RanchoFest Success Could Beget Rocktoberfest

It has been a couple of weeks since the popular RanchoFest ended under the guiding hand of Suzanne Singh, and the president of the Rancho Santa Margarita Chamber of Commerce knew it was a success after the Tijuana Dogs took their final bow.

Monday, she explained how successful.

About 6,000 attended the two-day festival, most of them on Saturday when the city's Central Park was populated by vendors, bounce houses and bands.

Even more important, especially for the long term, is that the Chamber profited about $7,500 after paying off $18,000 in existing debt. The debt Singh inherited when she became president of the chamber of commerce was about $30,000.

Now, there's a blueprint for success with the potential to create a war chest to continue such events—and bulk up the city's business fraternity.

"With us, our goal is to promote the businesses and provide for the business community," Singh said. "We could do quarterly educational forums for businesses, and do more of these events."

The point, Singh said, was to help revive some of the events that have been scaled back in recent years by SAMLARC or the city because of the economy.

In the wake of the feel-good emotions of RanchoFest, there was talk of Singh putting together an Oktoberfest celebration in a few months.

Singh said probably not.

Instead, Rocktoberfest.

She sees it as a much smaller version of RanchoFest, limited to about "10 restaurants, a half-dozen inflatables, really good bands and beer and wine." 

She said she would also like to test the sale of liquor. 

"I can see some of the money (from RanchoFest) going toward funding Rocktoberfest," Singh said. "One of the things I learned is you need really good bands."

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She said she's already eyeing a return of the Tijuana Dogs, which closed RanchoFest. (Editor's note: check back later for video of the band)

"With these kinds of funds, it gives me the chance to have a better website and promote the businesses, and our whole focus is to promote the business community," Singh said.

She said between 5,800 and 6,300 attended RanchoFest, and that she had received only "a couple" of negative comments. City Hall, she said, received only one negative comment—down from "about 30" after the 2010 event.

"People think the city puts it on so they get the complaints," Singh said.Those complaints in 2010 came when RanchoFest was a free event. After a hiatus in 2011, this year's event charged $10 per adult and $5 for kids. "People loved the bands, the variety of food, and the bounce houses. Parents said it was great that for $5 the kids had access to the bounce houses all day."

Among her concerns for the next go-round? 

"We have to do a bit more diligence in promoting it better; a lot of people didn't know it was going on," Singh said. "Also spend a little more time promoting the restaurants and businesses that are participating. I have to be a little more prepared, which means I've got to get people getting into RanchoFest sooner, so that we have their commitment so that we can promote them.

"The event next year will be May 18 and we'll do two full days. The key is that in December, I know who's coming in and not waiting until the last minute."