events.

The multiple music stages were abuzz with variety, and filled the downtown air with a good vibe.

The children’s area featured bubble artists, balloons, games, and learning activities under tents manned by the Anderson County Library. Laughing, dancing children were in evidence most of the day Saturday in that part of the Soirée.

The displays for artists were more open, leaving one creative member of that tribe to tell me the Soirée this year was perfect. An arts festival could not get a better review.

Anderson City Council is to be commended for their efforts to provide what downtown needs for a successful festival. And the support of Anderson County and other sponsors provided resources to bring the 2024 Soirée to life.

And special thanks to the Soiree Committee: Chair, Caroline Gaddis; Vice Chair. Lauren Lindsay; Visual Arts, Erin Spainhour & Britton Rodgers; Performing Arts, Van James; Culinary Arts, Nick Taaffe & Francesca Milford; Kids Kingdom, Kelly Boerner; Volunteer Coordinator, Liz Brock; Site Logistics, Donnie Whelchel; Secretary, Sara Wright; City Liaison, Brittney Gamble; County Liaison, Seth Riddley; and District 5 Liaison, Brooke Cole.

A festival the size of the Soirée is a monumental undertaking, and if you see any of these folks or the volunteers who made it work, thank them for their efforts. They’ve earned it.

Now the only challenge is figuring out how to top the event in 2025.