Yellowknife's Folk on the Rocks music festival back in the black - Action News
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Yellowknife's Folk on the Rocks music festival back in the black

After going into this year's summer music festival with $100,000 in debt, organizers are pleased to announce Yellowknife's Folk on the Rocks festival is no longer in debt.

'I think people came out who maybe wouldn't have normally come out,' says vice-president

Folk on the Rocks went into its 2016 season $100,000 in debt, and came out in the black. (Sara Minogue/CBC)

After going into this year's summer music festival with $100,000 in debt, organizers are pleased to announce Yellowknife's Folk on the Rocks festival is no longer in debt.

That debt forced organizers to make some changes ahead of this year's event: going without an executive director, getting rid of the Rockin' Fox stage and cutting back on the number of performers.

Ashley Makohoniuk, the festival's vice-president, says those steps paid off, and there's also the community to thank.

She estimates 2,300 people attendedeachday.

"I think people came out who maybe wouldn't have normally come out," she said. "I think we can attribute some of the success to that."

Organizers also held an additional concert in the site's beer garden Friday night before the festival in an attempt to bring in more revenue.

The festival'sformer executive director, David Whitelock, left last year.Whitelock threatened to sue the festival, saying he was terminated without cause, and that the organization still owes him thousands of dollars in unpaid wages and bonuses.

Makohoniuk says she's unsure if the festival will hire another executive director next year.