Today we’d like to introduce you to Ernie Hahn.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When the street scene festival left downtown San Diego after 2006, we started looking at opportunity for a new festival somewhere in San Diego. My partner, Paul Thornton and I started looking at locations around San Diego about eight years ago which included spots like Del Mar, Camp Pendleton, fiesta island, and North Island to name a few. None of the spots were ideal because of either regulation, location and your desired ability to partner with the city and/or area for the festival. About 3 1/2 years ago, we started talking with the Port of San Diego and were able to structure a deal with the most unique Festival site you can imagine on the water in the bay of downtown San Diego. By activating downtown San Diego at a time when it is slowest, the Wonderfront festival is it one of a kind festival allowing you to go in and out of the different stages, Discover new music, and the ability to explore downtown San Diego which we think is as good as it gets. It allows us to bolster the local economy at a time when it’s at its slowest and highlight the weather of San Diego with this being the last major festival of the year in November.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been a myriad of challenges which you can imagine with any first year festival. These challenges and how they work from load in to the festival organization and overall structure of the festival or one of the many things to ‘Paul my partner Excels. Being a promoter for over 25 years of festivals in other line events our partnership is perfect for these challenges and success. We had rain that came in before our festival for loading and also after for our load out but had an unbelievable operations crew which allowed things to run smoothly. Overall, for a first year festival it went extremely smooth and a lot of that goes to our great relationship with the Port of San Diego where all the venues are located. The brand of Wonderfront was created in less than six months and the response in the festival was amazing.
Please tell us about Wonderfront Festival.
The Wonderfront festival is one of a kind three day festival showcasing over 100 bands on seven stages with local.The Wonderfront festival is a one-of-a-kind three day festival showcasing over 100 bands on seven stages all along the water of the Bay of San Diego. Our mission is to put on the best festival we’re patrons have the ability to go in and out of different stages discovering new music and also celebrating some of the biggest bands in the world and a most unique setting that is unparalleled. What sets us apart is your ability to explore San Diego and go in and out of different stages as you would like maximizing your experience with the ability to walk to and from your hotel or other areas and also use the water taxi system to go from stage to stage and discover new areas of San Diego.
We are most proud of the ability to produce this festival in 2019 with such short notice and with changes of venues that happened last minute. One of the things we’re most proud of is establishing a brand new brand of Wonderfront that stands for discovering new music along with enjoying some of the biggest bands in the world while exploring downtown San Diego in a most unique format and way unlike any other festival. Downtown San Diego is The secret sauce to Wonderfront much like it was with street scene in the early days and our ability to pick up we’re street scene left off and incorporate the water, emerging artists and the weather in November in San Diego.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
So many amazing favorite childhood memories but they all stem from growing up in San Diego, sports and entertainment and the love I have for San Diego. Learning to surf and Del Mar and the Countless surfing experiences in San Diego would be a highlight through my childhood.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wonderfrontfestival.com
- Instagram: Wonderfrontfest
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