Longmont prepares for Heaven Fest crowds

As organizers make final preparations and assemble stages before the arrival of Saturday's Heaven Fest concert, Longmont-area businesses and residents are bracing themselves for tens of thousands of visitors expected this weekend.

The Christian musical festival at Union Reservoir could draw as many as 50,000 people, according to the Worship and Word Movement, the event organizers.

"We're very excited about this event," said Jessica Tovar, front desk manager at the Super 8 motel in Longmont. "It's good for the economy."

Several motels have noticed an increase in reservations, although some still have vacancies.

"We still do have open rooms available," Tovar said of the 64-room motel at 2446 Main St. "But we have confidence we're going to sell out."

With the crowds will come heavy traffic and closed roads the day of the event.

Officials expect congestion on Colo. 119 east of County Line Road, especially between noon and 5 p.m. and between 8 p.m. and midnight.

There will also be several traffic control points on Colo. 119 at Fairview Street and Weld County Road 3 1/2 and another at Weld County roads 26 and 3 1/2.

Last year the festival was held on open space near Colo. 7 and Colorado Boulevard in Brighton. The Worship and the Word Movement wanted to move its festival to Union Reservoir, a site that could handle the large amount of traffic and give attendees more space, said Steve Chavis, spokesman for Heaven Fest.

The Longmont permit allows the group to use 300 acres of city-owned land next to the reservoir park and includes about 1,800 spaces for campers and parking for an estimated 11,000 vehicles.

"We encountered some severe traffic issues on Highway 7, which is a two-lane black top," Chavis said. "In this case, Highway 119 is much better to handle the crowd if we're going to end up with 30,000 people or more. It's a 300-acre site, so we've got a lot of room."

The event gates open at 10 a.m. Saturday and festivities will run from noon to midnight.

Seven stages will feature Christian music bands, including Casting Crowns and The Sacred Assembly. There will also be several tents with worship sessions and comedy shows.

The array of music genres and festivities is meant to give attendees a chance to

Volunteers and crews set up a stage Thursday at Longmont s Union Reservoir for Heaven Fest, which runs from noon to midnight on Saturday. ( CLIFF GRASSMICK )

"We're looking to bring together lots of different Christians," Chavis said. "We want Heaven Fest to be a place where we can all come together."

In addition, the festival is set to "inspire, spark and impregnate a new generation with passion for the poor around the world," he said. Throughout the festival, attendees are given the chance to donate to charities that support the poor and abused.

The city licensing agreements allows the festival exclusive use of Union Reservoir, which will close to the public for three days, from 6 a.m. Friday through 9 p.m. Sunday to accommodate not just the event but also set-up and takedown, said city spokesman Rigo Leal.

Area businesses, such as Silver Mine Subs at 1640 Pace St., will have to adjust its delivery service based on the road closures and traffic.

"We might have to alter our service a little bit," said regional manager Jason Hetrick. "We probably won't be delivering to certain areas because of traffic."

More than likely, delivery to homes east of Union Reservoir will not be possible. Hetrick said he's hoping that an increase in visitors will make up for lost deliveries.

"We're expecting a little more business," Hetrick said.

Longmont officials have said that, by conservative estimates, the event could bring in $700,000 to local businesses.

However, some residents have expressed concern during City Council meetings that closing the park for a religious event is not appropriate. Others have raised concerns that noise, traffic and large numbers of people will damage the wildlife habitat.

Some local residents said closing the area to local users for Heaven Fest violates city ordinances that protect the public's right to use the reservoir.

Attorney Jeff Thompson said that under the municipal code, an event permit shouldn't be issued if "it is likely to unreasonably obstruct public access or passage."

"The Heaven Fest agreement actually terminates public access to all the public access areas of Union Reservoir for three days," he said. "The city did exactly the opposite of what it's supposed to do."

City Clerk Valeria Skitt was not available for comment Thursday, but Sandi Seader, assistant to city manager, said the permit is legal.

"I know the city clerk wouldn't pass something forward that's illegal," Seader said.

Barricades reminding residents of this closure were set up Monday along Weld County Road 26 east of the reservoir.

The only way to access the reservoir over the weekend is to take a car and buy a ticket to the event. City officials have said that no one can walk, bike or skate because of safety concerns about people crossing busy roads.

However, the Longmont Area Visitors Association and the Downtown Development Authority will shuttle campers staying at Union Reservoir to restaurants and other businesses in Longmont from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday.

Camera Staff Writer Clay Evans contributed to this report.