This past weekend, Discovery Park resonated with guitar riffs and drumbeats as the Aftershock festival attracted rock and metal fans from around the world. Over four days, the festival welcomed around 40,000 attendees each day, with 70% traveling from outside the region, according to Mike Testa, President and CEO of Visit Sacramento, told CBS News Sacramento.
Throngs of fans opted for various modes of transportation, with many choosing the shuttle service from Cal Expo, while others like Addison Phillips preferred ride services, telling CBS News Sacramento, "It's been like 12 bucks which isn't bad." Then there were the bike valets, providing a clever avenue for local concert-goers to steer clear of vehicular congestion. Pedi-cabs, were another hit among the routes, with Elizabeth Jade Wong Fontana donning Santa Claus attire to become a fan-favorite driver as she ferried people to the festival in a Christmas-themed cab, "Nobody wants to ride with a 65-year-old grandmother, but Santa Claus is the ultimate superhero and it makes everybody happy," she explained in a statement obtained by CBS News Sacramento.
The festival's backdrop, found at the intersection of two rivers, provided a unique twist on the rock scene. As metalheads, dressed in mandatory black attire, flocked to celebrate rock music, they also engaged with the riparian ecosystem, marveling at the native sea lions. The Sacramento Bee painted this idyllic picture, highlighting the whimsical blend of nature with the hardcore stylings of bands like New Years Day, whose lead singer Ashley Costello became the pied piper for "weirdos and outcasts" as she belted out vocals amidst the oaks, according to The Sacramento Bee.
A sense of community pervaded the festival, embodied by attendees like Zen Ramirez and her partner Rudy Raya. The couple's anticipation for Judas Priest's performance was palpable, as they recounted their days spent at the festival thus far. Even with a baby on the way, Ramirez expressed a profound comfort at the front row of an Evanescence concert, "and I'm eight months pregnant," she beamed proudly to The Sacramento Bee. "When Aftershock comes, this is our time," Ramirez concluded, celebrating the annual rock tradition shared with so many others.
In addition to great musical performances, event organizers and local authorities took proactive steps to keep the focus on the music. Visit Sacramento collaborated with Caltrans to adjust construction schedules, avoiding major traffic issues near the busy connector between highways 99 and 50. The success of Aftershock sets a positive tone for future events, with the Golden Sky Country Music Festival and the Iron Man expected to generate about $60 million for Sacramento, as Mike Testa mentioned in his statement to CBS News Sacramento.