GEORGEFEST HOSTS “LOVEFEST 2017” ON FEBRUARY 3

Feel the love at this month’s community celebration

ST. GEORGE, UT – Georgefest attendees will get a head start on all things romantic Friday, Feb. 3, at “Lovefest 2017.” The Valentine edition of southern Utah’s favorite first Friday event with feature indulgent fun for sweethearts, including a kissing booth on Main Street and love potions for sipping.

Dixie State University Kissing Booth

At Main Stage, DJ Spinz will get the party (and dancing) started at 6:30 p.m., continuing through the evening until 10. Just down Main Street, Dixie State University Student Association members will gather beneath a Valentine-red canopy distributing kisses. And to sweeten the evening, the Soda Pop Stop will serve specially-created flavors for the occasion, “Love Potion Lemonade” and “Sprite Up, My Love.”

Lovefest attendees will enjoy some extra-special lovin’ from Georgefest’s street buskers, who will be performing their usual blend of romantic ballads and popular hits. New to the street busker tribe will be St. George resident Chance Steglich, a guitarist and DSU master’s candidate, and local musical theater veteran.

“We’re delighted that Chance will be joining us for Lovefest,” said Georgefest Board Vice-President George Scott. “Chance – like all young performers who put their heart and soul into our event – is enormously personable and talented.” According to Scott, one of the most rewarding aspects of Georgfest is the opportunity to foster new entertainment through the event’s street busker program. “It’s especially exciting to see those performers work their way to Main Stage,” he said.

Lovefest 2016 set a precedent for live music and lots of love

At the new Desert Pulse Jazz Garden venue at Green Gate Village, headliner Jessica Manalo will display her soul-infused R&B chops beginning at 8 p.m. Just 21, the Las Vegas-based singer-songwriter – included in the Las Vegas Weekly’s roundup of “10 Vegas Acts to Watch in 2016” – released a self-titled EP last year, marking her shift from a reggae-infused sound to a new soulful style. Manalo played trumpet as a youngster, picking up the guitar as a tween and starting to write and sing. Counting Adele and Amy Winehouse among her influences, Manalo now records and performs tirelessly throughout the Southwest.

Georgefest offers entertainment for everyone

Opening for Manalo at 6 p.m. will be hometown favorite Lisa Mac, whose new band (The Best Band in Town) will be appearing with her for the first time. A self-taught pianist who began playing at the age of four, Mac is one of eight children who share a passion for music. Crippled by shyness and stage-fright in her early years, Mac found liberation in music. Today, she is best known for her original, bluesy guitar compositions, and her ability to shift effortlessly between genres.

The Desert Pulse Jazz Garden at Green Gate Village offers
live music, tapas and a good time for adults 21 and over

Along with craft beers from Wasatch Brewery and Squatters, and premium vintages from Iron Gate Winery, the Jazz Garden will feature gourmet tapas from Sego Restaurant in Kanab. Prepared by Chef Shon Foster, this month’s artisan menu includes ricotta meatballs with San Marzano marinara, tomato cecca and garlic crustini; butternut squash, pumpkin seed and maple brittle in a curried crema; and pulled-pork nachos with poblano crema and cotijo queso sauce, salsa verde and cilantro.

Just in time for Lovefest, the rotating art exhibit at Gallery 35 will feature a new installation by local watercolorist Mel Scott, whose work will be on display through April. Shown at galleries throughout Europe and Asia, Scott’s work has also been featured at the St. George Art Museum. Scott was the first president and an original founder of the Dixie Watercolor Society, which is housed in Gallery 35 (the largest all-watercolor gallery in southern Utah) at 35 Main Street at Historic Downtown St. George.

Georgefest offers a market on Main Street, buskers
performing for tips, and favorite food trucks

“The new Georgefest board of directors is very gratified with the love that the southern Utah community has extended to our event,” Scott said. “At this time of year we thought it was especially appropriate to return the favor. So we hope everyone will grab their special someone – or that special someone to be – and join us for Lovefest 2017. Georgefest continues to be entertainment that everyone can get excited about.”

