The City of Dawsonville and Castleberry Ale House Owner Donovan Hyder hosted the citys first music and beer festival this past weekend.

And, by most standards, it was a success.

Five- to six-thousand people attended the two-day event, according to City Council Member Chris Gaines.Proceeds from the event benefit Camp Southern Ground Zac Browns Camp for Kids. The camp works with special needs children while providing them with lodging and facilities to most effectively contribute to their rehabilitation, according to the camps website.

Ive heard nothing but positive things, said Gaines. Its great to get people out to enjoy Dawsonville. Everybody is having a good time.

Several who attended didnt know it was the citys first music and beer festival.

I didnt know this was their first one everything looks so well-organized, said Pat Bowen, who

drove in from Alpharetta.

The event included a hefty line-up of classic southern rock bands. HeadliningFriday eveningwere Riley Biederer, Coal Mountain Band and Back in Black. Saturdays line-up featured Endless Energy, Brian Jarrett, Radford Windham, Southern Accent, Alex Hall and Jody Abernathy from Across the Wide.

Im really enjoying the music and atmosphere, said Dawsonville resident Jim Park, who attended with his three daughters, Logan, Madison and Caroline. Dawsonville should do more of these kinds of things. Since this is the first, Ill definitely come back if they do another one.

Tickets were $5 in advance and $10 at the gate. VIP tickets included two beers and a festival T-shirt.

Two of those VIP tickets went to Dawsonville local Kelly Miller and her friend Pam Huggins from Smyrna.

Its just good to hang out, have a couple Yuenglins and listen to music, said Miller. I just wish they had more vendors. We came here ready to buy stuff. We love jewelry.

Miller said shes looking forward to the revitalization of downtown Dawosnville.

For some reason, she said, it seems like nothing (businesses) really sticks on the square.

Many of the festival-goers brought their children to enjoy the inflatable slide and moon jump.

This festival is awesome, said resident Pat Dodge. Its a place where I can bring my kids and enjoy the day together. I think its good for the community.

Yuengling pourers Chris and Nicole Burross said they also enjoyed Dawsonvilles first festival.

This is so good. It can only get better, said Nicole. We know Donovan Hyder, and he asked us to come volunteer. We know its for a good cause, so we decided to do it.

Others said they needed more details in advance about the festival.

Were having a great time, said Karen Hodge from Flowery Branch. But we needed more information. We thought it was inside since it said the Dawsonville Municipal Complex building. We didnt know to bring blankets.

At presstime, the final ticket sales and proceed numbers for Zack Browns Camp for Kids, Camp Southern Ground, were unavailable.