Students know it’s the beginning of the fall semester when the Soybean Festival opens.
This year, as per usual, the Soybean Festival will start August 23 through September 11. Though the festival will offer the same type of vendors and entertainment, one thing will change: most music performances will require ticket purchases.
Ever since the first festival in 1994, the Soybean Festival has prided itself on providing free entertainment that brings all of Weakley County and UTM together. Students have always lurked on the festival’s website and social media to see who would be headlining the festival concerts, from Kansas to We The Kings to Night Ranger and more.
The new ticket purchase announcement, however, has resulted in mixed reviews on whether or not it is a good idea.
Some are okay with this, saying that the festival is not possible without community support, and that ticket sales could bring in enough to help the town’s economy, or at least bring bigger acts for the next year. Those in favor of the change have also pointed out that to go see these acts elsewhere, tickets would cost anywhere from 80 dollars to as much as 200 dollars. In contrast, ticket purchases for each performance at the festival ranges from 10 to 25 dollars. That’s not bad once prices are compared.
However, others have enjoyed the free entertainment. Most of these others are students, who can’t necessarily afford to see every concert they as they did in past years. They enjoyed the performances, not only because it was a way to get away from the early stress of classes, but also provided a lack of stress by not having to worry about how to get money for tickets. And with many students on a tight budget, no student needs added stress just to see an act that they would have seen free otherwise.
In addition, some have expressed confusion regarding how the tickets will work, or how security can keep track of who gets in. Will there be a fence? Numbered seating places? We don’t know for sure yet, but chances are people will find a way to get through and see their act of choice.
While there might be benefits to the community in music ticket sales, it’s going to be hard for people, mostly students, to really enjoy or afford to have the classic fall gathering that is the Soybean Festival without stress or financial strain.