Georgefest, a nightlife event designed to celebrate the best of southern Utah, is held on the first Friday of every month from 6-10 p.m., with the Desert Pulse Jazz Garden at Green Gate Village open until midnight April–October. The event is sponsored by the City of St. George, St. George Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Canyon Media, St. George News, Etched Magazine, The Independent, The Desert Pulse, Iron Gate Winery and Wasatch Brewery.

For more information, or to become a vendor, visit georgestreetfest.com, or email info@georgestreetfest.com. Georgefest organizers are now accepting applications for street market vendors, buskers, and food vendors.

Georgefest photos by Nick Adams, courtesy Emceesquare Media Inc. 

       

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NEWS MEDIA RELEASE

January 17, 2016

For More Information

Contact: Marianne Hamilton

(408) 489-0140

GEORGEFEST NAMES NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ST. GEORGE, UT – As Georgefest moves toward its second anniversary of operation, the monthly community nightlife celebration has officially transitioned to a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, it was announced today by Georgefest Founder and Board Chair Melynda Thorpe. Formerly managed by Emceesquare Media, Georgefest is now administered by A.R.T.S., Inc. and governed by a board of directors that also includes George Scott, vice president; Marianne Hamilton, secretary; Stephen Lambert, treasurer; and John Kessler, member at large.

According to Thorpe, “Achieving non-profit status is a significant milestone that sets the stage for George to become a permanent resident event in our community.” She added that Georgefest’s financial operations will enjoy complete transparency, while the organization’s structure is now formalized as a not-for-profit entity.

“I am very pleased to announce a Board of Directors that is comprised of recognized community leaders and volunteers,” Thorpe said. “Each has made significant contributions to the event since its inception in June 2015, and with their vision and guidance, it is my hope that this beloved monthly event will remain a permanent part of the southern Utah entertainment landscape for many years to come.”

Melynda Thorpe becomes board chair after successfully launching Georgefest (formerly George Streetfest) and guiding it to prominence in St. George. She brings an eclectic set of skills to the task, with expertise in public relations and strategic communications, documentary and corporate film production, event design, brand management and more. Recently appointed as content curator and brand strategist at Southern Utah University Marketing Communications Office, Thorpe is also a member of the board of directors of Arts to Zion, president of Emceesquare Media Inc. (a PR and media production company), and she is an active member of the Public Relations Society of America. Before launching Emceesquare, Thorpe’s resume included stints as associate features editor and contributor at Etched Magazine, media operations and publicity manager at DOCUTAH International Film Festival, and Utah Valley University’s director of publications and creative services.

Georgefest Board Vice President George Scott is best known as the founder of The Desert Pulse, one of southern Utah’s most popular online entertainment destinations. A Washington County native, music fanatic, people watcher, experience creator, and a former contributor to The Independent, Scott has been chronicling the best in food, live entertainment and the arts since launching the Desert Pulse in November of 2015. Previously Scott served as special events manager and sponsor relations coordinator for the City of Washington. He brings to his board position solid connections with the Greater St. George community, which have enabled him to create a consistent sponsor base for Georgefest. He is also charged with identifying and booking all bands and other performers for Georgefest.

Marianne Hamilton assumes the role of Georgefest board secretary after a year as the event’s Media and PR Manager. A career journalist and marketing writer, Hamilton is a regular contributor to St. George Health & Wellness magazine and a number of other publications. Additionally, she is a member of the St. George Arts Commission and the Art Around the Corner board of directors, and co-administrator of the St. George Wine Club. An active “senior athlete,” Hamilton is also a fitness instructor at Sand Hollow Aquatic Center, and a race director for the Huntsman World Senior Games.

In his new post as board treasurer, Stephen Lambert will manage all Georgefest finances. Currently the director of human resources at Red Mountain Spa, where he oversees an employee base of 250, Lambert is a seasoned motivational speaker and trainer. He is also the founder and CEO of 5STARconcepts, which provides customized training and coaching services to the hospitality industry. To pursue his passion in assisting others with their personal and professional growth, Lambert also founded the dare2BECOME series of webinars, retreats and coaching programs. Since Georgefest was first introduced Lambert has been a familiar presence on Main Street, managing all vendor relations and ensuring seamless operations.

