By M. Scott Carter
VIew Panoramas of Festival
Bonnie Amspacher figures she sold a bunch of chili dogs.
By late Saturday afternoon, Bonnie and her sister, Sarah, said they'd sold dozens and dozens of chili dogs at a small booth outside their dad's restaurant, The Diner.
Like thousands of others, the Amspachers spent the day downtown at the Norman Music Festival. And when they weren't selling chili dogs, or water, or energy drinks, Bonnie said they simply watched the crowd.
"It's been steady," she said. "But last year we sold more. Last year we were the only food vendor on the street; this year we have a lot of competition. But standing here watching the crowd -- well that's great."
She's not kidding.
With food vendors, merchants and two huge stages parked at the opposite ends of Main Street, downtown looked like the State Fair hooked up with Woodstock -- and settled in Norman. The crowd -- estimated between 8,000 and 10,000 -- moved smoothly between Porter Avenue and James Garner Parkway.
And this year's festival had something from everyone -- country music at one end of Main and rock n' roll playing at the other end. Entire cross sections of humanity (and musical tastes) took advantage of the sun for the chance to hear live music. Everywhere there were hippies, hippie wannabes, punks, students, geeks, nerds, rednecks, goths, new agers, the faithful, moms, dads, kids and several hundred people dressed so unusually they defied description.
There were few problems.
A heavy contingent of police and other emergency personnel -- both on foot and on bikes -- patrolled the area. "We've had very few problems," said police Lt. Kyle Harris. "The crowd has been very well behaved."
It seems Norman likes its music.
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It was obvious the kid with the funky orange hair was smitten by the brunette in the yellow sundress. He slid past her several times on his skateboard -- weaving skillfully in and out of the sea of humanity trolling Main -- and tried desperately to get her attention.
She looked at him once.
Just once.
Then she turned and resumed her conversation with several other girls standing with her. They laughed and giggled and even swayed a time or two to the music, but none of them looked at the kid with the orange hair.
So he gave it one more shot.
He buzzed past them again, shirt off, displaying perfectly white teeth any dentist would have been proud of.
No luck. Not even a quick glance.
Throwing his skateboard over his shoulder, Skateboard Boy crossed the street, sat down and discovered the hard way how fickle girls in yellow sundresses can be. The frown stretched across his face.
And for a while, it seemd the fates had conspired against him, until another girl, this one a redhead, sat down by him.
Five minutes later, Skateboard Boy and the redhead danced while Stardeath and White Dwarves played.
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For Kaydee Carey and her friend Erin Nelson, Saturday was a day full of sun, live music and the opportunity to down a few cold ones outside.
The University of Oklahoma students said they came downtown for the fun. "This is the perfect place to be," Kaydee said. "It's all about the music and being outside."
A message she and Erin shared with fellow student Sean White when the pair spotted him in the middle of the street.
Both grirls grabbed Sean and planted kisses on each cheek. Two may be company, but at least three guarantees an extra dancing partner.
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Two-year-old Gwyneth Carter wanted her father's hat.
She also wanted to dance and play.
Saturday she did both.
Stationed under a small tree on the sidewalk near the main stage at Main and James Garner Parkway, Gwyneth giggled as her dad, Jack, pulled her into his lap while Felicia, her mother, watched.
"We just came to hear the music and spend some family time together," Jack said.
That may be so, but Gwyneth came to dance.
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Most people who go to a music festival aren't thinking about roller derby.
But most people don't know Sarah Hamby -- also known as the Outlaw Josey Whales. While thousands of others spent Saturday enjoying the music at Norman's Music Fest, Sarah and her friends from the Tornado Alley Rollergirls came out to promote the Rollergirls and even recruit some new members.
The succeeded on both fronts.
"We had several girls tell us they were interested and wanted to join," she said. "And we told tons of people about the Rollergirls."
Sarah, a pretty brunette with really, really, really short hair and large, dark eyes, said she enjoyed the music; but her main goal was getting the word out about the Rollergirls and their upcoming matches at the Oklahoma City Farmer's Market.
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Though a good portion of the Saturday's crowd spent the afternoon walking the street or sitting on the sidewalk, Boston native Craig Swan sought a different spot to sit in the sun and listen -- the window ledge of Arvest Bank.
Swan, who moved to Norman to work at the Firehouse Arts Center, said he came downtown Saturday because he wanted to experience his first Norman Music Festival.
"So far it's been great," he said. "Wonderful weather and a huge crowd."
While Swan enjoyed the sun, just a few yards away, Chris Newborn danced with his 4-year-old daughter Brooklyn on his shoulders.
Brooklyn, sporting a butterfly on her cheek, seemed to enjoy the music; she giggled and laughed and played with Chris' friend, Miles Standefer.
And she didn't pay any attention when the kid with the orange hair -- holding two cold bottles of water -- skateboarded past her back to the girl with the red hair. They planned to dance a little more, but like any gentleman, Skateboard Boy offered to get the refreshments.
Two empty water bottles later, the pair went back to their dancing.
Max Yasgur would have been proud.
M. Scott Carter 366-3545 scarter@normantranscript.com
