Karen Rappaport McHugh overseeing her Half-Pint Hootenanny. (VT Photo)
REPORTING FROM INDIO, CALIF. — The Stagecoach music festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif., April 26-28, has become an annual playground for country music fans of all ages. While headline spots by Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum and Zac Brown Band drew rave reviews, an expanded kids' tent with music and games got a thumbs up from the 12-and-under set.
Welcome to the Half-Pint Hootenanny, a kids-only petting zoo, arts and crafts, games and entertainment area where country music young'uns and their parents could get down in an alcohol-free environment.
The Half-Pint Hootenanny was set up this year in the tent that was used for EDM two weekends previously during Coachella. Instead of people bopping around to electronic beats, kids could run into Jessie Danielson and her Party Animal petting zoo, the talking Charlee Horse, Johnny Hotshot the World Champion Western Arts Showman, or the bluegrass-playing Blacksmith Boys. Overseeing it all was Karen Rappaport McHugh of Muddy Girl Productions, which has been in charge of the kid-friendly space since the first festival in 2007.
“Goldenvoice hired us from the very beginning to set up a place for kids at the festival,” said McHugh. “It’s a place for kids to get away from the heat, learn a bit about cowboy culture, and have some fun. Plus, the parents like having a break, too.”
About 300-400 kids come through Half-Pint Hootenanny each day, accompanied by a parent. Though her budget changes each year, McHugh said that she had more than $10,000 to put into the space. That’s money that Goldenvoice doesn’t see a direct return on, considering all the activities and entertainment in the space are free.
“I think the company appreciates that having a place like this inside the festival makes it possible for families who may not have someone to watch their kids to come at all,” said McHugh. Kids 10 and under get free entry to the festival (as opposed to 5 and under free entry at Coachella).
“There are only a few music festivals like Stagecoach and Jazz Fest in New Orleans, ACL in Austin, Texas and Lollapalooza in Chicago that give dedicated money and energy to a true family area. Others may have one but it is a second thought and doesn't build on the theme of the festival or focus kids on the music,” she added. “ I believe that part of building kids' interest in music is participating in the experience, and when I pitched the idea to Goldenvoice, they believed in it from the very beginning.”
A child enjoys the petting zoo. (VT Photo)
McHugh uses her budget for decoration and to bring in entertainers and the petting zoo, but the majority of crafts and activities are run and provided by volunteers.
Victor Cerda of Vintage Leather Works and Vintage Bruja Designs said he has come all the way from Anaheim Hills, Calif., the last few years to provide a craft space for Half-Pint Hootenanny, donating his time, temporary tattoos and leather strips, which the kids decorate.
Cerda said that even though the festival is far from home, it’s something he and his family plan around each year. And being at the event also serves to get kids and parents familiar with his leather products.
McHugh said that the Half-Pint Hootenanny provides helpful services along with the fun, including family restrooms with changing stations, and the Tag-A-Kid service. Kids’ and parents’ information is collected and filed and the child is fitted with a wristband.
“Using the information collected in Tag-A-Kid, we’ve been able to reunite children with their parents in past years,” she added.
Jana Kramer performs on the Toyota Mane Stage. (VT Photo)
This year marked the seventh Stagecoach Festival, and Coachella has been held since 1999. Goldenvoice’s contract with the City of Indio extended until only 2013, but the company’s Lindsay Lyons confirmed that the promoter and the city were able to come to a new agreement.
She said that under the new terms, Goldenvoice is approved to hold five weekends of events each year until 2030. Currently, Coachella and Stagecoach take a total of three weekends, but the new agreement provides a bit of a cushion in case the company decides to further expand the festivals or plan an additional one, although there are no current plans to do so.
Property owner Alexander Haagen IV said that the contract with the city only covers Goldenvoice’s events.
“We weren’t really involved in that agreement. Our contract is with Goldenvoice and they deal with the city for their events,” he said. For many of the smaller events held at Empire Polo Club, including polo matches and February’s Rhythm Wine & Brews Festival, the city doesn’t need to approve a permit, but just to be notified.
“We love having the festivals here and are excited to keep it going,” he added.
Interviewed for this story: Victor Cerda, (951) 751-6192; Alexander Haagen IV, (760) 342-2762; Karen Rappaport McHugh, (310) 995-3109