Cat C. from Illinois was the winner of the Propeller experience to "Win a VIP Trip to FairWell Festival" that took place in July 2024. Below are some of Cat's highlights from the experience.
When we heard from Propeller that we had won the VIP trip to the FairWell Festival, we were so excited! We couldn't wait to see an amazing lineup of artists and explore Oregon, which was a state my girlfriend and I had never visited before. Plus, it would personally be my first time visiting the West Coast!
It was a long flight from Illinois, but as we got closer to our destination, we caught some impressive views of the Rocky Mountains and the Seattle Space Needle from our airplane seats. When we arrived at Redmond airport, we saw signs for the FairWell Festival, which made us even more excited for the days ahead as we grabbed our bags and headed to the hotel. Once there, we settled into our cozy room to relax after a tiring day of traveling.
Each morning during our trip, we started our day with a great breakfast offered by the hotel. After breakfast, we made it a daily routine to enjoy the hotel's hot tub and pool. During the festival's off-hours, we also took the opportunity to explore the surrounding landscape, visit some antique and vintage shops in Redmond, and do a little sightseeing in Bend, which included a nostalgic visit to the last Blockbuster store!
The performances at the festival were exceptional! From our vantage point in the VIP area, we had a close-up view of performances by artists like Billy Strings, S.G. Goodman, Sierra Hull, Shakey Graves, LeAnn Rimes, Black Pumas, and Kacey Musgraves, among others. Everyone we went to see put on a really excellent show. Plus, to cap off the experience, while enjoying Kacey's set, we even had a brief encounter with Eric Burton from Black Pumas in the VIP area!
Between shows, we chilled by the pond at the fairgrounds and took some time to relax in the VIP lounge, where we enjoyed some food and drinks while cooling off. We had great conversations with festival staff and other attendees, whether we were inside or outside the VIP areas, and were pleasantly surprised to discover a member of the VIP staff was from Illinois, not far from where we live. When my girlfriend wore her Brandi Carlile shirt, several other fans approached us, excited to chat about shared musical interests and the performances we had just enjoyed. The vibe at the festival was fantastic, and everyone we met in Central Oregon, from the festival and hotel staff to rideshare drivers and locals we met while exploring, was incredibly kind and welcoming. Our experiences with the Redmond community and everyone associated with Propeller were a big part of what made our trip truly positive and memorable.
Overall, we had an incredible time and we are immensely grateful to Propeller and its partners for making this trip possible for us!
- Cat C.
