AquaPalooza brings music, money

LAkE TRAVIS (KXAN) - Businesses along Lake Travis benefitted from AquaPalooza , the self-proclaimed 'largest party on water,'  held at The Reserve at Lake Travis this weekend.

Dozens of vendors also set up shop inside the concert, selling everything from souvenirs to food and water.

"Business is booming here today, actually we are very excited, we're impressed," said Lindsey Smith, owner of a local barbecue restaurant, who expects to bring home a lot of bacon after the festival ends.  "I don't think it is of normal for us to consider bringing in at least $20,000 to $30,000 from this event."

Smith and other vendors had to buy permits to sell at Aquapalooza and even had to go through a safety inspection by the Health Department.

Despite vendors looking to make sales, event organizers are not making a dime off of the festival.

"We want to bring in all these people from all over the country, have them fill up your hotels, eat meals here, buy things in Austin and have the economy gain from this event also," explained Rob Noys, vice president of marketing for Sea Rays Boats. 

His plan worked.

Local stores and gas stations saw numerous people come and go.

"It has been crazy busy," said Tabitha Maddox, a store clerk at a local gas station.  "We've had non-stop people coming in.  Ice and beer have been going so fast."

Noys not only sold the city to visitors, but to the talent.

"I love it," said Joanna Smith , a singer who played the event.   "I already called home and told mommy and daddy, I was like, 'this is the coolest city that I have been to other than Nashville.'"

But there were some people, business didn't profit from like single mom Rebecca Rocha.

"I have been going to all the booths and getting all the free stuff," Rocha said while looking through her shopping bag.  "We got free hats, free coloring books."