INAUGURAL SOUTH STAR FESTIVAL IN HUNTSVILLE, AL

INAUGURAL SOUTH STAR FESTIVAL IN HUNTSVILLE, AL
Despite the nonstop rain from Hurricane Helene, the first ever South Star Festival kicked off over the weekend. The festival was held at John Hunt Park in the heart of downtown Huntsville. The grounds were organized beautifully with the artists alternating between two stages. There were space themed art installations, light displays, and Instagram worthy props set up throughout the festival. Whether you wanted a refreshing drink with a light snack or a full gourmet meal, there were food options to suit anyone’s palate. The Miller Lite All Star Sports Hall was also a big hit with sports fans who did want to miss any of the big college football games.

The festival organizers brought in a wide variety of artists ranging from rock and R&B to hip hop and pop to satisfy music lovers of all ages. After a delayed start from the rain, Candlebox kicked off the festival with a bang. They were followed by 90’s rock sensation Gin Blossoms and 90’s rap superstar Juvenile. Both acts put on killers performances despite the continued rain. Up next was Tom Morello who brought an incredible energy to the stage with killers guitar riffs and inspirational messages through his songs. The crowds grew larger and the mud got deeper, but that didn’t stop the vibe of festival as it continued into the evening. Up next was movie star and hip hop legend Ludacris, who played all of his hits with a mesmerizing video board playing behind him during his set. R&B divas TLC lit up the main Supersonic stage with an array of dancers celebrating the 30 year anniversary of their album CrazySexyCool, playing hit after hit. As the night was winding down, rock powerhouse Shinedown headlined the Camellia stage with a show filled with pyro displays and fireworks. Pop queen Gwen Stefani closed out night one of South Star Festival with a flashy stage set up, elaborate costumes, dancers, and thousands of fans singing at the top of their lungs.
Mother Nature had other plans South Star as Huntsville city officials and the festival organizers deemed the festival site unsafe and made the difficult decision to cancel day two of the festival. Despite the massive amounts of rain, mud, and challenges South Star Festival had to face, overall day one was a huge success and an incredible experience. I can’t wait to see how this festival continues to grow for years to come!