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Tahlequah reports nearly 15,000 visitors at inaugural Bluegrass Festival; organizers say it turned a profit
Summary
Chamber CEO Nathan Reed told the council the city’s first Bluegrass Festival drew 'almost 15,000' visitors over two days, generated in-kind sponsorships and cash support, and is contracted to return in 2026 with Rhonda Vincent as a headliner.
Nathan Reed, CEO of the Tahlequah Chamber of Commerce, told the City Council that the city’s first Bluegrass Festival in September drew 'almost 15,000 people' to the geofenced downtown area over two days and that organizers expect the event to return in 2026.
Reed said the festival recorded an average dwell time of about 'a hundred and 61 minutes' and that in-kind trades saved roughly $11,500 in expenses. He also said Cherokee Nation served as the presenting sponsor with a $25,000 contribution and that the event turned a profit after sponsorships and trades.
During questions from council members and staff, finance staff reported a roughly $61,000 increase in city sales-tax receipts for the Aug. 15–Sept. 15 reporting window and said hotel tax collections rose nearly 16 percent for that period; Reed tied those uplifts in part to the festival weekend. Reed also said many vendors reported covering costs by Friday and making profit on Saturday, which he said should translate to higher local sales tax revenue.
Organizers confirmed the festival has a signed contract for 2026 that includes a return engagement by Rhonda Vincent and said they are pursuing additional headline acts. Reed said the Placer.ai report indicated attendees came from the 74464 ZIP code and from farther afield including Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Wichita and out-of-state locations.
The council thanked organizers and staff for the event and its reported economic impact. No council action was required; this item was a presentation and Q&A.
