Livingston Hoot to take a break in 2018
(Livingston, MT) The Livingston Hoot, a free, family friendly music and community event that has been a high point for four years in historic downtown Livingston, will be taking a break in 2018 due to street construction scheduled for Main Street during the summer.
“The good news is, Livingston is getting some much needed infrastructure and updated sidewalks, sewer lines and improvements. The bad news is, without a guarantee of the work being completed, we can’t insure the event or move forward with planning – with the risk that we might have to postpone or cancel at the last minute, “ said Mighty Fine Time producers of the Hoot Joanne Gardner Lowell and John Lowell.
Mighty Fine Time will be taking the Hoot on the road in 2018, with stops in other Montana locations. “We’re in final negotiations with Red Lodge for an event on August 9th next summer,” said John Lowell. “A few communities in the Flathead Valley have contacted us about bringing a Hoot there as well. This year away from Livingston gives us a chance to see if the Hoot can benefit other small communities as it has our home town. We hope we can return with several Hoots in 2019.“
Livingston City Manager Mike Kardoes added, “The City of Livingston has been a proud sponsor of the Hoot and we have enjoyed the vibrancy and sense of community it brings to our Downtown. As we strive to improve our Downtown area to merchants, pedestrians, commuters and our friends and neighbors, our endeavor to improve infrastructure, parking and amenities does not come without some adjustments. While our hope had been to be able to definitively predict the completion schedule and accommodate the Hoot once again in 2018, all of the construction variables inherent in a project of this magnitude do not allow for that level of precision in planning. We are happy to share our Hoot with other communities in 2018 and will certainly welcome the Hoot home to the new and improved Livingston Downtown in 2019.”
The Hoot has brought thousands of people downtown to enjoy free shows with artists Vince Gill, Rodney Crowell, Jon Cleary, Roy Rogers, the Tin Men, Fishing Music, the Quebe Sisters and many more special guests including Bill Payne, Phil Aaberg and John Mayer. The Hoot has been nominated for Governor’s Tourism Event of the Year and has won the Park County Community Journal’s “Special Event of the Year” honor for three consecutive years.
“We’ll be back in 2019, if we can get everyone’s support,” said Ms. Lowell. “The lion’s share of donations to keep the Hoot free and available to all has come from a small group of businesses and friends – we’re hoping to hear from businesses who haven’t sponsored yet to give our generous donors a break. We want to thank our fiscal sponsor the Park County Community Foundation, and supporters including the Livingston Business Improvement District, Fly Fishers International, Wells Fargo, Northwestern Energy, the Kendeda Fund, Yellowstone Country Tourism, First Interstate, American Bank, Bank of the Rockies, the City of Livingston, the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, ERA Realty, Absoroka Realty, Ebert and Edgewater Apartments, Albermarle Condomniums, Glenn’s Food and Spirits, JLF Architects, Huppert, Swindlehurst and Woodruff, John Mabie, CPA, the Sport, Landsnorkel.com, Crazy A Ranch, St. Andrews, Paradise Gateway, the Lore Kann Foundation, Livingston Health Care and Livingston Health Care Foundation, the Stockman, Parks Reece, Pat and Shelley Gilligan, Sensible Alternatives, Swandal Law, Watson Law, Whiskey Creek & The Attic and countless business and private sponsors in Park County. We benefit from in kind donations as well – thanks to the Murray Hotel, Yellowstone Pioneer Lodge, and our volunteers and crew that helps put on such a great show. We know the whole town benefits from this event, and welcome conversations about how you might get involved in the Hoot in the future.”
“The Park County Community Foundation has been pleased to support this Downtown event over the past three years as fiscal sponsor,” said Executive Director Peter D. Fox. “In addition to this personal ‘labor of love’ provided to Park County by Joanne and John, it must be said that the HOOT could not have been presented without the generous financial support provided by several dozen local philanthropists. These donors deserve community appreciation, too.”
Mighty Fine Time is in discussion with representatives from the LBID about creating a new music festival for winter in 2019. For more information on the Hoot or to contact the producers, please go to www.LivingstonHoot.com.