New Board Member-at-Large John Kessler is one of Historic Downtown St. George’s most active advocates. A member of the management team at Best Western Coral Hills, Kessler serves as chair of the St. George Arts Commission and as president of the St. George Lodging and Tourism Association. Kessler is also a member of the St. George Chamber of Commerce “Sunshiners” booster club, and of the Downtown Merchant Group’s advisory board, and has been director of the Olde World Historical Society – which presents the St. George Dickens Festival and St. George “Days of Camelot” – for the past 14 years. A longtime stage actor, director and teacher, Kessler can often be seen in roles at Brigham’s Playhouse and other venues.

With its new nonprofit status, a new board in place, and a new venue for The Desert Pulse Jazz Garden at Green Gate Village, Thorpe and her team are excited about the future of Georgefest. “Just as the event has changed and grown since we launched two years ago, so has the group working behind the scenes,” Thorpe noted. “We are grateful that the community continues to embrace and support Georgefest in such a positive way, and we look forward to continuing to present world-class entertainment that everyone can get excited about.”

Georgefest, a nightlife event designed to celebrate the best of southern Utah, is held on the first Friday of every month from 6-10 p.m., with the Desert Pulse Jazz Garden at Green Gate Village open until midnight April–October. The event is sponsored by the City of St. George, St. George Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Canyon Media, St. George News, Etched Magazine, The Independent, The Desert Pulse, Iron Gate Winery and Wasatch Brewery.

For more information, or to become a vendor, visit georgestreetfest.com, or email info@georgestreetfest.com. Georgefest organizers are now accepting applications for street market vendors, buskers, and food vendors.

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Where do you get your info about Georgefest? 

NEWS MEDIA RELEASE

Feb. 1, 2017

For More Information

Contact:  Melynda Thorpe

(435) 773-0781

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George LOVEFEST TO feature DJ DANCE PARTY, kissing booth

George Streetfest on Main Friday, Feb. 3, features the return of LoveFest at Historic Downtown St. George, from 6-10 p.m.

During winter months Georgefest features the DJ Spinz Dance Party at Main Stage, along with talented street buskers performing on Main Street for tips, a street market offering goods sold by local artists and crafters, and the expansion of the Food Truck Village onto Tabernacle Street. In addition to dancing on Main, fire barrels provided by the St. George City Fire Department ensure that Georgefest attendees will stay warm.

The Desert Pulse Jazz Garden at Green Gate Village offers the return of appetizer service by Kanab’s artisan restaurant, Sego. “Sego brings culinary artistry with a dash of urban infusion to the Jazz Garden,” Thorpe said. “We are thrilled to be able to offer their artisan menu paired with local craft brews, boutique wines, and vintages from well-known winemakers.”

While the Jazz Garden always boasts an array of outstanding food and beverage options, it’s all about the music, with an eclectic mix of jazz, blues, and acoustic rock performed by local and guest artists each month. Thus, since its inception, the Jazz Garden has proven to be nightlife that adults 21+ can get excited about. “It’s become a matter of tradition for a large segment of the community,” Thorpe noted. “We see many groups of friends meeting here on first Fridays, and it’s wonderful to know that the Jazz Garden is now such an anticipated part of the local landscape.”

A Georgefest, a nightlife event designed to celebrate the best of Southern Utah, is held on the first Friday of every month from 6-10 p.m., with the Desert Pulse Jazz Garden open until midnight April–October. The event is presented at Historic Downtown St. George, and is sponsored in 2017 by the City of St. George, St. George Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Canyon Media, St. George News, Etched Magazine, The Independent, Emceesquare Media, The Desert Pulse, Tuacahn, Iron Gate Winery and Wasatch Brewery.

For more information, or to become a vendor, visit georgestreetfest.com, or email info@georgestreetfest.com. Georgefest organizers are now accepting applications for street market vendors, buskers, and food vendors.

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