Costs cited in Bumbershoot cut

The organizers of Bumbershoot 2006 are citing costs as the reason they're downsizing to three days instead of four. The annual Labor Day weekend arts festival at Seattle Center will start on Saturday rather than Friday this year, according to One Reel, the organization that produces the event.

"The main reason is that we've seen costs for artists rising for many years," festival producer Heather Smith explained. "It's at a place where we need to be able to consolidate every single programming dollar we have in order to keep the talent level high and strong and to not minimize what we're trying to accomplish, which is [to] have the best festival in the country."

Friday has always been the slowest day of Bumbershoot. Few events were scheduled during the day and few "name" acts at night. Opening ceremonies were usually sparsely attended. Friday was always the least crowded day, which veteran festival-goers appreciated.

Smith said she doesn't expect the change to result in hugely inflated crowds on Saturday through Monday.

"I don't worry about that," she said. "To me, the question was, do we continue to subsidize Friday rather than invest those dollars, energy and effort into the other three days of the festival? Friday was awesome for families and for people who weren't working and could come down and enjoy a light day at the festival. The reality is that we need to be able to put all the energy and effort in the other three days."

A partial list of this year's performers will be released in May, along with ticket information. The full festival schedule will be released in July.

Bumbershoot began as a two-day event in 1971. It was expanded to five days in 1973, 10 days in 1974 and 11 days in 1975. It was scaled back to five in 1976 because it had become too costly.

The long Labor Day weekend, including Friday, was established as the festival's permanent play dates in 1977, also the first year an admission charge ($1-$3) was required for some events. Festival admission was first charged in 1980 ($2.50 a day), but Fridays remained free until 1987.

Ticket prices for this year have not been announced. Last year they were $18 a day in advance or $28 a day at the gate, with discounts for children and seniors.

Patrick MacDonald: 206-464-2312, pmacdonald@seattletimes.com