CULLMAN, Ala. – Rock the South returns this weekend. As the city prepares, many are filled with excitement. For some who live and work near the venue site, the weekend brings a mix of opportunities and challenges.
Bloom Winery, located about 3 miles from York Farms, where RTS will take place, is bracing for a surge in traffic and customers. Owner Bella Tripp said preparations have already begun.
“We’re expecting large crowds, so we’re bringing in extra staff from our other locations, some driving more than an hour just to help,” she said. “We’re used to big weekends and large crowds, but this is a step above.”
To prepare for the influx, the winery has begun bottling its sparkling wines ahead of schedule and adjusting internal operations to ensure smooth service. Although the winery’s hours and event days will remain unchanged, Tripp confirmed that parking will be limited to customers only due to space constraints, especially with concerns over concertgoers using nearby lots to walk to the venue.
Just down the road, resident David Turner shared what it’s like living in the middle of the action. He described the festival as a social gathering where people park their cars in yards and sometimes even tailgate with concertgoers.
“There are definite pros and cons,” he said. “We enjoy being able to make a little extra money by offering parking, and we’ve had great experiences with the people who park here. Some of them have hung out with us on our porch and talked like old friends.”
Turner said that while the crowds and traffic can be overwhelming, he doesn’t feel unsafe during the weekend. However, upcoming changes to traffic routing have left him and others unsure if they’ll still be able to park vehicles in their yards this year. While Turner expressed appreciation for the improvements made to nearby roads, he pointed out that his road, County Road 465, remains unpaved.
“All the houses on our road are new, and we feel a bit left out. The main roads were paved for the festival, but we’re still dealing with gravel and potholes,” he said. “We’d love for the City or County to recognize that we’re part of this, too.”
Despite the inconveniences that can come with the concert, Turner said he appreciates the sense of unity that forms among residents during the festival weekend. “It’s not always easy, but we do our best to work together and make it enjoyable.”
Rock the South will take place June 19-21. Find out more at www.RocktheSouth.com.
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