Fans Fight Traffic for Country Fest

Large crowds, great music but massive traffic problems marked the first day of Country Fest ’88 in Irwindale on Saturday.

By mid-afternoon authorities and organizers estimated that well over 65,000 country music enthusiasts were on hand at the Santa Fe Dam recreation area to see such popular entertainers as Eddie Rabbitt, John Anderson, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and others.

But with only two entrances and 20,000 public parking spaces, thousands of fans walked more than two miles in hot, smoggy weather to reach the site of the two-day festival that concludes tonight.

Mike Altman, a San Jose advertising salesman, said it took him more than an hour to reach the fairgrounds, where he had come to see such entertainers as the Texas swing band, Asleep at the Wheel.

“The organizers seemed to be asleep at the switch,” Altman said.

Concert organizer Milt Petty said, “It was really horrendous getting here, but we learned a lot of things and will be able to do better (today).”

Irwindale Police Sgt. Raul Breceda said: “We have cars parked all over Irwindale. This is the biggest thing in Irwindale until the Raiders come.”

Authorities reported no crowd-control problems.

“It’s a nice family type of activity where a lady can come by herself and enjoy herself,” said spectator Heather De Vito, 30, of Thousand Oaks. “Even the bikers here are ‘New Age’ bikers with heads on their shoulders and feet on the ground.”

The festival, sponsored by KZLA/KLAC radio and The Times, concludes today with scheduled performances by Rosanne Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis.